Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Cleopatra und Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

312 reviews

anna_whitehead11's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

I’m still not quite sure how I feel about Cleopatra and Frankenstein - it was at times brilliant and sensitive and had me hooked, but also was quite messy and emotionally wrecking and felt all over the place. The titular characters, a wayward British arts student Cleo and a slightly older architect from NYC, Frank, certainly come to life through Mellors’ writing. They feel more like people you’d meet at a party than purely fictional characters, which although effective, leaves one feeling increasingly frustrated by their personal and romantic choices as the novel progresses.

There was also a very weird episode involving a pet, which even made me (who has had a fair share of totally absurd NYC moments) think: ‘WTF is going on here?!’. I nevertheless went on to read Blue Sisters, which makes me think I can’t have completely hated Cleopatra and Frankenstein. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt

I found some scenes quite raw and difficult to read and detail occasionally too distressing, partly because of how hyper-realistic/recognisable the protagonists and setting are

clairebartholomew549's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-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? Yes

4.0

This book was really satisfying. I loved the writing style - it felt like we followed each person's thoughts and actions in a natural and interesting way, and Mellors seems to know exactly when to leave a person's perspective for maximum impact. Cleo and Frank are deeply interesting and complex, and the vignettes of their lives over the first year of their marriage paint a thoughtful portrait of two people trying to make when they are so different. I found many parts of this book profound and loved getting insights into the people in Cleo and Frank's lives, especially Zoe, Eleanor, and Santiago. New York City is also a vivid character in this book, which I always love. I found this book really affecting and will definitely be reading more of Mellors' work.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

emilysshelf's review against another edition

This book felt like someone trying way too hard to be edgy and artsy. I understand that everyone is flawed but the characters in this book were wildly irritating and all toxic. The dynamics in the friend group were frustrating and I found it hard to care for any of them. I had heard lots of love for this book and was super excited but was definitely let down. Most of the characters were so self absorbed. The age-gap, and “but shes an old soul and so mature for her age” personality had me stressed. Book was insufferable and it genuinely stressed me out, I couldn’t even hate-read and push through it. Maybe in the future I’ll try to reread but it’ll be in the FAR future once the sour taste it left in my mouth is gone. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

midnightrain_'s review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal death

leni146's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

tiredtristan's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

4.5✨

“When the darkest part of you meets the darkest part of me, it creates light.”

I still don’t have the proper words to review this book. The way I still think of this book daily is honestly insane.
This was something different than I usually read and I’m so glad I picked it up. 
-0.5 because:

•  the end chapter of chapter 10
  WHY IS HE m**** IN A STEAKHOUSE BATHROOM
• I don’t like Eleanor or her first person pov. 
• Why doesn’t Cleo get a happy ending :( but Frank, the guy who has more red flags than I have sticky notes, gets a happy ending?????

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

eloiseatthelibrary'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Chaotic is the one word if use to describe this book. The characters were intriguing and the story emotional and entertaining. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, and Mental illness

kaesereifachverkaeuferin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol

han_amey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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 does a brilliant job at capturing human emotions, and really shows that people really can be quite flawed. I loved how it flitted between different characters’ perspectives, even within one chapter. It meant i really got a strong feel about how each character is thinking and feeling throughout. Even though most of the characters were lowkey terrible, i felt attached to all of them in some way, which just made me want to keep reading. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

lizlikesfrogs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, and Suicide attempt