Coco Mellors

'In Blue Sisters, grief is rendered with gorgeous particularity' RAVEN LEILANI From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Cleopatra and Frankenstein

Blue Sisters

Three estranged siblings return to their family home in New York after their beloved sister’s death in this unforgettable story of grief, hope, and the complexities of family, from the acclaimed author of CLEOPATRA AND FRANKENSTEIN.

The three Blue sisters are exceptional—and exceptionally different. Avery, the eldest and a recovering heroin addict turned strait-laced lawyer, lives with her wife in London; Bonnie, a former boxer, works as a bouncer in Los Angeles following a devastating defeat; and Lucky, the youngest, models in Paris while trying to outrun her hard-partying ways. They also had a fourth sister, Nicky, whose unexpected death left the family reeling. A year later, as they each navigate grief, addiction, and ambition, they find they must return to New York to stop the sale of the apartment they were raised in.

But coming home is never as easy as it seems. As the sisters reckon with the disappointments of their childhood and the loss of the only person who held them together, they realize that the greatest secrets they’ve been keeping might not have been from one another but from themselves.

Imbued with Coco Mellors’s signature combination of humor and heart, Blue Sisters is a story of what it takes to keep living after loss—and, ultimately, to fall in love with life again.

Larissa Campos

I don’t know who the fuck I am anymore.” Chiti put her hand on Avery’s and looked into her eyes. Avery searched for forgiveness, but she saw only resignation. “Maybe that’s because you are becoming someone new,” she said.

There was no anger in them anymore; they were left with the sadness that always lay in wait beneath it. Avery would have preferred shouting to this leaden, heartbroken silence.

“Once you get to my age, you will learn that you can take a lot of wrong turns and still end up in the right place.”

“You got this, Lucky,” he murmured into her hair. “Ain’t nothin’ to it but to do it.” She looked up at him. “Is that a southern saying?” Riley smiled and shook his head. “Maya Angelou.” He let her go. “My mom’s a high school English teacher. And Miss Angelou? That lady knew what she was talking about.”

She’d heard once that guilt was for something you’d done—you could feel guilty for a certain behavior or action but still fundamentally know you were a good person—but shame was deeper, shame was for who you were.

“Everyone’s addicted to something. Might as well be something good for you.”

That was family, she thought sadly, the root of all comfort and chaos.

It’s hot as heaven, said Nicky, lazily swiping a hand through the air. You mean hell, said Avery. Hot as hell. Nicky glided her finger through the air as if she could unpick the stitches of the day and let it spill open. No, heaven is hot, she said. Like this.

“I think you are the opposite of insufferable,” said Charlie. “I suffer you gladly.”

It was easy to love someone in the beginnings and endings; it was all the time in between that was so hard. “I love you too,” Avery said. “Without the too.”

Chiti was good at this, giving people small tasks to do so they felt included in the creation of something. It meant, no matter how minor your contribution, you could share some pride in the result.

sina (she/her) 

It was easy to love someone in the beginnings and endings; it was all the time in between that was so hard. 

As long as you are alive, it is never too late to be found.

Stephanie 

"I wish I saw people the way you do", she said, submerging herself deeper.

Srijita Sarkar 

They were not four, they never would be again, but they were starting to find the symmetry in three.

Was to be free of this love, just for a day. 

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.

This is from the very first page—got me hooked in a speed of light. 

خير

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

Look at umbilical cord—tough, sinous, unlovely, yet essential—and compare it to a friendship bracelet of brightly woven thread. That is the difference between a sister and a friend.

The Blue sisters have always been exceptional – and exceptionally different.

Avery, a strait-laced lawyer living in London, is the typical eldest daughter, though she’s hiding a secret that could undo her perfect life forever.

Bonnie was a boxer but, following a devastating defeat, she’s been working as a bouncer in LA – until a reckless act one night threatens to drive her out of the city.

And Lucky, the rebellious youngest, is a model in Paris whose hard-partying ways are finally catching up with her.

Then there was Nicky, the beloved fourth sister, whose unexpected death left Avery, Bonnie and Lucky reeling.

When, a year later, the three of them must reunite in New York to stop the sale of their childhood home, they find that it’s only by returning to each other that they can navigate their grief, addiction and heartbreak and learn to fall in love with life again.

Tina ok

It was easy to love someone in the beginnings & endings; it was all the in between that was so hard. 

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? Yet this status is used again and again to connote the highest intimacy. True sisterhood is not the same as friendship. You don't choose each other and there is no furtive period of getting to know each other. You are a part of each other, right from the start. Look at an umbilical cord—tough, sinuous, unlovely, yet essential—and compare it to a friendship bracelet of brightly woven thread. That is the difference between a sister and a friend.

Emma Hak-Kovacs

Lifted together on a tide of riotous, unapologetic joy, the feeling that to be a girl with other girls was not some weakness, as they had been told, but a power, the best and luckiest power on earth.

A lot was written about romantic love, Avery thought, about the profundity of that embrace. Bu this, too, was deserving of rapture, of song. Before she ever knew a lover's body, she knew her sisters', could see herself in their long feet and light eyes, their sleek limbs and curled ears. And, before life became big and difficult, there were moments with them when it was simply good: an early morning, still dark out, their parents asleep. Her younger sisters arriving one by one at her bedside, hair tangled, exuding their sour and sweet morning musk. She'd lifted the covers for each of them, letting them crowd into her bottom bunk, bodies pressed tight against one another, and they'd fallen asleep again like that, dropping off like puppies curled around a mother's warm belly.

moving story about grief, and sisterhood, and how even when something devastating tears us apart in different ways the only thing we can do is continue living and moving forward

jade shen

sad? yes. frustrating? absolutely. heartwarming? definitely big yes. reading this book made me understand more about the difference between a reaction and a response. a reaction is something natural, unfiltered, and arises when someone is first faced with something that happens in their life. a response can come much later than the reaction. that’s why everyone has their own way of dealing with grief. some people cry right away, others might break down years after the loss. neither is wrong, but sometimes, people who don’t understand that can misinterpret. they think those who don’t cry immediately don’t feel empathy. when in reality, everyone has their own way. in my opinion, this book was written to let the readers know that the grieving process is different for everyone. in this book, the grieving process is shown through the life of the blue family, who have four daughters: avery, bonnie, nicky, and lucky. their sisterhood is really close, until in their twenties they had to go their separate ways to chase dreams and careers. but during that time, nicky died due to the endometriosis she had been suffering from. nicky’s death greatly affected the lives of the three sisters left behind. each of them blamed themselves for her death, feeling like they failed to be there for their sister when she needed help the most. during their grieving process, they each turned into new versions of themselves — dark and hopeless. avery, who was rich but had a habit of stealing to satisfy something within herself. bonnie, a boxer who left her gym and decided to take a break from the sport. and the youngest, lucky, a model who spent her time in paris, caught up in the chaos of nightlife.

a quote that really hit me. during the grieving process, people tend to feel like their world has ended, and this applies to everyone left behind. they tend to blame themselves for what happened, and to forget about it, they keep doing things they think are right, using "grief" as the excuse. a distraction. often, those things end up being harmful. but this book offers another perspective on grieving. instead of thinking everything is your fault, the truth is that many things are out of your control. you are not that important to be blamed. you are not that important to always think that you are the cause of what happened. you are not that important. it's okay to be sad all the time. it's okay if you make mistakes in the grieving process. all this process will make you a new person, stronger than you could have imagined before. one more thing — when you lose someone or something and feel lost yourself, in truth, the people who love you also feel like they’ve lost a part of you. so don’t ever feel like you have to go through grief alone. everyone faces their own kind of grief, even if it is not as heavy as yours, but during this process, trust me, you are not alone.

love, kinanti

sad? yes. frustrating? absolutely. heartwarming? definitely big yes. reading this book made me understand more about the difference between a reaction and a response. a reaction is something natural, unfiltered, and arises when someone is first faced with something that happens in their life. a response can come much later than the reaction. that’s why everyone has their own way of dealing with grief. some people cry right away, others might break down years after the loss. neither is wrong, but sometimes, people who don’t understand that can misinterpret. they think those who don’t cry immediately don’t feel empathy. when in reality, everyone has their own way. in my opinion, this book was written to let the readers know that the grieving process is different for everyone. in this book, the grieving process is shown through the life of the blue family, who have four daughters: avery, bonnie, nicky, and lucky. their sisterhood is really close, until in their twenties they had to go their separate ways to chase dreams and careers. but during that time, nicky died due to the endometriosis she had been suffering from. nicky’s death greatly affected the lives of the three sisters left behind. each of them blamed themselves for her death, feeling like they failed to be there for their sister when she needed help the most. during their grieving process, they each turned into new versions of themselves — dark and hopeless. avery, who was rich but had a habit of stealing to satisfy something within herself. bonnie, a boxer who left her gym and decided to take a break from the sport. and the youngest, lucky, a model who spent her time in paris, caught up in the chaos of nightlife.

"you are not that important."

a quote that really hit me. during the grieving process, people tend to feel like their world has ended, and this applies to everyone left behind. they tend to blame themselves for what happened, and to forget about it, they keep doing things they think are right, using "grief" as the excuse. a distraction. often, those things end up being harmful. but this book offers another perspective on grieving. instead of thinking everything is your fault, the truth is that many things are out of your control. you are not that important to be blamed. you are not that important to always think that you are the cause of what happened. you are not that important. it's okay to be sad all the time. it's okay if you make mistakes in the grieving process. all this process will make you a new person, stronger than you could have imagined before. one more thing — when you lose someone or something and feel lost yourself, in truth, the people who love you also feel like they’ve lost a part of you. so don’t ever feel like you have to go through grief alone. everyone faces their own kind of grief, even if it is not as heavy as yours, but during this process, trust me, you are not alone.

Lucy Williams

De maneira pessoal, esse livro foi ganhando seu espaço na minha vida aos poucos, sem me conquistar de primeira. Logo, a vida maluca dessas irmãs desajustadas, vai prendendo a atenção e por mais desesperada que eu tenha me sentido em relação a querer que tudo ficasse bem, tirei lições importantes pra mim. O tempo cura TUDO, e ele não só cura, ele não deixa como está, ele muda tudo, passa como um furacão e sentimentos se substituem e o que era o fim do mundo, vira uma ligação rápida entre fuso horários, enquanto existem novos fim do mundo para serem lidados. Muito mexeu comigo, mas essa passagem de tempo, literalmente no finalzinho, me deixou curiosa com a minha passagem de tempo e, por mais que eu queira espiar meu futuro, viver a dor de agora também foi uma lição importante da história.

I am trying not to make this personal but this novel (and her debut) really makes it seem like Coco Mellors has only ever met one type of person that is. That is to say, there is nothing yet to demonstrate that she can write outside of her own experience or literary cliches which does not bode well with her chosen focus on interpersonal relationships and struggles in the modern time.

It is not that those things cannot be done well - it is that I am yet to see it from her. Unfortunately, "Blue Sisters" falls flat on everything it sets out to speak about (families / sibling relationships, breaking the cycle, addiction, women's health). There is no nuance or complexity in the way the matters are represented; there is no richness to the personalities and inner worlds of the characters, main or supporting (and don't even get me started on the fact that Coco Mellors would need to provide 1TB worth of photos, videos and audio recordings to prove to me that she has ever met an Eastern European person in any meaningful way).

But at the end of the day, I am the fool for picking this up so.

I am trying not to make this personal but this novel (and her debut) really makes it seem like Coco Mellors has only ever met one type of person that is. That is to say, there is nothing yet to demonstrate that she can write outside of her own experience or literary cliches which does not bode well with her chosen focus on interpersonal relationships and struggles in the modern time.

It is not that those things cannot be done well - it is that I am yet to see it from her. Unfortunately, "Blue Sisters" falls flat on everything it sets out to speak about (families / sibling relationships, breaking the cycle, addiction, women's health). There is no nuance or complexity in the way the matters are represented; there is no richness to the personalities and inner worlds of the characters, main or supporting (and don't even get me started on the fact that Coco Mellors would need to provide 1TB worth of photos, videos and audio recordings to prove to me that she has ever met an Eastern European person in any meaningful way).

But at the end of the day, I am the fool for picking this up so.

All dealing w 3 different sisters and their grief. I liked it until the gay sister cheated on her hot cool wife. Cheating tropes are cheap and boring and ANNOYING. Other than that— fun and quick read. *My dream cast: Florence Pugh as Bonnie and Sophie Thatcher as Lucky

Rielle Miguel

Really enjoyed the writing of this book, the portrayal of grief and the family dynamics after such loss. I liked having all three perspectives of the sisters and insight of why they grieved certain ways as well but unfortunately, there was nothing very much memorable about this book.

I disliked the characters and most definitely disliked the weird age gap between Bonnie and her trainer…yes they were old enough where it wasn’t weird but in this case still didn’t sit right considering he basically saw her grow up (she was 15). Overall, the book was sad but it was ok. 

lily

Really enjoyed the writing of this book, the portrayal of grief and the family dynamics after such loss. I liked having all three perspectives of the sisters and insight of why they grieved certain ways as well but unfortunately, there was nothing very much memorable about this book.

I disliked the characters and most definitely disliked the weird age gap between Bonnie and her trainer…yes they were old enough where it wasn’t weird but in this case still didn’t sit right considering he basically saw her grow up (she was 15). Overall, the book was sad but it was ok. 

Cousins with Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. Heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time

Ruby Emmeline Fisher

Cried publicly on my three hour flight. The depiction of grief in this book is unlike any I’ve read, and she captures the difficult intricacies of a sister relationship in the best and worst way. 

camille paradis

coco mellors is so wildly mediocre idk why I put myself through this

Grace M

hearty story about familial love, friendship and grief. was totally gripped 

Amalie

a little hard to start to be honest but after awhile i was so immersed in it?? definitely a good book to start my reading year :3 

So many emotions felt while reading this. How beautiful it is to be a sibling despite everything.

The Blue sisters have always been exceptional – and exceptionally different.

Avery, a strait-laced lawyer living in London, is the typical eldest daughter, though she’s hiding a secret that could undo her perfect life forever.

Bonnie was a boxer but, following a devastating defeat, she's been working as a bouncer in LA – until a reckless act one night threatens to drive her out of the city.

And Lucky, the rebellious youngest, is a model in Paris whose hard-partying ways are finally catching up with her.

Then there was Nicky, the beloved fourth sister, whose unexpected death left Avery, Bonnie and Lucky reeling.

When, a year later, the three of them must reunite in New York to stop the sale of their childhood home, they find that it's only by returning to each other that they can navigate their grief, addiction and heartbreak and learn to fall in love with life again.

Blue Sisters is an enthralling, all-encompassing love letter to the devotional nature of sisterhood. 

Bittersweet and divine, it delves into the inner lives of four beautiful sisters, the family cycles they follow and run from, and the inescapable nature of their relationships to each other.

daphne

Blue Sisters is an enthralling, all-encompassing love letter to the devotional nature of sisterhood. 

Bittersweet and divine, it delves into the inner lives of four beautiful sisters, the family cycles they follow and run from, and the inescapable nature of their relationships to each other.

, eine Geschichte über drei Schwestern, die eine Schwester verlieren, und darüber, wie jede einzelne mit diesem Schicksalsschlag und Verlust umgeht. Wir verfolgen die drei Frauen in ihrem Leben sowie in ihrer Trauer und Selbstzerstörung.

Mich hat das Buch nicht überzeugt. Die Geschichte hat großes Potenzial, das meiner Meinung nach nicht ausgeschöpft wurde. Die Charaktere wirkten auf mich widersprüchlich, und ich hätte mir gewünscht, dass die Eltern, die laut den Schwestern so böse sind und an vielem Schuld tragen, eine eigene Stimme bekommen und klarer dargestellt werden, anstatt so blass im Hintergrund zu bleiben. Das allgegenwärtige Selbstmitleid der Schwestern hat mich total genervt, damit  konnte ich wenig anfangen.

Was ich gut fand, ist, dass das Buch einige wichtige Themen anspricht, auch wenn diese meiner Meinung nach stärker hätten herausgearbeitet werden können. Dazu gehören Endometriose, Kinderwunsch, 

, die Schattenseiten der Modelwelt, Sucht, Alkoholismus und schließlich Sisterhood. Mir hat das gefühlvolle Ende sehr gefallen, ansonsten gehe ich mit dem hype nicht mit.

Zainab 

Blue Sisters, eine Geschichte über drei Schwestern, die eine Schwester verlieren, und darüber, wie jede einzelne mit diesem Schicksalsschlag und Verlust umgeht. Wir verfolgen die drei Frauen in ihrem Leben sowie in ihrer Trauer und Selbstzerstörung.

Mich hat das Buch nicht überzeugt. Die Geschichte hat großes Potenzial, das meiner Meinung nach nicht ausgeschöpft wurde. Die Charaktere wirkten auf mich widersprüchlich, und ich hätte mir gewünscht, dass die Eltern, die laut den Schwestern so böse sind und an vielem Schuld tragen, eine eigene Stimme bekommen und klarer dargestellt werden, anstatt so blass im Hintergrund zu bleiben. Das allgegenwärtige Selbstmitleid der Schwestern hat mich total genervt, damit  konnte ich wenig anfangen.

Was ich gut fand, ist, dass das Buch einige wichtige Themen anspricht, auch wenn diese meiner Meinung nach stärker hätten herausgearbeitet werden können. Dazu gehören Endometriose, Kinderwunsch, regretting motherhood, die Schattenseiten der Modelwelt, Sucht, Alkoholismus und schließlich Sisterhood. Mir hat das gefühlvolle Ende sehr gefallen, ansonsten gehe ich mit dem hype nicht mit.

I liked that we never got to read a Nicky chapter (obviously), but she exists through the other sisters’ memories 

Lindy

Four sisters from a family filled with addiction, destructive behaviors, and dysfunction launch into the world and can't quite escape the bond that unites them. One dies unexpectedly, leaving the other three to sort out life without her.

Reading this book was like watching a train wreck but being unable to look away. The sisters aren't likable and make lots of terrible decisions. I could see the vulnerability and desire for love and acceptance running beneath all of the behavior so that this book will haunt me for a while. If you want to read it, check out the trigger warnings first.

Cheri McElroy

Four sisters from a family filled with addiction, destructive behaviors, and dysfunction launch into the world and can't quite escape the bond that unites them. One dies unexpectedly, leaving the other three to sort out life without her.

Reading this book was like watching a train wreck but being unable to look away. The sisters aren't likable and make lots of terrible decisions. I could see the vulnerability and desire for love and acceptance running beneath all of the behavior so that this book will haunt me for a while. If you want to read it, check out the trigger warnings first.

Really appreciated the light shed on addictions in this one. 🌹

Kat Albanese

Nikki Berra

thank you barnes & noble employee discount because if i had paid $30 for this book i'd be so mad right now.... anyways i didn't like this book after the first 100 pages for a myriad of reasons and i'm shocked by the glowing reviews it has. maybe someday i'll update this but for now that's all i have to say

okayyyy i felt so nervous reading this bc they treat their lives so bad, but i enjoy each character but if i would rank the sisters it would be : nicky, lucky, bonnie, avie. i wish we could have met nicky but by the way all the sisters talked about her, i think she would have been my favorite. i love you new york

debbie <3

This was a great read, I just love the bond the sister's have in this novel. Mellors did a great job 🤍

Sheila Mae Moradas

I am a sister that is blue and a version of things happened to me. But we didn't connect. Me and this book. Just waving to each other from distant shores. I am sad. That's that.

Dora Tominic

Disclaimer: this is not a review.

I am a sister that is blue and a version of things happened to me. But we didn't connect. Me and this book. Just waving to each other from distant shores. I am sad. That's that.

Blue Sisters

Reviews

Highlights