I was eager and curious to read Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors just by the title alone knowing nothing yet about the plot. Although Cleopatra and Frankenstein are not the actual characters of Mellor’s debut novel, they still seem like a mismatched couple to imagine. And that alone is already an indicator for what this book had in store for its two main characters, Cleo and Frank.
Cleo is a twenty-four-year-old aspiring artist from the U.K who meets forty-something-year-old ad executive Frank on New Year’s Eve 2006 in New York. They then quickly marry just a few months later before Cleo’s student visa expires. What begins as something exciting and adventurous for the two, quickly unravels and descends into uncertainty and self-turmoil that not only affects Cleo and Frank, but their friends and family as well.
The first couple of chapters immediately grabbed me as the story took off right away and introduced Cleo and Frank so well that I was invested and had a good idea of who both of them were. The book was very well written that showed rather than tell and was more about the characters and their internal struggles. I also didn’t mind the few chapters that showcased some of the other supporting characters. Their perspectives gave another view of Cleo and Frank while exploring some of their own issues that had been buried, but brought into reflection after the couple got married.
With all that said though, and if I have to be honest, I began to slowly lose interest as the story progressed and things got messier and messier for all parties involved. It didn’t have to do with where the story went. I just think this book wasn’t for me despite its strong start and ending, which I liked a lot. I’m actually still not sure what to make of it as I don't really have anything negative to say about it or can pinpoint why I didn’t completely love it. It’s an interesting read to say the least. I think you should still give it a go though, especially if you are a fan of Normal People or The Vacationers.
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