Words cannot describe how much I LOVE this book. I loved "Cleopatra and Frankenstein", and as soon as I saw Coco Mellors had a new book I HAD to jump on the possibility of reading it early. I already plan on selling this book until I am BLUE in the face.
There was not a single letter that was placed into this book without purpose, and that is what I adore about Mellors' writing. It is just so lyrical and poetic that it all just flows effortlessly.
Okay, this is a book about four sisters who grew up in NYC. Fast forward, they are all grown up now and the story picks up on the one year anniversary of one of the sister's deaths. What follows is how these women's lives are entangled and how they are similar and yet so very different. It delves into parental issues and addiction and fertility issues. It is just one of the most beautiful books I have ever read and I know it will stick with me until the day I die.
I have no idea how Coco Mellors managed to write a book better than Cleopatra and Frankenstein, but she did it. Everyone needs to read this book, even if you are an only child. It is just utter perfection.
Thank you thank you thank you so much to NetGalley, Coco Mellors, and the publishing company behind this title for allowing me to read this early.

Blue Sisters
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

The characters are so beautifully and humanly constructed that you feel you're reading either their thoughts or their diary.

This novel portrays the lives of the Blue sisters, each one unique and utterly different from one another. The story starts on the one year anniversary of Nicky Blue and how each one of the other three sisters cope with losing the sister that seemed to be the glue between the four.
This story is one of grief, growth and learning how to live in spite of their upbringing. I deeply felt for each one of them, you end up understanding their problems and rooting for them to get better. Isn't that what we all strive for? Being better, whatever our problem might be.

This is my first Coco book and I can't wait to read another and another and another one.

“A sister is not a friend. Who can explain the urge to take a relationship as primal and complex as a sibling and reduce it to something as replaceable, as banal as a friend?”

Blue Sisters details the lives of each of the four ‘Blue’ sisters and the complicated relationship between siblings. The story takes place one year after Nicky’s death, as Avery, Bonnie and Lucky struggle with their grief. The writing is beautiful and Coco Mellors does a wonderful job of crafting intricate characters. While I enjoyed Blue Sisters, I don’t know if I adored it as much as Cleopatra and Frankenstein. The book started off strong, but I often struggle with long chapters and I didn’t feel as motivated to pick it back up in the middle. However, I did enjoy the character development and the relationship between the sisters. As the quote above states, the relationship between family, particularly siblings, is complex and one that does not dissolve as easily as a friendship. Overall, this was a wonderful book that I would recommend to readers who enjoy character-driven stories.

4.25/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loveeee Coco Mellors. Cleopatra and Frankenstein is one of my favorite books of all time. Unfortunately, I don't think Blue Sisters *quite* lives up to that one for me, but I did still enjoy it. I love any books about sisters and sisterhood, and this was no exception. I didn't personally connect with any of the sisters as much as I wanted to; usually I can identify with one character and I look forward to reading their POV, but this wasn't the case with this one unfortunately. It did drag a little in the middle, but I'm still glad I read this, and would recommend it to others.

Mellors’ first book left me wanting a bit more but this book delivered!!!! So good, so sincere, so emotional. Would recommend!!!

**4.5 STARS!!**

WOW. This book was so different from many others that I have read and I absolutely loved it. This is a story about sisterhood, grief, love, addiction, and finding yourself, and it is deeply moving in its own special way.

Each sister was so interesting and intriguing to read about, and I loved the alternating POVs for each of them. It was such an interesting look at the familial component of addictions, the complexities of having, and losing, sisters, and learning to love life again after dealing with tremendous loss and hurt. The characters are all so flawed, but are also so easy to love, and I think that's really due to Coco's ability to write about flawed individuals exceedingly well. I found this book to be truly beautifully written and very, very captivating! It really felt like each woman was a real person that I knew and could connect with. If you're looking for something new, refreshing, and different, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you, as always, to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this ARC for me to read and honestly review!

“A sister is not a friend. Who can explain the urge to take a relationship as primal and complex as a sibling and reduce it to something as replaceable, as banal as a friend?”

Blue Sisters opens with this compelling line and follows the lives of four sisters in the aftermath of a tragic event that ultimately challenges how they will continue to forge together as close siblings. Coco Mellors does a masterful job with this character study of Avery (the oldest and most know-it-all protector), Bonnie (the stoic second-born) Nicky (the middle-child dreamer), and Lucky (the youngest rebel). A devastating loss exposes the unique bond sisters share, how grief manifests differently in each person, and how we continue to redefine ourselves around the edges of those we love most.

While I sailed through the first 150 pages, I found myself struggling with some of the characters (particularly Lucky) in the second half. Addiction - in all its forms - is a common theme. I ended up liking Bonnie the most and recently read an interview with Mellors who said she did the most research for her character. It definitely showed.

Read if you enjoy and/or can relate:
Strong character development
Sisterly love
Grieving a close family member
LGBTQ representation

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC provided by NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review.

"Blue Sisters" by Coco Mellors is a heartfelt novel that explores themes of grief, addiction, and family. The book is told from three points of view. Each chapter shifts from sister to sister, diving into how their lives have been affected not just since the death of their sister Nicole, but also since their difficult childhood, growing up with a distant mother and abusive father in the heart of NYC.

Guarantee this is going to be a NYT Best Seller come September. Mellors does an incredible job of captivating the reader, making us forget we’re even reading at times. The dialogue, the banter, the backstory, were all so detailed and beautifully written. I loved that each sister took a completely different track in life, yet all came together again to share their struggles and unrelenting love.

You don’t want to miss this one!

Coco Mellors you have done it again. Blue Sisters feels like coming home to a family you never knew you had.
 
This story follows the Blue Sisters Avery, who is a former addict and now lawyer living in London; Bonnie, who is a boxing champion escaping her life in LA; Lucky, who is the youngest and rebellious one thriving in her modeling career; and Nicky, whose loss all sisters struggle with differently.

This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about loss, sisterhood, addiction, recovery, regretting motherhood and unconditional love. It’s about losing every piece about oneself just to become a complete different version of yourself. It’s navigating daily life while struggling in silence.

I loved everything about this story and i can’t even believe that these characters are so real. I felt a piece of myself in each of these characters and miss the Blue sisters already.

Thanks you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. A must read for 2024!

"Blue Sisters" by Coco Mellors is a beautifully crafted novel that delves into the depths of sisterhood, love, and self-discovery. Mellors' elegant prose and keen insights into human relationships make this book a captivating and emotionally resonant read.

The story revolves around the bond between two sisters, whose lives are intricately intertwined yet uniquely distinct. Mellors excels in developing their characters, making their struggles, joys, and growth feel authentic and deeply moving. The dynamics between the sisters are portrayed with sensitivity and nuance, capturing the complexities of familial ties.

Mellors' writing is poetic and evocative, painting vivid scenes that transport the reader into the world of the Blue Sisters. The narrative is both poignant and uplifting, filled with moments of introspection and revelation that resonate long after the last page is turned.

"Blue Sisters" is not just a story about sibling relationships; it is a profound exploration of identity, resilience, and the enduring power of love. Coco Mellors has created a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is heartwarming, making it a must-read for anyone who appreciates rich, character-driven stories. Highly recommended for those seeking a novel that touches the soul and inspires reflection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Stories about family dynamics are some of my favorites, especially when it comes to sisters. Unfortunately many of them are simple, with stereotypes like “this one’s bossy! This one’s nice! This one’s a brat!” But Blue Sisters is a shining example in the genre; it’s a thoughtful look at truly complex characters dealing with a grief that many can’t imagine (but I, I’m sad to say, have dealt with myself). It’s so well written that there were certain passages that as I read I had to stop and be like “DAMN that was good.” I really enjoyed my time with the Blue sisters and never wanted it to end. The ending is satisfying, but I admit I’m curious about the alternate direction the author considered taking the story that she mentioned in the Acknowledgements.

I’m definitely strongly recommending this to everyone when it comes out and will be thinking of this story for weeks to come ❤️

sisters forever!!!!!!!!!! this was so excellent i could (and did) cry. i loved all 4 of the girls, and was genuinely sad to have missed time with them between the regular text and the epilogue. recommended for spice girls fans!

posted on my instagram account @i_declaire_bookruptcy

How will you go lightly? I’ll ponder this question for the rest of my life.

Blue Sisters was such a special reading experience. It’s about many things, but most importantly grief, love, sisters (family) and identity. Mellors is so great at writing characters juggling a balancing act of happy, tragic and hopeful, something I think we all do and are. We are all the choices we make and sometimes our choice is destruction, whether intentional or not. I love stories that feel human and that hold a mirror, and this book does that in a gorgeous way. I don’t think anyone tells stories like this author does.

I recommend to everyone! I didn’t want it to end. Thank you so much to Random House and Netgalley for the arc! Blue Sisters will be published in the US on September 3rd. Pre-order now! I can’t wait to have my copy! 🩵

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! As someone who has a really close relationship with my sisters, I really empathized deeply with the characters. I’ve also experienced grief and it was so well portrayed, same thing with addiction. It was written about with such grace and not the typical stereotypes. Coco Mellors really understands sisterhood and humanity and life and addition and grief. 100/10 recommend!

an emotional and beautiful story about four sisters, this one ripped my heart out a little bit 😭 i was itching for something different, something unlike the books i've been reading lately & it did not disappoint. the attention to detail, the way i didn't want to put this down & how coco mellors was able to make these characters feel so real and human.. i could tell this one was special from the start. i adore her writing and loved the different povs and was invested in each sisters story throughout. thank you random house & netgalley for the arc 🤍 this cover is so pretty & i can't wait to add it to my shelves in september

Four estranged sisters. One dies, and the other three return to their family home, and try to stop it from being sold. This story is about the remaking three sisters, a year after their sister Nikki’s death. It is about their differences, heartbreak, grief, and lives. An exceptional multiview story.

I loved this! The writing was gorgeous, the characters were so real and raw and flawed. A lovely exploration of grief and sisterhood.

Welcome to the heartfelt, cry-your-eyes-out, teary, angsty story of the Blue Sisters, which reminded me of a modern tale of the March sisters with horrible, self-absorbed parents!

This is a captivating sisterhood saga and tale of a dysfunctional family where three sisters, living in different cities and leading their own paths, deal with the grief of Nicky’s first death anniversary.

Each sister has a different approach to the hand the world dealt them. The eldest sister, Avery, graduated from Columbia, experienced a breakdown with drug addiction, joined a cult, slept on the streets, and had a quick awakening to rewrite her life story. She became a successful lawyer, found her beautiful wife, and now lives in domestic bliss at the age of 33. Avery is the analytical, reasonable one and often the real mother to the girls due to their own mother’s lack of maternal instincts.

Bonnie, the second daughter, 31, had a brief connection with their alcoholic father, who tried to raise her as the son he never had. He paid for her boxing classes, which led to her rising and falling career as a boxer. After a devastating defeat, she changed careers to become a bouncer in LA, channeling her resentments and missed opportunities into physical pain. She is the stoic one of the family.

Nicky, the sister they are grieving, was the most joyful one. She found happiness in little things, was more sentimental and caring, and was a good teacher. She suffered from endometriosis and bore her pain alone until the day she died.

The youngest sister, Lucky, 24, never considered herself lucky despite her early success as a model at the age of 14. She earned big money, traveled around the world, and filled her emptiness with alcohol and drugs until her body gave out.

The common thread among them is their reliance on addictive behaviors to cope with their grief, unhappiness, and hatred for their dysfunctional family. Avery is a kleptomaniac, Bonnie is addicted to pain, and Lucky is an alcoholic and drug addict, though they have not confessed this to anyone, not even themselves.

When their parents decide to sell the two-bedroom family house they grew up in and tell them to share their late sister’s belongings, the sisters unite against their parents to stop the sale. Their meeting in New York brings out long-simmering emotions, including anger, sadness, and unsaid secrets that threaten to become an avalanche, potentially tearing apart what they have preserved for years. Can they learn to let go of the past and rebuild by healing their own brokenness?

Each sister is broken inside, and to heal, they must learn to trust and support each other. But can they achieve this crucial task?

Overall: Bring out your napkins! This book will bring out your ugly tears and is guaranteed to tear your heart open. Each connection with the characters may resonate with your own life story, vices, resentments, family problems, and redemptions. The powerful, genuine, and profound story of the Blue Sisters Saga is a must-read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for sharing this heartfelt fiction’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

First of all, the cover is gorgeous. The girls inside the cover are gorgeous too. The book started out slow, but Coco Mellors takes her time making sure you fully know the sisters and you understand their inner workings before really digging into the root of the plot. My favorite sister is Bonnie. She's even-tempered, but says what needs to be said in it's time. Lucky and Avery are two sides of the same coin, but their age difference keeps them from becoming close until they cleave themselves so far apart they are only left with the essence of themselves to surrender to one another. A sister's love runs far deeper than any friendship or relationship ever could. Mellors has done a beautiful job bottling up the feeling of sisterhood and sharing it on the written page.

i haven’t felt this connected to characters in a long time. an absolute masterpiece of sisterhood and generational trauma and the power of grief- to rip people apart and then bring them back together.

“i don’t know who i am anymore.”

“maybe that’s because you are becoming someone new.”

may be my favorite of the year, and will be buying in hard copy immediately to annotate. impressively, a huge step up from cleopatra and frankenstein. the pov switches were seamless and brought so much more depth to the story. coco mellors is the american sister of sally rooney and i can’t wait to see everything that awaits her. i will stay.

thank you netgalley for the arc <333