"Blue Sisters" by Coco Mellors is about exactly that, the Blue sisters. This book follows them in their grief a year after Nicky, the third oldest dies in their childhood home. Like actual siblings they had the same upbringing, alcoholic father and emotionally absent mother, but become very different adults. We follow them as they come together to clean out the apartment before their parents sell it.

Avery and Lucky both struggle with addiction and are on opposite ends of the road to sobriety. This along with them being the oldest and the youngest causes them to clash constantly with Bonnie unable to chose a side. Maybe if Nicky had lived they would be closer and more civil but that's the thing about death. I liked how NIcky, in their grief, is perfect and tragic because its harder to comes to terms with someone who wasn't even a little shitty also being dead. The sisters know they aren't perfect people and in their sadness it makes them take an inward look at themselves. Is Avery happy in her marriage, what is bonnie's relationship with her coach going to be, what is Lucky outside of the modeling world? They're all inidividually sucessful but what is life beyond their beloved sister who made them four, but now also made them three. They all feel fully realized as characters and I really liked watching their dynamic with each other.

The side characters all have their quirks. There's this woman Lucky meets outside a sex club that I keep thinking about. Troll doll is a fantastic name and embodies that name so perfectly. Along with the POVs and their story, this really makes me want to go back and read Mellors' other writings.

I did think the epilouge was unecessary. It was nice seeing where they all ended up but emotionally the story ended in the last chapter. I also thought that there was some repeated or reworded passages, They were short and made sense where they were but I don't always need to read the same info twice.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the e-ARC via netgalley!

This review will be published on the linked storygraph account on September 8, 2024

While a seemingly well-written and interesting story, I am having a hard time getting through this book. The chapters are very long, and I find I am not as invested as I think I should be. None of this is to suggest that this book is not worth picking up. The characters and story are deep-- there is just something about it that isn't working for me at this moment.

It took me a few days after finishing Blue Sisters to articulate my thoughts and feelings on the story.

On one hand, I kind of hated the sisters (except for Bonnie). They were debaucherous, nihilistic, self-centered, careless, and seemingly unwilling to do any real work to better themselves. It took until the very ending for me to see any redemptive qualities, but it still felt insufficient in the face of all the sisters have done to hurt those they love. I get that their family struggled with loss and addiction, but it seemed like they all used that as an excuse to be terrible people.

On the other hand, the depiction of generational trauma and how much strife it can cause was on point. Also, I did enjoy Bonnie’s storyline, and I was so thrilled she got the outcome she deserved. She dealt with the same loss, pain, and trauma that her sisters faced, but handled them in a way that didn’t come at the cost of the people who mattered most to her.

The book, despite my dislike for the story, was well written. I’d stumble across such beautifully crafted sentences that I felt like a miner who had unearthed a hidden gem. The little easter eggs woven throughout the book all linked together seamlessly, creating a really beautiful reading experience.

All in all, this story was not my style, and I expected something completely different going into it, but the author’s skill makes up for some of what the characters are lacking.

3.5/5 rounded down to 3

I was lucky enough to get this arc from @netgalley before the pub date! This one falls under contemporary fiction, which is not one of my “regular” genres, but the synopsis looked too good to skip!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
The Blue sisters grew up in NYC, but as adults; scattered across the globe in pursuit of their dreams. But when their sister Nicky. unexpectedly passes away, one by one, the sisters are brought back to NYC, to the place they grew up, in order to deal with their grief, and the sale of their childhood home.

𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I really liked this one! It was absolutely a different sort of read for me, but I needed something to break up my thriller binge. I thought the characters were interesting, and I liked how all three sisters were on their own personal journies to tackle their individual issues, as well as their shared grief journey as a family.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wonderful heartfelt book, as an eldest sibling of four this book hit all the heartstrings. I truly felt connected to the characters especially the eldest sister. I would love to see this book adapted into a movie. I felt this book to my core, and thought the growth of the characters was beautifully portrayed. It is a hard book to describe, but it really made me contemplate relationships and how I myself walk through them.

One of four sisters dies unexpectedly, leaving her family reeling. The story focuses on the three sisters told in interspersed chapters. Addiction is a familiar thread that runs through each story and a year later, they are not faring well. Complex interaction and stereotypical sibling order roles are played out. I loved this book and found the approach fresh and compelling with flowing believable dialogue and memorable characters. Definitely a writer to watch.

Copy provided by the publisher and Netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

Three of four surviving sisters of a severely dysfunctional family all struggling with their own issues including addiction, self worth, untraditional parents and direction along with grief from losing their sister. They reunite to go through their sisters things as they clean out their childhood home but also running from crises of their own making. It was hard for me to relate as I don’t have sisters but also there were few redeeming qualities to anyone in this family and the addiction and self destruction was hard to read and left me frustrated and wanting to yell “Get your act together.”

Gorgeous writing with meticulous attention to detail; characters so real they walk off the page; dialogue so believable you forget there’s a page between you and the characters talking

This book grabbed me right from the start and didn't let go until the end!!

Coco Mellors is truly a master of characterization. The sibling relationships, backstories, conflicts, and emotional arcs in this book are top-notch. Her prose is also incredibly fresh and lyrical. I truly savored this book. I highlighted nonstop. I cried at the end. Well done, Coco!

Thank you Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC. I am so grateful. 💙

Beautiful exploration of sisterhood and grief. And also addiction and chronic pain and absentee parents and dads who drink too much and destroying your life because you don’t know what else to do.

Reading *Blue Sisters* was an absolute delight, as the novel beautifully celebrates the essence of sisterhood above all else. We encounter the three Blue sisters—Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky—nearly a year after the tragic loss of their fourth sister, Nicky. Their grief has reached a breaking point, and each sister is on the verge of unraveling her own life.

This is a tale about navigating personal crises, addiction, and the deep bonds between siblings, all woven together with Coco Mellor's tender, heartfelt prose. It’s a truly touching book where readers can easily see reflections of themselves just like I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which I read in exchange for my honest review.

I'm likely not the only one who's noticed the flood of photos featuring Blue Sisters' beautiful, illustrative cover on social media, along with the glowing reviews and recommendations.

And… I wasn't disappointed by the hype. I ended up truly loving this poignant and powerful story about the four sisters, Avery, Bonny, Nicky, and Lucky Blue, and their intricate relationships as they navigate grief and adversity after their sister’s death.

The author's exploration of family dynamics is both raw and relatable, with each sister's unique perspective adding depth to the story. I really enjoyed the character study and (weirdly) found comfort in their stories and struggles, despite the darkness that each personal narrative entailed.

It’s a story that tore my heart out, and.. my heart still feels heavy after finishing it. But I loved the rawness and realness of it and the hope that it gave me in the end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this. The writing was very good and there was a strong sense of grounding in the story. I love a book about sisters and this did not disappoint

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. This was an absolutely beautiful story of sisterhood and I am excited to go back and check out this author’s debut from a few years ago. Highly recommend..

“𝓝𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓼 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓼 𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓽𝓱 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮."

✂️ P L O T L I N E
The three Blue Sisters return to their family home in New York a year after the unexpected death of their sister Nicky. Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky are all so different, yet are all having a difficult time in life accepting their reality and are keeping lies from themselves and each other. Can they come together to help each other through the complexities of life, or will they all continue on the path of self destruction?

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
What a beautifully written emotional roller coaster of a book this was! Wow…I was truly blown away by the descriptive writing. The curated image of all of the sisters is so clear that you feel like you know them in real life. This was a highly character driven book that explores the complexities of life, sisterhood, and living life after loss. It will pull at your heart strings and make you examine the relatability to your own life. Pick this one up when your heart and mind are ready for it.💙

📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
😢Emotional reads
❌Flawed characters
🧍🏻‍♀️Character driven
🏳️‍🌈LGBQT+ rep
💙Sisterhood
🎭Family drama
💔Dealing with grief
🗣️Multiple POVs

⚠️ 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:addiction, death, infidelity.

💙𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾💙
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💕Q U O T E: “𝒪𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝓎 𝒶𝑔𝑒, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓁𝑜𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝓊𝓅 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒."

🙏Thank you NetGalley, Random House- Ballantine, and Coco Mellors for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts 💕

Wow. This story ripped my heart out. As a big sister I could feel every emotion of this book. Sisters are gifts and my little sister is the world to me. This was written so beautifully and creatively that I wanted to savor every moment. I’ve never read Coco before and I’m so impressed with this talent. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this stellar novel.

Blue Sisters is a compelling saga of sisterhood and a dysfunctional family, where three sisters, scattered across different cities, come together again to face the grief of fourth sister, Nicky’s, first death anniversary.

All the sisters have their vices—Avery is a kleptomaniac, Bonnie is addicted to pain, and Lucky struggles with drugs and alcohol. None of them have admitted this, not even to themselves.

When their parents decide to sell the family home and divide Nicky’s belongings, the sisters reunite to stop them. This meeting unleashes long-buried emotions and secrets that threaten to tear them apart. Can they let go of the past, heal, and support each other before it’s too late?

This book will surely bring on the tears and tug at your heartstrings. The characters’ struggles with family, vices, and redemption may hit close to home, making it all the more relatable. The Blue Sisters delivers a raw, emotional, and deeply moving story and I very much enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, and Coco Mellors for the ARC of Blue Sisters in exchange for an honest review.

Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky are the Blue sisters. They reunite in the apartment they grew up in in New York City one year after the death of the fourth Blue sister, Nicky.

Each sister has their own struggles. Avery, a successful lawyer and decades sober, is realizing she may not want the life she has. Bonnie, a national champion boxer, is looking for love. Lucky, a model since her teens, is living a jet-set life filled with alcohol and drugs.

Blue Sisters is drama filled. It also reflects the complexity of family and sisterhood, especially when it includes generational trauma and addiction. Each sisters is portrayed as multi-faceted; their demons and flaws are just as present as their gifts. This left me without a favorite character; I enjoyed bits of each sister.

I honestly loved this book from the start. The writing is gorgeous and Coco Mellors attention to detail is *chefs kiss* Her writing style flowed so well that even the dialogue melted together with the internal monologues of the characters. (If that made sense lol) The character developments were phenomenal. I found this book to be mentally calming, which is surprising given the topics that are discussed.

“But Chiti didn’t understand what it was like to have sisters. Against their parents, against the world at large, they were fiercely allied. But between each other, everything was a competition”

Coco Mellors sophomore novel Blue Sisters brings together three sisters mourning their fourth sisters death one year later. Beautifully written, we get to understand each sibling and their grief, relationship with others, and ways they are selling themselves short. Avery, the eldest, while seemingly perfect on the outside, has found secretive ways to act out like smoking in the shed and stealing. Bonnie, a former boxer, has fled her career to become a bouncer across the country. Lucky, the baby, is a model and party girl struggling to know who she is. Throughout all of it are themes of sibling rivalry that is so rich and true.

While slow paced at times (the chapters can be veryyyy long), I really enjoyed the ending and seeing the characters find their own ways. Avery’s scene with her mother was one of my favorites in the whole book. A lovely book that I’d definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this review.