Blue Sisters is a beautiful and deeply sad novel about the special bond of sisterhood, as told through the lives of Avery, Bonnie and Lucky Blue.

Each sister has been reeling since the loss of their fourth sister, Nicky, exactly a year ago. Avery is a posh attorney, living with her wife in a bourgeois section of London. As the oldest, Avery has acted as the mother, a perfectionist, and someone who can’t let the cracks in her facade show. Bonnie is a professional boxer. But she hasn’t boxed since Nicky died, instead bartending in a hip locals bar in Venice Beach, California. And Lucky is a model, not exactly living anywhere, traipsing from one party to another. Each sister has been trying to hold it together, but failing and terrified to admit it to the others. In Blue Sisters, we see them come together and move apart, over and over, as they move through their grief. Alcoholism and addiction are a strong thread, as is family strife.

I absolutely loved this book. Coco Mellors’s writing is beautiful. The descriptive metaphors are smart and spot-on. The characters were so easy to love, feel empathy for, and root for. Once I started reading this book, I didn’t want to stop. I immediately added Mellors’s first novel to my library holds!

Highly recommended, going on my favorites shelf. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite quotes:
Kids who grew up with loving fathers had the same starry-eyed softness as kids raised in places like Malibu, those homes of eternal sunshine. They never had to toughen up. Lucky had this theory that having a bad dad was like growing up in a place with a long, rough winter. It hardens you. It also prepares you for reality, which is that summer is a season, not a lifestyle, and most men will hurt you if they get the chance. Or maybe it was only the people who grew up with bad dads who believed that.

“Living in L.A. is like dating a really beautiful person who has nothing to say,” said Avery. “It’s fine for a while because, you know, look at them, but eventually you’re going to realize you need to be around people who read books and have their real noses.”

Avery had previously thought love was built on large, visible gestures, but a marriage turned out to be the accrual of ordinary, almost inconsequential, acts of daily devotion—washing the mugs left in the sink before bed, taking the time to run up or downstairs to kiss each other quickly before one left the house, cutting up an extra piece of fruit to share—acts easy to miss, but if ever gone, deeply missed.

Trying to make a single glass of wine last for an entire meal, eking out tiny little sips and pretending to enjoy the taste rather than chase the effect, was worse than not drinking at all.

Her mother’s idea of being helpful was unsolicited criticism delivered swiftly, seemingly from nowhere, like getting hit by a dart in dark. By the time you realized you were punctured, the next one had usually been thrown.

In England there was a saying used by football fans: It’s the hope that kills you. A loss is always more bitter if you let yourself dream of victory first. Low expectations, that’s how the Brits liked to live. Protectiveness dressed up as pragmatism. It was how their mother always operated. But Avery was American. She believed in hope, had eaten it for breakfast along with Frosted Flakes and local news segments about everyday people who jumped onto subway tracks to save perfect strangers. And nothing was more hopeful than sobriety.

This book, "Blue Sisters", revolves around the story of three sisters who are trying to navigate their complex relationships and personal lives after the death of their sister. The book explores the unique bond that sisters share, highlighting the idea that sisters may not always share clothes but would be willing to make significant sacrifices for each other.

Despite the heavy subject matter, the novel offers a somewhat enjoyable reading experience by the way it took me through different cities like Paris, London, New York, and L.A. Each sister's journey in these locations reflects their desperate search for a sense of home after their sister's death. Absolutely beautifully executed and I thoroughly loved that!

The author, Mellors, fearlessly delves into the difficult aspects of life, particularly grief and its varied manifestations in different individuals. The novel also focuses on addiction and the determination to break the cycle of addiction within a family.

"Blue Sisters" is a heartfelt and emotionally tender book that will resonate with anyone who has sisters. And it deeply touched my heart! I felt so seen in so many ways. It explores themes of letting go, moving on, and learning how to live again.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Wow! I loved this book so much. Definitely going to order for my branch and hope to use it as a book club pick once hype dies down. Lovely story about three sisters dealing with the aftermath of their sister's death. Told in alternating viewpoints over multiple periods of time.

4.5 stars! thank you to net galley for an e-arc ❣️

this was my first introduction to coco mellor and this was a treat. warning, the chapters were pretty long, but they usually ended with the plot accelerating so you'd immediately want to jump into the next one.

i did not have the privilege of being born to sisters, so i am sure this book would hit even harder had i grown up with them but i think this book does have something for everyone.

i typically don't enjoy epilogues in books either but this one was very sweet and wrapped everything up nicely.

i definitely recommend this!

They were meant to be four…

I thought this book was fantastic. Mellors' writing is gripping, raw, and emotional, making it hard to put down.

The book follows three estranged sisters as they navigate life after the first anniversary of their sister's untimely death. When their parents decide to sell the family home in New York—a place filled with significant memories—the three sisters reunite and confront their strained relationships. The story unfolds across Paris, London, New York, and LA, revealing how their lives have been affected since their sister's death.

Mellors' writing makes it impossible not to love these characters. Each sister is unique yet flawed, with their grief portrayed so vividly—it consumes and pulls people apart, yet it can also bring them together. I admired how Mellors explored the complexities of sibling relationships and appreciated the portrayal of the realities of addiction, family cycles of addiction, and the role grief plays in addiction.

Mellors' writing is amazing, filled with so much emotion and depth. This is my first book by Coco Mellors, and I'm happy to say it won't be my last.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

T his is the best book I will have read all year. I want to thank NetGally and Random House publishing for the ability to read this ARC!

WOW where do I even begin? I related so closely to this novel as the oldest daughter of 3 siblings and who also has addiction in their family. The Blue Sisters comprise of Avery, Bonnie, Nicky and Lucky. All of the sisters were written so poignantly - Avery is the classic older sister/ mother figure to her sisters due to an absentee mother who demands that everyone believes she is perfect externally, but inside she is struggling to find who she is outside of her family; Bonnie is a quiet, peacekeeping middle child who is trying to keep everyone together; and Lucky the flighty, wild child youngest daughter who relies on her instincts and street smarts. We meet these three sisters a year after Nicky, the perfectly ballet slippers pink girls girl quietly acting as the glue keeping them all together, dies from an overdose. The three sisters are navigating their new place in the world after 1/4th of them is gone, what they truly want out of their lives now that the dynamic has shifted, and how they must deal with their own addiction issues. From LA, Paris and NYC, I loved how the narratives wove together to find each other seamlessly throughout the story and fell in love with every single character I came across (even insufferable Troll Doll). Listening to the sisters describe Nicky through memories and how Nicky made an impact on each of their lives moved me to tears. Grief, substance abuse and hopefulness was touched on flawlessly. I laughed, I cried and I was left with so much hope for the future of these characters and my own relationships. I will absolutely be purchasing a hard copy of this book in September!

What a gift, to be able to see life through the lens of the four who became three Blue Sisters. Bearing witness to the most vulnerable, raw, and honest moments of their sisterhood truly took my breath away at times. I found myself picking this up, reading a chapter, and taking a moment to sit with those feelings. After falling hard for Mellors' Frankenstein & Cleopatra, I was on edge, wondering if this book could live up - Let me tell you, it didn't just meet expectations; it shattered them. Mellors has this magic touch that pulls you right into the story, making you feel every high and low alongside her characters. It's been a long time since a book has grabbed me like this. This is easily my favorite read of the year so far, and I'm so excited to see what comes next!

I can't wait to re-read this with friends, look out for this release September 3rd!

Thank you so much to Ballantine Books/Coco Mellors/NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of my most anticipated books for the year. Going into it, I had extremely high hopes, and it did not disappoint. I can't remember the last time I have read a book like this. It's realistic, complicated and simply beautiful. These characters were so well written and complex. I thought I would prefer one over the others. However, I loved every single one. They were so real, messy, and brilliant. The topics of childhood trauma, addiction, and grief were handled in such a delicate and phenomenal way. I loved everything about this. One of my favorite books for this year. Coco Mellors is an incredible writer and I highlighted so many beautiful sentences. This story will stick with me for a very long time.

(Got this as an ARC on #NetGalley.) Coco Mellors does it again with creating complicated and flawed characters that you can’t help but love and root for. This explores the complicated feelings of grief, familial love and romantic love, childhood trauma, addiction, and more. I found myself hurting for the sisters and hoping for their journeys to lead to a happy ending even through it all. I enjoyed getting the different internal looks at the sisters and the similarities of each other despite their differences. Beautifully written.

This was a story about the complicated relationship between the four Blue sisters. Although they were completely different personalities, they had one thing in common - they were each addicted to something - drugs, boxing, alcohol, shoplifting. When one of the sisters dies and their parents eventually decide to sell the NYC apartment they grew up in, the sisters need to come together to continue grieving both their sister and their apartment. They had drifted apart over the years, so this was more difficult than it sounded. I did tire of reading so much about the girls' addictions and that's the main reason I didn't give the book a higher rating. Many thanks to Ms. Mellors, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the e-ARC! This will be releasing in Sept 2024 in the US.

This was phenomenal. I would give this 6-stars if I could. This is one of those books you hope to see become a movie a some day. It's that good. Following Coco Mellors' also amazing debut novel, Cleopatra & Frankenstein, this too didn't fall short.

The story starts with the introduction of three estranged sisters, Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky having recently lost their fourth sister, Nicky. The sister who despite all their differences brought them all together. Each sister facing their grief from this tragedy while living their tumultuous lives eventually meet to sort out Nicky's belongings in their childhood apartment in NYC.

There really is nothing like a sibling bond and Coco Mellors captured this bond so beautifully. While it brings topics of addiction and recovery, they lean on each other for support in their own journey. This story is told in three POVs, each having their own and I thought I would prefer one over the other but I loved reading them all. To see how each of them had a relationship with Nicky that was unique to them...I mean Bravo. It was like reading a ticking time bomb go off and when it finally does, you're so invested , you feel for all of them.

Coco's writing is truly like no author I've ever read. The amount of highlights is almost laughable but her words have a way of really resonating. This was the case for Cleopatra & Frankenstein as well. She is now an auto-buy author for me. :)

While I initially found this book enjoyable, my interest disappeared by about the halfway point. The lack of paragraph breaks and excessively long chapters made it a chore to read. Additionally, I struggled to connect with the characters, and found myself simply wanting the book to end.

The mention of an israeli character felt unnecessary and even insensitive, especially given the current situation of the genocide happening in Palestine.

First and foremost, the cover of this book as absolutely beautiful and was what caught my attention in my endless scroll of books. I picked this one and every time I took a break from reading I could not take my mind off of these characters.

This book begins with the prologue introducing each sister. Avery, the eldest and a recovering heroin addict turned strait-laced lawyer who lives with her wife in London. Bonnie, a former boxer, working as a bouncer in Los Angeles following a devastating defeat. Lucky, the youngest, modeling in Paris while trying to outrun her hard-partying ways. They also had a fourth sister, Nicky, whose unexpected death left the family reeling. Each character introduction really helped distinguish which sibling was which and give us a sense of who they were. The prologue gave me the similar vibe of Little Women where Jo March says, "Beth was the best of us," except in this instances, the best of the Blue sisters in their eyes was Nicky.

This book is an ode to sisterhood. I am a little sister and my sister is everything to me. The way these women spoke of each other, their experiences growing up together, and overall what it means to be a sister, really resonated with me and will be a story that I will reach for with love. I may be biased, but any book on the values and themes of sisterhood (ex. Book Lovers by Emily Henry) will be highly regarded by me.

These women are flawed, self-destructive, and lost in a world where their sister is no longer and with parents who never put them first. As the book progresses, you want to shake them and steer them in the right way but that's the beauty of these characters is that it feels real. They didn't solve their issues in a matter of chapters and it wasn't wrapped up in a pretty little bow. They dealt with their grief in their own (albeit unhealthy) ways while also dealing with their dynamics as three somewhat estranged sisters. The ending of this book made me want to cry and the author's note almost finished me off when Coco stated she was seven months pregnant while writing it (congratulations!)

Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Coco Mellors, and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really beautifully written book and I loved everything about it. It struck something in my soul and I can't wait to read what Mellors writes next.

First, a story: Sometimes it's okay to judge a book by its cover. I happened across Cleopatra and Frankenstein (Coco Mellor's debut novel) by accident, and just loved the cover. I had never heard of the book nor the author, but the cover evoked a feeling in me that I couldn't shake, so I bought it. Of course I also read the blurb and was mildly intrigued, but the artwork is what really did it for me(props to you Gill Button). I anticipated reading it sometime this year whenever I was having trouble choosing my next book. Two days later, I finished the book I was reading and walked over to my bookshelf; once again, the cover worked its magic and I opened it to page one. I was in the middle of chapter two before I realized I was still standing there at the bookshelf. Cleopatra and Frankenstein is hilarious, spectacular, brooding, and painful. I could write/talk about it endlessly, but this isn't a review for that book.

The day I finished Cleopatra and Frankenstein , I saw that some people had an advanced reader copy of her upcoming novel Blue Sisters. I immediately set myself to the task of getting one for myself and had it within 24 hours. I hadn't felt this much excitement to read a new book for several months, but I was apprehensive about hyping myself up just to be let down. Well let me tell you folks, nothing to worry about here.

I don't want my review to be all summary, so briefly: Blue Sisters is about four sisters, one of whom has died exactly one year prior. It explores the aftermath of their relationship with their parents, each other, and themselves.

Mellors just has a way with describing mental states that is so accurate, I often feel like I'm being called out. Death and grief are huge themes in this book, obviously, but her real strengths are in the way she writes about the little feelings we try to hide, specifically from ourselves. The way we take on attributes of our parents and relive or repeat the traumas of our childhoods on ourselves and those we love, all the while self-righteously pretending we are better than those who imposed upon us these same traumas. The ways we internally deny our addictions and make excuses for ourselves, even when no one else is around to warrant justification. The tendencies we have for believing our own narrative is objective truth, and repetitively looping negative experiences over and over in our minds, refusing to detach and, therefore, not really letting ourselves know "the other", so to speak.

It's not a complicated book, but it's difficult in its unflinching exploration and portrayal of deeply tragic events, misunderstandings, and anger filled confrontations to which we can all relate. It's also filled with moments of love, mercy, humility, and again, love. Familial love. Romantic love. Worldly and spiritual love. Self-love. It's a beautiful book and I think you should read it.

thank you to netgalley for sending me an advanced copy of this book, it was such a perfect read.

blue sisters is a book that every girl, sister, and daughter should read. from the second i started reading, i was absorbed in the story of four sisters who battled everything they possibly could, grief, love, addiction, family, and so much more. i found myself relating to all of them in different ways, and having a greater appreciation for my mother and my sister, two of the most important people in my life. coco mellors wrote a phenomenal story that shows women and anyone who struggles with family and addiction that you can become the person you want to be and there will always be someone by your side. i am so glad that i got the opportunity to read this book. i'll leave it with the a lyric from the song that embodies this book, "you don't have to be sorry for leaving and growing up".

Could not wait to get into this after enjoying 'Cleopatra and Frankenstein' so much almost 2 years ago. This did remind me a little of 'Hello Beautiful' by Ann Napolitano - a four-sister family navigating heartbreak and tragedy. Beautifully and tenderly written, and relatable in parts as a UK to USA immigrant like the author herself, each of the characters finding their own way in the world again and back to each other after their lives have simultaneously been turned upside down. Devastating yet heartwarming in the best way possible & I didn't want it to end.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

This was honestly such a beautiful story. As someone who only has one sibling that is almost 10 years older, I’ve never had a family dynamic that involved much sibling relationship.

I found it quite brilliant to write this story surrounding loss and how it affects an entire family dynamic. The story was multiple POV which I usually enjoy, but I truly loved learning and hearing from each sister in this family.

If you love books about self growth and family drama, this will be right up your alley. I felt like CoCo Mellors beautifully wrote characters that were so flawed that you couldn’t help but relate to them. Watching them all realize that life is fleeting and that sometimes to make something of your own life, you have to deal with the pain you’ve experienced and learn from it.

I’m very excited to read more from this author. Cleopatra and Frankenstein is next on my list!

Coco Mellors’ debut “Cleopatra and Frankenstein” stayed with me long after I finished reading (Eleanor!!) and I was so excited to see a new book coming about sisters and am so lucky to get accepted for an ARC.

The Blue Sisters, Avery, Bonnie, Nicky and Lucky grow up in a small apartment in New York with their British mother and alcoholic father, with Avery taking over the parent role, learning about addiction at an early age. They grow up to be a super successful lawyer, a world-class boxer, an English teacher and a fashion model, respectively. Only Nicky ends up staying in their Manhattan apartment.

Soon tragedy strikes as one of them unexpectedly dies and the Blue Sisters become blue with grief of loss and their lives unravel and they reunite in their small apartment.

My sister was diagnosed with an illness a couple of years ago and living through with the thought that I maybe losing her was a horrible pain. I used to call her as a little kid my “little mom”, like Avery is to her sisters. This book had me relive the sadness, the joy and the unexpected growing I lived through during that period.

Like her debut, Mellors writes wonderfully in “Blue Sisters” about people who may be broken but can be found and also about the unbreakable bond between sisters where even the worst fights can be forgot after some teasing and most importantly about sharing laughter. I sobbed reading a couple of times so I’d definitely recommend this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Coco Mellors for the ARC!!

Coco Mellors has once again written a stunning novel. Full of emotion, nuanced relationships, and grief, Blue Sisters brought me to tears multiple times. The prose is stunning and the plot had me gripped the entire time.