Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Cléopâtre et Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

280 reviews

avasreads_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cleopatra and frankenstein, coco mellors

⭐⭐⭐⭐
4/5

what a book to get me out of my reading slump! i haven't read a full length novel in a couple of months, and this one was kind of perfect for the occasion.

cleopatra and frankenstein follows the impulsive marriage between 24-year-old cleo and 43-year-old frank, to, broadly, secure cleo a green card. their marriage (inevitably) has far-reaching consequences, and the novel explores themes such as loss, complex relationships and addiction.

this beautifully vivid portrayal of the new york of the early 2000s makes me feel nostalgic for a time i don't remember, and the central characters lead a glamorous life of art, culture, drink and drugs. i loved how the characters felt painfully real - although the plot, at times, seemed almost unbelievable, readers recognise that they lead a ridiculous life. almost certainly backed up by a hefty trust fund, many of the characters don't seem to be burdened by student loans, paying the rent and bills, and can therefore gallivant around new york city. despite the perhaps unrealistic lack of financial struggles, this places emphasis on the mental and emotional journeys of the characters, which is objectively far more important. the characters are far from simple, and can be perceived to be both protagonists and antagonists, having both a positive and negative impact on each other. i love the unrealistic realism, it gives the novel an ethereal quality.

for me, the most interesting storyline was that of zoe's, the younger sister of frank. she is broke, nineteen years old and navigating a large city. i seemed to identify with her, whether that's because we are similar in age or i deeply sympathise with her and her situation i don't know.  i hope she is happy, she deserves the world 🤍

it certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea, and definitely feeds into the 'sad girl' trope (i was delighted with the lana reference, or just delusional). regardless, i ate this the fuck up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Drug use, Drug abuse, Cursing, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

avery_hutchinson's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Even I cannot deny that this is a well written book. The writing itself is beautiful. However, it felt as if the book had little to no plot, and it also felt as if the characters all had so many issues for the sake of having issues

The book is utterly vulgar throughout, and it seems every character is either toxic, irresponsible, cheating, an alcoholic, or constantly on drugs.

Because of those things, the book only really toed the line of feeling realistic and relatable. The ending was bittersweet, but I wasn’t rooting for the characters to get there, especially since they felt like they had only undergone half a character arc. However the author did manage to establish clear voices for each of the characters, though the decision to include the voice of side characters for only a chapter then pushing them back to ensemble was an interesting choice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Self harm, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Death of parent, Medical content, and Mental illness

Minor: Transphobia, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Toxic age gap relationship of about 20 years.

leabhar_love's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Drug use, Animal death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Self harm, Suicide, and Emotional abuse

moomae's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Despite finishing the book I’m unsure as to whether I liked it or not. The writing was very chaotic at times and none of the characters were likeable but it was certainly an interesting read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death

lauraloren's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

jaspercanread's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Suicide attempt

catandherbooks's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It's not a bad book. Maybe it's even good. I can see what the author wanted to do, and did, buy mostly I just wanted it to be over with. At least now I know what all the fuss is about. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Drug use, and Blood

Minor: Toxic relationship and Vomit

luxxltyd's review against another edition

reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent

garfriendofmine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Dementia, Death, Mental illness, Infidelity, Animal death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Cursing, Classism, Blood, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

cleotheo's review against another edition

emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Blood, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide and Dementia

Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Racism