Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

105 reviews

crimpykooky's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt

ashlynregan's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is for New Yorkers cause I swear I know all of these characters IRL.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

lemonyanne's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This book feels like you’re invited into the world of well-off socialite New York as a total voyeur. You’d never want to be part of this circle as all the characters are flawed and unlikeable in their own ways. However, Cleo and Frank’s relationship IS interesting and this discussion of how they destroy one another in the mutual distraction of themselves is why you keep reading it. You don’t want to look away from the car crash on the highway. (SPOILERS:) However, Eleanor’s 2 chapters felt really misplaced. First person was the wrong choice for her (esp when then rest of the novel is in third) and felt like an ill-attempt at making her feel normal, relatable or quirky - this I think was the more unsuccessful element of her narrative. I also don’t think she was Frank’s saving grace and I’m unsure if she was written to be. Although, her pining love for Frank could serve as an interesting contrasting how Anders pined for Cleo, as Eleanor’s love showed far more compassion, maturity and self-awareness as opposed to Anders’ vapid, self-absorbed obsession with Cleo was. All in all, this book felt like reading gossip, and for that purpose it worked fabulously. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

jennymchugh's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

2.5

Really enjoyed the book until the end, when it decided to make a judgement about what “trauma” is more painful (alcoholic parent vs. being groomed by an older man). And it also forgives a highly problematic man, giving him a complete pass at the end. Just ick. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

jazzy_cat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

cecereads__'s review against another edition

4.5

Hmm. I thought this was an immediate 5 stars from that first chapter, it had me fully invested and intrigued. I was surprised how it switched up and gave us multiple pov’s and really focused on showing that chain reaction from the ppl close to us getting into relationships, meeting new ppl, etc. Once I got used to it, I thought it was really well done and such an interesting choice. Different from what I expected, but in the end it really came together imo. And most of all it’s a book about healing.

(I’ve had my own version of a Quentin as well as a Peter and Miriam …)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

bethroseellis's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

3.75

Whilst at first it felt a little tropey - a poor, young, beautiful girl falls in love with a rich older man and they have vivacious friends who have wild parties - the introduction of Eleanor brings some much needed balance and grounding to the novel. The novel, and the characters, grew on me as it progressed as it highlighted some of the every day fears we can all see reflected at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I was expecting this to be some flimsy romance novel that didn’t really go anywhere and phew, it really was not! 😳 Content warnings are definitely needed and will be included below.

If I were to rate the characters in terms of likability for me, it would go from top to bottom: Eleanor, Santiago, Zoe, Frank, Cleo, Anders, Quentin 🫠 

I am THRILLED that Eleanor and Frank fell in love, and that as an adult Eleanor encouraged Frank to go and see Cleo after their separation. Is this what adults do? 😂

I did find the switch from third person to first person narratives difficult but also enjoyable. Eleanor really became my favourite through her dry and sarcastic humour that was masking her love 🥲

The relationships were SO HUMAN. So flawed, so messy and yet in all of that, so stunning. I couldn’t stop weeping at one point 🥹

4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia

kvaish's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

The ending made me really sad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism and Self harm

Minor: Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent

book_soulsbee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment