In Coco Mellors’s Blue Sisters, Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky are navigating living with grief after the death of their youngest sister Nicky, and dealing with the devastating loss in different ways. The sisters, spread across the globe, eventually reunite in their childhood apartment and learn to live.

WOW! There’s nothing I can say about this novel that will do it justice. It is flawless, I loved every sister to bits, and you should read this book. This will definitely be in my top five reads this year, if not #1. The best news ever, which is currently making my both my brain and heart explode, is this is my first Coco Mellors, so please excuse me now so I can go read Cleopatra and Frankenstein.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House / Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

"'I find what gives me pleasure and I do it until it gives me pain,' she said. 'Every time.'"

Beautiful. Devastating. An exploration of sisterhood, grief, and addiction that left me feeling raw. I laughed, I cried, I can’t wait to read it again.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors.

Oh how I loved this book. I can't get enough of being a fly on the wall in families. Three sisters, Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky, are estranged sisters who are all suffering the same loss of the third sister Nicky, who died suddenly in her twenties. All sisters fight their own brand of addiction, and all of them are hanging on to their extraordinary lives by a thread. But through their own difficulties they begin to find each other, and their renewed relationships might either make or break the family.

This smacked hard of Poisonwood Bible in it's own way, a book that I hold so precious. I loved seeing this unique sisters come together, discover their similarities, and struggle through them together. Each sister was so unique and captivating, I truly couldn't get enough of any of them, I knew them so well.

This is written so well, it's so heartwarming, I can't wait to read more from Mellors.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

A STUNNING, witty, and melancholy view on the importance of sisterhood and the ways our families shape us. No one writes characters as fully as Coco. Every main character has a rich and full inner life and current story. The side characters are not put to the wayside, and are given their impactful background, which is really the difference in Coco’s stories. Highly recommending this one. #BlueSisters #NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this title!

I LOVED this book. It was so gorgeously written. We really get to know and understand each sister - even when I didn't necessarily agree with their words or actions, I deeply understood where they were coming from. It's a beautiful thing to have such a connection with someone that you can be your worst self, but at the end of the day, they will still choose you. So many great quotes about sisterhood & motherhood in here as well!

If you enjoy stories about complex family dynamics and characters who work through hardships in not=so-perfect ways, you will love this one.

This was my first time reading Coco Mellors and I definitely enjoyed the writing!

Blue Sisters follows three sisters on the anniversary of their fourth sister's death. Full of complex family dynamics and the ripple effects of loss and addiction, this was by no means an easy read but was like a slow motion car wreck that you can't look away from.

This quote really stood out to me:
"She could not have known that she would one day build the dream she longed for, a home where she never used the locks on the doors. She could not have expected that freedom would look like that, a forgetting that was so close to, but not, forgiveness."

*Note: This review was posted on my bookstagram (@reading_with_deb) on 4/26/2024.

This book is going to be on everyone’s list this year!

This is such a beautiful book about sisterhood and grief and the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters. I absolutely loved it and will be thinking about Avery, Bonnie and Lucky for a very long time.

This book made me want to have a gaggle of children to love each other. I am so lucky to have my sister and to be friends with her. I am also excited to read Coco Mellor’s other book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was a great read. I won’t give much away because it’s better to let it unfold but it centers around a family of sisters and dives into how addiction has impacted their lives. I loved the writing style and even though I didn’t personally relate to any of the characters, they were so richly written I had no problem connecting to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I went into this book with high expectations because I loved Cleopatra & Frankenstein! This wasn’t the 5 star I was expecting but I still really enjoyed this. I’m teetering between a 3.5 - 4 star for this book. I loved getting each sister’s perspective and seeing how each character was handling the aftermath of their sisters death. Coco did a great job with developing each one of the sisters and seperating their voices. Her writing in this novel was great to me & the problems that each character is going through felt very real.

I’m not sure why but it took me a while to get into this book, i stopped and started a few times before finally picking it up for good in the last half and thats the reason this wasnt a full five star for me. Coco is definitely going to be an autobuy author for me and I cant wait to see what else she oublishes.

Wow what a masterful description of having siblings. I grew up in a family of 4 children (although i was the only girl) and Mellors’ portrayal of it definitely struck a chord. Also having lost a family member to a painkiller addiction mixed with alcohol abuse it’s safe to say this book had me reeling. All three sisters we see are complex and relatable. It’s clever, witty, poetic, funny, and touching in all the best ways. I really enjoyed Cleopatra and Frankenstein but this has dethroned it as my favorite Coco Mellors book. She has swiftly become an autobuy author for me. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this before it releases in the U.S. but it’s safe to say I’ll be purchasing the paperback when it’s available. In addition to having wonderful stories inside, Coco Mellors books always have gorgeous covers. Looking forward to adding more of her works to my shelf in the future!

I will read anything coco writes, truly. And yet again she delivered a beautiful novel.

From the impecable covers to the story Coco’s books aways catch my eye and keep me with the writing. The paintings done on the covers are amazing. The version of Blue Sisters with all four sisters on the cover is stunning!!!! I will be buying that version of the book.

As the eldest of three sisters this book called to me. All three of us are so different just like the Blue sisters. The way Coco can fully form a character is amazing. Each sister is their own perosn, a full fledged person! Coco did a great job of flushing out each character paying attention to every detail that makes them a real human. Each one likable, relatable and flawed all at the same time. She has a great way of finding someone everyone can connect to.

I had so many feelings reading this story. There were many times where I identified with one sister over the other and then they would do something morally gray and I liked the other one more. Each character was so realistic, flaws and all! I think that is why I loved the story so much. I saw these real people who are dealing with growing up, grief, and closure. All the sisters are so differnt and took their upbringing, which wasnt amazing with frustrating parents, and chose a different path in life and handeled it differently.

This story was very relatable! Unfortunaly everyone deals with grief at some point in life and Coco was able to show various perspectives on it.

As a writer I love Coco’s voice, her writing is so beautiful and maticulous! I would read anything she writes! In fact I just started Cleopatra and Frankinstein.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Blue Sisters should have been a slam dunk read for me. Coco Mellors has a fresh narrative voice that throws readers into the thick of the Blue sisters' grieving process one year after the death of their sibling, Nicky. This process looks a bit different for each of them. Readers follow oldest sibling, Avery - a former addict turned lawyer with a penchant for always taking care of others more than herself - as she navigates a turbulent time in her marriage. Bonnie, the middle sister, has spent the year away from the boxing ring and feels very disconnected from the life she used to have. Lucky, the youngest, is a model caught in the throes of a drug and alcohol-fueled dependency. No one is thriving; each of them grapples with addiction issues in their own way. These issues correlate with their father's alcoholism, demonstrating the ways in which addiction go hand-in-hand with generational trauma.

As mentioned, there are a lot of good things happening here. However, the issue I found with this one is very similar to how I felt after reading Coco Mellors' debut, Cleopatra and Frankenstein: my interest in the writing was inconsistent. She's developed very complex characters (as was the case in her previous novel). I enjoyed her exploration of the complicated family dynamics at work, especially in light of this monumental change they have to collectively face. However, there were so many moments when I felt like her writing needed to be dialed in. That could just be my personal take; others may really enjoy the slower, roundabout pacing.

When I started reading this, I had a gut instinct it would be a four or five star read. Yet, in my opinion, the story got sort of lost along the way. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for any follow-ups she writes, as I do think there is something very unique about her approach. I also loved reading the acknowledgements, as it's clear she put a lot of her own heart and soul into these characters and their situation. So, while I respect it and understand others giving this a higher rating, it just didn't totally work for me.

“As long as you are alive, it is never too late to be found”
Blue Sisters is the story of three sisters grieving, reconnecting, and learning to live life again after the death of their fourth sister.

I knew before I started this book that I would love it. It has two of my favorite themes in literature: addiction and grief. Add to that, it’s a Coco Mellors story and explores the complex relationships between four sisters and it was just bound to be a winner. It is complex, messy, and beautiful.

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

BLUE SISTERS
Coco Mellors

What do our parents owe to us as their children that we do not at first owe to ourselves?

Does moving on mean letting go?

If we break free from the arms that hold us down, who will we turn to when we need to be held? Will we ever know the difference?

Avery is “sensible”, Bonnie is “stoic”, Lucky is “sharp and shy,” and Nicole is dead. It’s as devastating as that.

Bastille Day is approaching, it’s the fourth of July, it’s been exactly a year since Nicky died and no one feels free. They say the key to making someone feel like they have more freedom is to build a wider fence for them to roam within.

What fences are you surrounded by? Who built them?

If you’ve read Mellors before you might think she only writes about the complexities of a romantic relationship, but with BLUE SISTERS she shows her range and explores all aspects of love.

Reading BLUE SISTERS was like watching something appear out of thin air. Her character construction is perfection. Like a skilled painter, she at first uses big broad strokes, then goes in with finer details and what you get at the end is more beautiful because of that attention to detail. Because she went in and highlighted certain features and created shadows and depth and variation.

BLUE SISTERS is layered and complex and Mellor's talent for writing feels God-given. It was such a pleasure to read!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the advanced copy!

BLUE SISTERS…⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Blue Sisters’ has been at the top of my “Most Anticipated of 2024” list, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC. Let me tell you, this did not disappoint!

I only have one brother, so the dynamic between sisters has always fascinated me. Being a little on the competitive side, I would imagine that any sister and I probably would’ve butted heads our fair share of times. I can’t imagine that this hypothetical sister and I would’ve had quite the levels of drama that Avery, Bonnie, Nicky, and Lucky experienced though!

After the death of the third sister, Nicky, we are given a glimpse into the lives of those she left behind. The three surviving sisters are all deeply unique, yet they share many of the same struggles. Identity issues, addiction, self-sabotage, overwhelming grief…to name a handful. Whenever there are so many POVs, I worry they’ll start to blend together, or I’ll struggle to remember who is who. This was not an issue at all in ‘Blue Sisters’. I did definitely prefer one POV (Bonnie’s) to the other two, but Lucky and Avery had me feeling so many emotions! Often not completely happy emotions, but emotions nonetheless.

Coco Mellors is a new-to-me author, and her writing style captivated me from the very beginning. It’s gorgeous! I would not hesitate to read anything by her again, and I’m eager to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Wow. Words cannot express the feelings from this book. Coco Mellors truly takes you on an adventure of heartbreak, grief, love, and everything in between. I don’t have sisters personally, but I feel as if this book makes me feel as if I was one of the blue sisters and showed me just how pure the love between these 4 is. This is by far my favorite read of the year so far. My heart is shattered and mended all at the same time.

Tom Lake meets the Nest- Full of family drama, relationship struggles, and what happens when your sisters are your best friends. I loved this book and I loved how perfectly coco writes about females and their relationship with each other. Bonnie is the real hero.
This book has a little bit of everything, and I think it will speak to a lot of hearts- mothers, and sisters included. Cannot wait to gift a copy to my sister!

Blue sisters was a gripping story about these gals and their lives , some relatable in ways
Enjoyed this story the characters couldn’t put it down

Coco Mellors character depth is astounding in the very best way. This book follows three sisters as they grieve the loss of their sister. Switching between three points of view allows us as the reader to feel each character grieve and mourn in their own way while also delving into each sister's personal life. These characters are certainly not the most likable but they draw you in all the same and by the end you will be rooting for them. 5 stars.

I enjoyed Coco Mellor's debut a couple of years ago and remember thinking I couldn't wait to see how her sophomore book would shine. And this gem definitely shines. Mellor's has polished her writing style and honed her plotting, and given us a deep, emotional, gritty and beautiful story. I loved this book. As someone with 4 sisters, the sibling dynamics here spoke to me so sharply and so accurately, and I found myself tearing up towards the end. This one is going to be a big hit!