Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I thought this was an interesting family drama. I felt it sort of played out like an 80s or 90s movie, I thought the characters were pretty well developed, but I am not sure I could say that I had a favorite. Overall, I would consider reading another book by Coco Mellors in the future. It was an enjoyable read and the perfect book to bring to the beach!
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The Most Fun We Ever Had meets They’re Going to Love You. That’s far from a perfect comp but those are two books I love and I don’t know how better to say: I LOVED this novel. It was story about sisters, family, generational trauma, addictions of all sorts, faith of all sorts (including a lack thereof), relationships of all sorts, hurt, and healing. If you love good writing, I think you’ll find something in this book that speaks to you.

“What was it in her that loved a wildfire?” This quote was written in a chapter from Avery’s POV and stood out to me because I think it applies perfectly to all of the sisters, except maybe to Nicky; but was Nicky as perfect as she’s portrayed, or is it just all of the sisters remembering the best parts of her now that she’s dead? Each sister’s personality was masterfully crafted; each with her own unique traits, but all sharing certain characteristics with one another.

A very easy five stars. I just ordered Mellors’s first book, and will be reading it as soon as it arrives.

I loved this story so much. So many elements that are tough to talk about are normalized here. Grief, addiction, family dynamics. Loved the alternating viewpoints of the sisters. Will be reviewing soon on my bookstagram page.

This is told from the alternativing POVs of three sisters a year after the death of the fourth as they try to understand both their lives and their relationships with each other in the aftermath. I really liked the prose and character development, and I was also really impressed by the way addiction was such a big part of all of the characters but there was so much variety in its portrayal and how it affected everyone. Basically every aspect of this writing was really engrossing and also just good. I requested this bc the cover is gorg and people have been raving abt cleopatra & frankenstein for the past two years. Everyone is going to adore this also so congrats to coco mellors for cementing herself in the women’s literary fiction genre.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and RH Ballantine for the ARC! Super glad I got to read this and it’s out on September 3!

Bizarrely, so much more my speed than Cleopatra and Frankenstein, even though that book was already my speed. I have brothers, not sisters, but I found this supremely relatable, owing mostly to the prose and how every far-flung emotion these characters could possibly be feeling was covered. I found it a little too on the nose of its own premise, with a parentified eldest sister, two incredibly talented and semi-famous yet opposite sisters, and the "perfect" sister being the dead one. But either way, I really rooted for them, and the sappiest part of me really wanted Riley to come back around in the end.

Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky are mourning the loss of their sister, Nicky, in different ways. When their parents announce they are selling the apartment they grew up in, an opportunity arises for the sisters to come together and share some hard truths with one another.

This was a compelling and sad character-driven read and I loved getting to know Avery, Bonnie, Lucky, and Nicky. The writing is lovely and tenderly explores grief, addiction, and the bond of sisters. 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

It’s a modern Little Women. And I think it works really well.

It will be released on September 3rd to bookstores in the US—just in time for Virgo season (bc let’s be real, at least one of the sisters is a fellow Virgo).

Thank you to Random House via NetGalley for the ARC!

A nice little contemporary that’s really family focused but i feel as it didn’t connect to grief strongly enough. it felt like the author didn’t capture mourning in a personal moving life changing way it is. It felt very impersonal way to look at grief.

3.5 stars
I’m really having a hard time figuring out how I feel about this book. Right now I’m just feeling very neutral about this book—I didn’t really like it but I also didn’t really dislike it either. First I’ll start with what I did like. Objectively, I think Mellors is a good writer. The setting, ambiance, and characters were all very well fleshed out and allowed me to really put myself in the story. I think the concept was really interesting, and on the whole, was pretty well-done. I like how none of these characters were perfect and they all had very realistic lives and flaws. The characters who seemed more put together on the outside had issues they were hiding from others, and the characters who seemed to be struggling more were more put together or self-assured than they presented. Somehow a lot of authors that have siblings in their books seem to have never seen actual siblings interact in real life, but Mellors has written probably the most realistic portrayal of siblings I’ve seen in literature. They each have their own relationships with one another that make a lot of sense for their characters and personality. Even when they fought, sometimes brutally, it was obvious that they still loved and cared for one another. I think the portrayal of grief was also well-done. Every character handled it their own way, and whether or not they actually moved on from it, it all made sense for their characters.

Now onto what I didn’t like. The story did not deal with the sisters grief enough, in my opinion. The story was focused more on the three remaining sisters and their relationships with one another, especially after this catastrophic loss and how that changed everything. However, I really wish we saw more about how the loss of Nicky affected them. We saw so much about their relationships with her prior to her death, and they were all beautiful in their own ways, but we never really saw them grapple with her death. For a book covering such a dark topic I never really felt any of the emotion they were feeling. There were a few moments towards the end where I got a little teary eyed, but not much, and the middle just really dragged and was pretty boring at times. Their relationships with other people were also frustrating to read about. I know not every relationship is perfect, but the two sisters who had a real romantic relationship with someone, were both in a relationship with an insane power imbalance. Avery was with her therapist and SPOILER Bonnie was with her boxing trainer who knew her when she was a kid and he was an adult. It was just really weird to me that these were portrayed as good relationships when they actually really weren’t. It was also really weird that they didn’t blame their dad more for their rough childhood. They acknowledged that he was an angry drunk who did really bad things, but they almost entirely blamed their mom and never really saw her as a victim too. Obviously I know that kids in that situation can’t be that rational and the mom definitely should have done more to protect them, but it was just so weird that they didn’t seem to blame their dad at all. The ending was also a little frustrating but I can’t really talk about it without pretty big spoilers, so maybe once the book comes out, I’ll explain.

Even though I didn’t just list a bunch of things I didn’t like, I don’t really feel strong emotions either way towards this book. Overall, I think it was interesting but also pretty boring. It’s also just totally possible that I just don’t actually like literary fiction and this book just wasn’t for me.

Blue Sisters - Coco Mellors

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thank you to netgalley for the e-arc! This one is out 5/23 in the UK & 9/3 in the US (🥲) I simply could not wait until pub day to post about this new favorite.

What I loved:
- This is multi POV & very character driven. I loved every single one of these sisters. They were so painfully & imperfectly human
- I <3 books about sisters !!!
- This was beautifully written & I had trouble putting it down
- It was very interesting to see how addiction, sexuality, and grief were explored, experienced, perceived so differently through each of the sister’s perspectives. I loved finding little similarities between the sisters despite them thinking they’re all so different from one another
- The ending was PERFECT🩵

This book packed a lot and I enjoyed the topics discussed here as well as the relationship the sisters have with one another. I can't say that I care about them individually as much and I found that the dialogues of the book just didn't work for me.

In Blue Sisters, we meet sisters Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky one year after losing their sister Nicky. Told between New York City, Paris, LA, and London, Blue Sisters centers on one family's struggle with addiction.

There's a ton packed into this novel. In long chapters that focus alternatively on Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky, we learn more about their family dynamics, partners, careers, relationship to their parents and the concept of motherhood, etc.

Coco Mellors' writing is beautiful. Her settings are vivid and the dialogue feels real. Bonnie, a pro boxer in love with her trainer, was my absolute favorite character. She's quiet but straightforward when she does speak. She isn't as emotionally fiery as Lucky and Avery because she centers her life around boxing as her outlet. I loved her arc.

I struggled with a few elements of the novel. The middle of the novel dragged a bit for me, and some of the characters' choices were hard to understand. SPOILERS: I was surprised Lucky didn't cover for Avery with the Plan B. Avery's relationship with Charlie was a bit confusing to me. And I would've liked more exploration of the way that much of the parental blame landed on their mother rather than their father, when he was perpetuating so much violence. I understand why this might happen, but I was hoping to see it explored more on the page.

Once again, Coco Mellors hits it out of the park with her debut novel. Although a totally different story, Blue Sisters has all the things I loved about Cleopatra & Frankenstein: really well-written dialogue, messy characters, and just enough tension to keep things interesting. Mellors writing is both unique and accessible. I wasn’t surprised to read in the acknowledgements that she has a sister because she writes about the sisters’ relationships so beautifully. Forever a Coco fan!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending me a copy of this ARC!!

"It is good to have each other, the artist had said, regarding them seriously as she worked. You never have to explain yourself to sisters"
Just as the title suggests, this is a story about the unique bond between sisters. Mellors talks about the heavy topics of grief and addiction but still found moments to make me laugh out loud. I found myself relating to Avery, the eldest daughter, the most. Her want and need to fix everything and everyone...it aches to read about how much the older daughter is expected to hold.

TBH this would be a perfect tv show/movie. I loved every second of reading about these sisters and how they love each other but constantly fight too (sibliings lol ). The Blue Sisters will stay in my heart and mind for a very long time.

Blue Sisters is out on September 3rd, the perfect sad girl autumn read in my opinion 🩵

thank you netgalley for the arc!!

This was one of my most anticipated releases for this year, which makes it so special to say that this is one of my most favorite books that i have read this year. I loved all the characters; getting to see into their lives and how they are so different yet the same all at once. i loved how it showed that everyone can handle grief differently and it might not be healthy for glamorous. it shows that people can make mistakes and still be be loved and forgiven for them.

Overall, this book broke my heart and fixed it all at the same time. I loved this book so dearly and cannot wait till i can get my hands on a physical copy.

Coco Mellor's "Blue Sisters" is a poignant and heartfelt tale of sisterhood, grief, and the journey to rediscover oneself in the face of loss. Through the lives of the three exceptional Blue sisters—Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky—Mellor explores the complexities of family dynamics and the enduring bonds that hold them together, even in the midst of their differences.At the heart of the story are the struggles and triumphs of each sister as they navigate their individual paths. From Avery's journey of recovery from addiction to Bonnie's pursuit of redemption after a devastating defeat in the boxing ring, and Lucky's quest to find her place in the world while outrunning her past, each character is beautifully crafted with depth and nuance.The backdrop of New York City serves as a powerful setting, echoing the vibrancy and resilience of the Blue sisters as they confront their shared history and the secrets that have kept them apart. Mellor's evocative prose brings the city to life, immersing readers in its energy and allure.As the sisters come together to stop the sale of their childhood home, they are forced to confront their deepest fears and regrets, ultimately finding solace and strength in each other's company. Through moments of laughter, tears, and unexpected revelations, they discover that true healing comes from facing the truth and embracing the love that binds them together.Mellor's storytelling is infused with her signature blend of humor and heart, making "Blue Sisters" a captivating read from start to finish. While the novel tackles weighty themes such as addiction, grief, and the search for identity, it is ultimately a story of resilience, hope, and the enduring power of sisterhood.Overall, "Blue Sisters" is a compelling and emotionally resonant novel that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page. With its richly drawn characters and poignant narrative, it's a must-read for anyone who has experienced loss, love, and the transformative journey of self-discovery.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I loved this book. I loved ever sister for so many different reasons. Them being together felt like just a warm hug at the end.

The way the ending of this book made me SOB! What a beautifully well-written story about 3 sisters navigating through grief, addiction, and discovering the new versions of themselves after the loss of their fourth sister. Coco did it again by writing such an incredible novel. This isn’t out until the fall but RUN to your local bookstore to buy it when you can!


Thank you NetGalley and random house publishing group for the ARC!

This novel has great character portrayal and character development.

Meet the Blue sisters. You have the oldest, Avery, the mother hen of the group. Avery is a successful London lawyer after recovering from drug addiction in her early 20s. She is now thirty-three, married to her partner, and has been clean for ten years. Next is Bonnie. Bonnie was an amateur boxer turned professional boxer now turned bouncer. After losing her last fight, she fled from NY City to LA to more or less hide out. She is in love with her trainer but feels it's an unrequited love. Nicky is the third daughter, perhaps the most normal. Nicky is a teacher and wants children of her own in the worst way. The baby of the family is Lucky. Lucky became a professional fashion model at 15 and has lived in Paris for the last several years. Lucky is an addict currently.

We encounter the Blue sisters on the anniversary of the death of the third sister, Nicky. Nicky had dealt with excruciatingly painful endometriosis, got painkillers on the street that were laced with fentanyl, and died of an overdose a year ago. Nicky was the "normal" sister. The sisters were always meant to be a quartet. There was always supposed to be the four of them together, the four against the world. This is the story of how people deal with grief, spiral out of control, wish for do-overs and then deal with grief some more.

Enter the Blue sisters' parents - Mom tells Avery after the one year anniversary of Nicky's death that she never really knew if she ever wanted children and that she knew she wasn't good at "mothering." Dad is finally in a rehab facility for his drinking problem, but the liver damage is already there.

This novel is about the bond of family, but more importantly, the bond of sisterhood. It's a story about leaning on each other, helping each other, and wishing you would have done it right the first time. It's a story about realizing mistakes, making more mistakes, and finally learning from those mistakes.

The story's setting alternates between London, Paris, LA, NY City, and upstate NY. POVs are utilized from each of the four sisters. I really enjoyed Coco Mellors' style of presentation. She conveys grief and angst so convincingly with her characters' actions.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballentine Books, for this powerful portrayal of sisterhood.

BLUE SISTERS, the second novel from Coco Mellors, proves that Mellors is just getting started as a powerhouse novelist. I really liked CLEOPATRA AND FRANKENSTEIN, but BLUE SISTERS is great on a whole different level.

The story is about the four Blue sisters, one of whom died a year ago. The other 3 have scattered to the wind, leaving behind their New York City roots. Lucky is a model in Paris, Avery is a lawyer in London, and Bonnie is a boxer and club bouncer in LA. When they have to go back to New York to clean out their childhood apartment, where their sister Nicky died, family secrets, resentments, and bad blood is drudged up upon reunion.

I really enjoyed getting lost in Mellor's beautiful writing, and digging into these characters. They are developed so well, and I had a hard time putting the book down to be away from them. The content is heavy at times, but that doesn't make the story fun, especially since these sisters are feisty and ultimately loveable. This is obviously a must-read for those with sisters, but I know it's also just going to be a big hit hands down when it's released this fall.