Cleopatra and Frankenstein: ‘This is the hottest new book’ Sunday Times Paperback – 2 Feb. 2023

Cleopatra and Frankenstein is one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you. It’s about love, identity, and the often messy in-between moments that make up real relationships. The story follows Cleo, a young artist, and Frank, a much older man she marries on a whim—and from there, their lives and the lives of the people around them start to shift in really interesting ways.Even though it covers some pretty deep topics like mental health and addiction, the writing is easy to follow and flows in a really natural way. If you enjoy stories where you get to really understand the characters and what makes them tick, this is a great pick.Perfect for fans of modern, thoughtful fiction that still feels accessible. Whether you’re reading on a beach while on holiday (like me) or during your daily train ride, this one’s easy to get into but leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished.

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors 💋4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‘’We break. We put ourselves back together. The cracks are the best part. You don’t have to hide them.’’😍 This was soooo good, I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself really looking forward to reading in the evenings.💕 I think this has to be one of my most favourite covers - simply stunning!✍🏻 I loved the author’s writing style, although I found a few little bits here and there were a bit crass and unnecessary (maybe I’m getting old 😄)🌸 I wasn’t a huge fan of Cleo’s friends but other than that, I found all of the characters really intriguing and I especially loved Eleanor and her familyI’ve found myself thinking about this one a lot since I finished reading - highly recommended

I really loved the Eleanor sections. They were so punchy and zesty, they made my mouth water! There's a lot of poetic writing in this book. A lot! But it's not poetry in prose. It's not dry: it's moist with living characterisation and their orgasmic fumbling. It could be a love story. It could be chick-lit. It could be erotic literature. It could be romantic fiction. What it is is a contemporary narrative of the highest order. Coco Mellors has a gift for creating characters with a strong flavour: you can taste them! On the down side, I felt the book should have packed an emotional punch; but I didn't quite feel it. Perhaps because I didn't really feel Cleo's or Frank's individual pains. But the book was rich enough for a second reading. I could have read this book just as happily if it were all Eleanor. Speaking of shaking hands with a rabbi shortly after her father's death: "His papery soft skin reminds me of the pinches of dried food flakes I fed our goldfish."

Description:A young 20-something meets an old 30-something on New Year's Eve in New York, and after a whirlwind romance, they get married. Focuses on their relationship with each other and with the people closest to them.Liked:Very compelling; a total page-turner, and a consumable easy read. Feels effortlessly cool, which takes quite some effort indeed, I'm sure! It's a book with heart, which seems to come from a warm place, and subsequently feels quite cosy, even when it's being grim and horrible. Made me gasp a few times.Disliked:There's more than a touch of melodrama here, which is perhaps partially excused by some quite effective imagery... but not entirely. There're a fair few Chekhov's guns littered around, although these mostly feel like satisfying pay-offs rather than being insultingly obvious. Some of the characters quite 2D, including Cleo herself, and in a novel so driven by its characters and their relationships, this feels like a big miss.Would recommend - be prepared for theatrics, but a good, heart-food read.

I'll be completely honest and start by saying I bought this book because of its title and cover. I knew nothing else about it other than it was literary fiction.I've not read a book like this. This was very character driven, with no real story behind it. Well, there were lots of stories within the book that made up a big story I guess but there wasn't really a plot line.It doesn't just follow Cleo and Frank and their relationship but it follows their friends and family too. I didn't think I would enjoy reading about so many different characters, but they were so intriguing in their own ways that it was nice to get more insight.The emotion written between the lines in this story was so powerful and poetic.I found the end so beautifully heartbreaking.I finished the book feeling quite emotional. It's a very different escape you get to reading a cosy romance novel or thrilling fantasy. It was real and raw and moving.It took me a while to really get into it, I don't think I opened myself up enough at the beginning to grasp the reality of what I was reading. While I didn't dislike it, it's made me realise I prefer reading genres that are separate from the real world.Also, I can fully see this being turned into a movie!

I love this author. I actually slightly preferred the Blue sisters which is one of my favourite books of all time, however this is a great winding story of the complexities of modern relationships and the way we can change in over the timeline of a relationship.

I loved it

I purchased the kindle version. It’s a light, easy read, nice for a holiday. It’s not a book I will be returning too, but if you’re looking for a light read this one is definitely a good choice.