Welcome to the cozy corner of my blog! Here, I share my love for reading through book reviews. Since I write a lot about self-care, I thought it's only fair to share my own self-care habits. I've always been a bookworm, but life's hectic pace often left little room for indulging in my favorite pastime. Recently, I’ve made it a priority to focus on my passion for reading, a skill I had to learn through balancing life's demands. I’m excited to share my thoughts on the stories I've been immersing myself in. You’ll find snippets of what I’m reading and my recommendations on which books to pick up (or skip). Plus, I’ll offer reading tips, must-have bookish accessories, and top apps—all to enhance your reading experience and help you get the most out of every book.
The Allure of ‘Blue Sisters‘
Why Blue Sisters Caught My Eye
After the success of Coco Mellors’ debut, ‘Cleopatra and Frankenstein’, there was immense anticipation for her next book. Naturally, when ‘Blue Sisters’ was announced, it quickly took social media by storm.
Prior to the release of Blue Sisters, I was incredibly excited to read Mellors’ debut novel. This was largely due to the stunningly beautiful book cover which made it impossible to resist. The cover for Blue Sisters maintained that same level of captivating beauty, drawing me in once again.
Unfortunately, beyond the extraordinary book covers books, the stories themselves did not meet my expectations.
Let’s touch on Mellors’ debut novel since it ties into my thoughts on Blue Sisters. I thoroughly enjoyed the initial dynamic between the main characters, Cleo and Frank. This was an aspect of the book that was exceptionally well-crafted through sharp and engaging dialogue. Mellors did however fall short in fulfilling the promise of the premise. I felt that she touched on certain themes and characters but didn’t fully explore them.
Either she introduced a character and failed to develop them fully, or she developed the character but didn’t integrate them into the plot in a meaningful way. There was a sense that something was missing. I found myself yearning for more to unfold, but it never quite materialised.
Even though Mellors’ debut didn’t quite reach its full potential, I decided to give Blue Sisters a chance. I hoped this time she would delve deeper, offering a more thorough and nuanced exploration of the characters, themes, and plot elements. Did she succeed? I’m not sure she did.
…Could it have been better? Yes!
Excerpt from my goodreads review of cleaopatra and frankenstien
How? By taking out the side characters POVs, avoiding cliche Metaphors such as the Kintsugi one, and focusing more on Cleo, Frank and Eleanor. I also think that Anders relationship with Cleo could have been delved into deeper, rather than going in full impact and then dropping off completely!I do think Mellors writing style is good (minus Eleanor’s chapters) and so I would read another book of hers!
I was really hoping this would be a 5 star read, but I rated it 3 stars!)
What is the Blue Sisters about?
Blue Sisters intricately explores the dynamics of family relationships, personal identity, and the challenges of sisterhood through the lives of three very different sisters.
The story revolves around Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky, who are each dealing with their own struggles after the death of their beloved sister, Nicky.
Avery, the eldest, has turned her life around from being a heroin addict to a disciplined lawyer living in London with her wife, Chiti.
Bonnie, the middle sister, was once a boxer but now works as a bouncer in Los Angeles, grappling with the fallout from a major defeat.
Lucky, the youngest, is a free-spirited model who enjoys the vibrant party scene in Paris.
Nicky, the sister they’ve lost, battled with endometriosis prior to her death.
The story begins when the estranged sisters return to their family home in New York following Nicky’s death. They must navigate their individual paths through grief, confront personal challenges related to addiction and ambition, and manage the emotional process of selling their childhood home.
Their journey, influenced by their shared past and distinct personalities, shapes their path to healing and reconciliation.
Themes covered in Blue Sisters
Mellors covers a range of ‘heavy’ themes in blue sisters. Some of these themes are:
1. Sisterhood and Family Bonds
At the heart of “Blue Sisters” is the complex bond between the three sisters. Mellors delves into how the sisterly relationship, (as with all sisters) can be a source of peace or conflict. There is a nuanced exploration of Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky’s interactions. Mellors explores the dynamics of their bond and how they navigate their shared experience of grief.
2. Identity and Self-Discovery
Each sister embarks on a personal journey of self-discovery, striving to understand her identity beyond the roles imposed by their family and themselves. As they each wrestle with their own struggles, including addiction and a lost sense of self amid their grief, they are each engrossed on their personal search for identity.
3. Grief
The book vividly portrays both the collective and personal aspects of grief. Nicky’s death serves as a pivotal moment that reunites the sisters, emphasising how a shared loss can simultaneously strengthen and strain familial bonds. The narrative reveals the varied ways in which each sister processes her own sorrow.
4. Exploration of Endometriosis
Nicky’s battle with endometriosis adds significant depth to the theme of grief. It not only underscores the emotional pain of her death but also highlights the ongoing suffering she endured.
5. Mother-Daughter Dynamics
The relationship between the mother and her daughters is particularly strained, especially for Avery, who took on the caretaker role for her siblings. The book’s conclusion delves into these complex dynamics, uncovering deep-seated tensions and unresolved resentments that have accumulated over the years.
My Thoughts on Blue Sisters
Themes
Blue Sisters held a lot of promise with its exploration of sibling bonds, identity, addiction, and grief. Despite these profound themes, it felt as though Mellors was trying to tackle too many issues at once. I found that both of her books lacked the depth and development needed to fully engage the reader.
I found that she addressed these heavy themes superficially and failed to dive into their complexities. For example, she attempts to explore the intricate nature of grief while also unraveling each character’s internal struggles, particularly with addiction. However, by trying to tackle both grief and addiction simultaneously, she ends up only skimming the surface of each, never fully doing justice to either.
Writing Style
Mellors’ writing style has definitely received a lot of praise for its beauty, emotional punch, and detailed dialogue. People often rave about how vivid and impactful her prose is.
"Her father usually fell asleep in the living room or somewhere equally central to family life; even unconscious, he found a way to dominate every space he was in.”
Whilst I agree that Mellors most certainly has the ability to write well, I think she lets herself down in the grand scheme of things.
Use of Metaphors & Anaologies
I can earnestly commend Mellors’ dialogue as being sharp and authentic, however, her use of metaphors and analogies often fell short. I felt the same about Cleopatra and Frankenstein.
Her use of metaphors and analogies often felt so awkward that it disrupted my immersion in the story.
“He tasted vaguely sweet, like apple juice.”
The warmth that had enriched them just a moment ago was gone. It was as though they had stepped from sunshine into shade.”
“She was the air that dancers inhaled. She was the music moving on that air. She was thump, thump, thumping.”
“If she could, she would have unhinged her jaw and swallowed him whole like a snake with a smooth, round egg.”
Excerpts from blue sisters
Even when I was fully absorbed in the dialogue, a clunky metaphor or analogy would pull me out of the moment and detract from the overall experience. It was also the frequent use of them in situations where they weren’t warranted that was particularly distracting.
In this epic dialogue scene between one of the sisters (won’t say which to avoid spoilers), and their mother, Mellors adds the following: “Her mother reached across the table and clasped Avery’s hand with the fierceness of a falcon clutching a field mouse in its talon.” Whilst the use of metaphors and analogies can evoke a strong emotional response, when they’re used excessively or inappropriately they lose their impact. I think that’s what happened here. It shot down the impact of the dialogue.
Show, don’t tell
Mellors often relies heavily on exposition rather than employing the “show, don’t tell” technique. Instead of showing us what’s happening or how the characters feel, she often just tells us.
“She hates authority but loves structure.”
“She does not know it yet, but in a few weeks, she will implode her life and marriage in ways she didn’t think possible.”
“She picked up Nicky and staggered to the Elevator. This would have been hard for most people, but Bonnie was strong.”
Excerpts from blue sisters
She lays everything out explicitly instead of letting readers pick up on things through subtle hints. Personally, this came off as a little condescending, since it gave off the vibe that Mellors doesn’t trust readers to connect the dots on their own.
Factual discrepancies
You can blame the lawyer in me when I tell you that I found a couple of factual inconsistencies in the plot, which also negatively affected my reading experience. For example, there were characters who knew details they shouldn’t have, like Nicky being dead for exactly four minutes, even though no one was around to get that info). Or instances where one character is said to be unaware of something, only for another character to act on that very information.
Unfortunately, the writing style was a key factor as to why I did not enjoy the book as much as I’d hoped to.
“Lucky rolled her syes with such force Avery was surprised she didn’t cause ligament damage“.
excerpt from blue sisters
Character Development
Each sister in Blue Sisters has her own point of view, and I think Mellors skillfully manages these perspectives to avoid confusion and overlap, which is commendable.
Her effective use of multiple POVs allows readers to clearly see the distinct character development for each sister and it provides a deeper understanding of their individual journeys and personal growth.
Avery’s journey involves navigating various personal difficulties. She wrestles with the expectations placed upon her, particularly in her relationship with her wife and the decision to start a family. Additionally, she faces challenges due to her strained relationship with her mother.
Bonnie’s character development revolves around her internal struggle to openly express her feelings and desires, especially her emotions towards a particular man in her life, all while balancing her professional ambitions.
Meanwhile, Lucky’s development is driven by her ongoing battle with addiction and its impact on her well-being and professional success.
However, despite Mellors’ skill in developing her characters and reflecting on their internal and external conflicts, I found the personalities they all had were cliche. Also, the outcomes of each character’s journey fell short. The resolutions each character arrives at, feel predictable, lacking the originality that might have made their conclusions more compelling.
Parting Words
Although the book cover was stunning and the synopsis promised an intriguing premise, Blue Sisters ultimately fell short of my expectations.
While the story had its strengths—like moments of compelling writing, engaging themes, and solid character development—these were overshadowed by significant flaws.
Mellors’ hit-and-miss writing style (which missed more than it hit) and the book’s failure to deeply explore its complex themes, combined with a predictable and unsatisfying ending, ultimately left me feeling disappointed.
Blue Sisters is a book that is pitched as ‘literary fiction’, and as a fan of literary fiction, I appreciate the depth that authors strive for, in portraying complex, internally conflicted characters within this genre. Unfortunately, Mellors only scratches the surface of her characters’ experiences. Each character’s journey had a predictable ending that failed to deliver a satisfying resolution.
Saying this, I must admit that the final 30% of the book did manage to elicit a tear or two—especially with the poignant mother-daughter dialogue. However, despite this tearjerking scene, I couldn’t get past my dislike of Mellors’ writing style enough to allow me to enjoy the overall experience of the book.
My rating of Blue Sisters
While her debut hinted at significant potential, this follow-up did not live up to those expectations. Initially on the fence about her debut, I’ve now realised that Mellors’ writing style simply isn’t for me. As a result, I’ve rated “Blue Sisters” two stars.
Have you read Blue Sisters? I’d love to know your thoughts. Leave me a comment below.