Member Reviews

5/5 (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Book: Blue Sisters by Coco Mellers
Genre: Fiction

I just finished Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors and I’m obsessed! The cover is gorgeous, and the story is even better. The story follows three estranged sisters—Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky—who have ended up in London, LA, and Paris, but come back to their childhood home in the Upper West Side in NYC a year after their sister Nicky passed away. As someone with three sisters myself, I totally felt the emotional and intense nature of the sisters different life paths. I loved how the author used multiple viewpoints to really dive into each sister’s story. It is a raw and real look at the beautiful mess of a dysfunctional family.

If you are into books about sisterhood that are full of emotion and complexity (think Little Women), Blue Sisters is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Ballantine Books, Penguin Random House Ballantine LLC for sending me this amazing and lovely ARC of Blue Sisters. All opinions are my own.

I posted this review on Instagram today 9/11/2024:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_y148WS5Hq/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I also posted on goodreads today 9/11/2024:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6835985980

Was this review helpful?

There are many great books that aren’t about sunshine and butterflies. I can handle it. But, with nonfiction that covers the unpleasantness of life, there isn’t a screw turning to make sure we are getting the point. If the screw is in the deft hand of a magnificent fiction writer, it can gut you.

To be clear, I don’t feel actually gutted here but I do feel sad about these imaginary people whose lives should be good but are so bad instead. When it comes to Lucky, I have met that girl and feel for her. Outside beauty. Inside hollow. Pouring in whatever is around to fill the space or deaden it. Bonnie is my favorite. Driven, disciplined, successful but molded too tightly in the form of a boxer that her soul doesn’t have space for nurturing. We know our shares of Bonnies as well. Nicky. To say her end was a tragedy is an understatement. Then, there is always an Avery. The one who carries burdens like an adult, doesn’t check out, but probably wishes she had a loving mommy’s shoulder to cry on. Very flawed, very real characters. Pacing is too slow at times, but this is about character building not thrilling.

I think I’ll go outside now and watch the butterflies feed on the last of my zinnias.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing—Ballantine and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Was this review helpful?

I walked into this book a little hesitant as I had heard mixed reviews about this author’s previous novel which led me to avoid picking up Cleopatra and Frankenstein. This time around however, I decided to throw caution to the wind and just pick it up and hope for the best, and I am so glad I did! This novel was touching and compelling from start to finish. Typically I struggle with books that have multiple POVs because inevitably there tends to be at least one POV that is less compelling than the others, but this was not the case in Blue Sisters. Each sister was so clearly and vividly developed, it made me feel like I was the fifth Blue sister. Mellors writes so eloquently and raw about subjects such as grief, addiction, family dynamics, and heartache that you can’t help but feel for each of the characters throughout their journey. The only thing I think I would change would be the epilogue. I think the story was nicely wrapped up in the last chapter, as I was most interested in the sisters’ dynamics together and them beginning their process of healing so the epilogue felt kind of like the redundant “where are they now” title cards at the end of Lifetime movies. Other than that, this was a stellar read and if you were like and were hesitant to pick this up, don’t be! It’s worth your while!

Was this review helpful?

This book was the perfect fall lit fic read and will probably enter the records as one of the best books of 2024. The story is complex, deep, rich, nuanced, realistic, heartbreaking, heartwarming, funny, angering, sad and hopeful. It basically has everything, all the emotions contained in one story about grief, family and our place in the world. One year after Nicky Blue was found dead in the family’s New York city apartment, the remaining three blue sisters are scattered around the globe trying to cope with their foursome being short a sister. The Youngest, Lucky, is a model who will try anything and everything to escape reality, even if it’s causing her life to come crashing down around her. Middle sister Bonnie, a champion boxer, fled to California after losing her last fight, lives an isolated life afraid to start living again. The eldest sister, Avery, is a recovered heroin addict living in London working as a high-priced attorney who is losing touch with who she is as a person. When their mother sends them an email informing them of her plans to sell the apartment, the sisters all find their way back home to try and stop the sale. Each of the sisters brings their own flaws, dreams and emotional hang-ups to this story about coping with loss, accepting the past and the power of family. I was wrapped up in the drama the entire time and found everything felt completely raw, and real. You will feel all of the emotions reading this book, but in the end, it is a story filled with hope despite its difficult subject material of grief, addiction and family roles. Definitely worth the read.

Was this review helpful?

A great angsty read! At times, it gave me sentimental vibes of the March sisters, but this story is very different from theirs. It’s a dysfunctional family with 3 sisters coping with the death of their 4 sister. It was heart-wrenching at times, but I’m grateful to have read it. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Was this review helpful?

I LOVE COCO!!! This is one of my all time favorite sad girl books. This book makes me feel like hugging my sibling a little tighter.

Was this review helpful?

"Look at an umbilical cord – tough, sinuous, unlovely, yet essential – and compare it to a friendship bracelet of brightly woven thread. That is the difference between a sister and a friend."

That quote is from the opening paragraph of Blue Sisters, and the stunning truth of it took my breath away. As soon as I read those words, I knew this was going to be a special book, and I was right.

There were once four Blue sisters, but now there are three. A year after Nicky’s shocking death, the three remaining sisters – Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky – reunite in the New York City apartment where they grew up to go through Nicky’s things and prepare the apartment for sale. Each of them is dealing with fraught personal circumstances – addiction, complicated relationships, feelings of shame and self-doubt, unhealed childhood trauma – on top of the overwhelming grief they each feel over the death of their sister. Sisterhood is messy and so is grief, and the novel follows the Blue sisters as they reconnect and explores all the ways they hurt and heal each other.

Blue Sisters is a very different book than Coco Mellors’ first novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein. While her debut focused on modern romantic love, Blue Sisters is another kind of love story – one about the ferocious love and unbreakable bonds among sisters. I was captivated by it from the very first page. Mellors’ writes with so much emotion and texture; she pays so much attention to detail in every single facet of her story, immersing the reader completely in the world she’s crafted with her words. At the center of the story are her strong female characters, and their complicated relationships that feel so authentic. Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky are three of the most complex female characters I’ve ever read, and Mellors uses their stories to explore all the ways trauma can manifest and can hopefully, ultimately, be overcome. I’m guessing most women will see something of themselves in Avery, Bonnie, or Lucky – or Nicky, who is so present in her absence.

Blue Sisters is an achingly beautiful, hopeful, soul-stirring book. It reads like a masterclass in how to write a literary character study, but is a deeply affecting and emotionally resonant story at the same time. Coco Mellors is such a special storyteller, and I’ll be first in line for whatever she writes next. Thank you to Ballantine Books for the complimentary reading opportunity.

Was this review helpful?

Firstly, a big thanks to the author, Coco Mellors, the publisher, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the privilege of being able to read an A R C (advanced reader copy) of "Blue Sisters." I thought this book was full of character stories focused on personal growth and healing, grief, and the necessary warmth of family. There's no way to capture the essence of what sisters provide each other in a world like ours. Each of the sisters, Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky, has to face their own paths in life, and we get their perspectives in their own POV. The loss of Nicky is supremely felt by all in their own way, making it a really realistic family dynamic. Even as a reader, you feel Nicky looming large over the family. This is a heavy and emotional read, but made me think a lot about life, loss, and sisterhood. You can really tell Coco Mellors feels things in a big way, and writing is a beautiful way for her to express these feelings.

The cover is really pretty and light compared to the content of the novel. It feels a bit more light and airy than the actual story is, but I still aesthetically like it a lot!

Was this review helpful?

My first Coco book. After looking at Cleo and Frank for years, I was delighted to pick this up. And I am CONVINCED I need to move Cleo and Frank up on the TBR! This was such a great story. It totally encapsulated what siblings are, and how family dynamics shape you. I’ve got to say, the mom ended up being my favorite character and I wish I had a little more from her. 3.5 stars. Definitely would recommend to the right population.

Was this review helpful?

"Blue Sisters” by Coco Mellors follows the lives of three sisters—Nina, Claire, and Jess—who reunite in New York a year after the death of their sibling, Nicky. The story delves into their struggles with grief, addiction, and the complexities of their relationships. The sisters are trying to prevent the sale of their childhood apartment, which brings up a flood of memories and unresolved issues.

This book truly explored themes of grief, family dynamics, and personal redemption. Each sister grapples with her own secrets and pain, making their journey both heart-wrenching and relatable. The bond they share, despite their differences, is a central theme that adds depth to the story.

Coco Mellors’ writing was memorable for me with its emotional honesty and vivid character portrayals. She has a knack for creating quotable lines and profound scenes. For me, the emotional weight and authenticity of the characters’ experiences shine through.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own distinct voice and personality. Nina, Claire, and Jess are portrayed with a rawness that makes their struggles and triumphs feel real.

This is a compelling read for those interested in family dramas and character-driven stories. It offers a poignant look at how grief and love can shape our lives, and the lengths we go to preserve our memories and connections.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the story being told from all the sisters' perspectives. I enjoyed reading about the family dynamics. Its been a long time since I read just a general fiction story that was as compelling as this.

Was this review helpful?

Wow!!! This novel is better than most! Fans of family drama have to read this one. For context on just how good I thought this was: I loved Hello Beautiful and this is even better!
The writing is so freakin good! I can't wait to talk about specific scenes with my friends because they were just so vivid and so heartbreaking. As the mother of 4 kids (3 sisters) I felt this book completely, and I cried so much, just proof of how powerful Coco Mellors writing is. Unbelievable 10 out of 10- Highly recommend!!

Was this review helpful?

Three sisters come together to their childhood apartment on UWS in NYC after the loss of their fourth sister. The writing is messy, emotional, and raw. Each sister has a different perspective on their childhood, parents, and most importantly their lost sister Nicki. Ultimately they learn ways to find joy and hope after a loss that has been deeply traumatic.

I heard Coco Mellors say, the only person I would die for but also kill, is my sister. This books captures that emotion of sibling love so well!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Ballentine Books for the ARC for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a beautifully devastating story of true sisterhood and navigating grief when one does not even know how to process it. This novel touches on so many heavy topics in a way that makes it feel like a light read. I devoured this novel in less than a day. I was up on a work night trying to finish it up and was crying at work reading the conclusion. Brutally honest description of the relationship between sisters and the shared trauma that impacted them differently.

I resonated so much with each of the sisters but truly felt stripped bare in my connection with Avery. As an eldest sister I have always felt the implied/assigned role of taking care of my youngest sisters. The burden that could be real or not sometimes cripples us in our life and is a constant push to do more since we never do enough. Each sister's guilt was palpable throughout the story and their yearning to have done differently and changed the outcomes of their sister's ultimate demise. Accepting that they each have their faults and learning to accept them and do better was incredible to read. I was especially glad to see how messy it all got and not everything immediately had a clean end. BUT THE EPILOGUE made the ending so perfect.

This has easily joined the top of my ranks for my favorite books. I am excited to constantly visit these characters and their lives.

Thank you to Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Coco Mellors for allowing me the extreme honor of an ARC of this book and allowing me to process it before I was able to buy the book for my own and relive it.

Was this review helpful?

OUT NOW! Blue Sisters in an intricately woven story of 3 sisters mourning the loss of their sister, and how grief and addiction have affected their family. The dynamics between the sisters are, of course, dictated by age and personality. However, this is thrown off kilter by the loss of Nicky and they have to navigate how to exist as a trio now. The characters are developed well and by the end you truly feel that you know them. These are messy characters!!! Which is not a bad thing, people ARE messy. A complicated family hardly ever makes a bunch of normies. Anyway, I don't have sisters and after reading this I really do not know if that is a blessing or a curse. The bond that they share and the loyalty to each other makes me wish I did. My only complaint with this book is that it might have the most similes of all time... it was simile-maxxing.

FOR FANS OF:
-MESS
-family dynamics
-realistic characters
-alternating POV
-character driven plots

Please make sure to check the TW!

Thank you to Ballantine & Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.


I will post this review on goodreads now, and will post a review on my bookstagram feed (@yeahimreading) before the end of the month.

Was this review helpful?

A love letter to sisterhood.

There are no words to express how much I loved this book. I was entranced from the very first page. Coco Mellors is now an auto-buy author for me. She just has such a way with words and this uncanny ability to express emotions I was unaware that I needed someone else to put into words.

If you have sisters or if you are a sister, read this book. You will feel a kinship within it's pages.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately not for me. Naturally we will get a copy as this will be very popular (BOTM pick, Jenna book club pick, etc.) but I wasn't a fan.

Was this review helpful?

all the bad parts of Cleopatra and Frankenstein with none of the good. The fascination with depressed beautiful women who are "gritty" and "raw" is old imo. Also the characterization of the sisters, thoughts on grief, and 'family is everything' plotlines were too heavy-handed yet somehow superficial. The whole book was a cliché

Was this review helpful?

I love me a good family drama. This one had a little bit of everything. I loved their dynamic and was completely captured by the girls story. Highly recommend this one!

Was this review helpful?

Funny, moving, heartbreaking, and messy. Truly a fantastic book with sisterhood at its core. I loved every page of this.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc!

Was this review helpful?