ptrshr 's review for:

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

4.25

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Hit me harder than I anticipated. Not because I’ve lived anything like the characters’ lives (I haven’t), but because it gets at how life can be an absolute chaotic mess, which I resonated with. 

 

That said, the book goes deep into a lot of characters’ lives, only for the ending to feel kind of rushed. Like, it spends time setting up things like drug abuse and messy relationships, and then just… doesn’t follow through on all of them. Maybe that’s the point—life doesn’t tie itself up neatly, and not everyone gets a happy ending. I get it. But still, it left me wanting a little more. 

 

I will say, though, it made me feel. Like, I was emotional at several points, and yes, I cried. It got to me. 

 

Overall, it left me thoughtful but also a little conflicted, which I’m guessing was the goal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt