Cleopatra and Frankenstein

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors is a captivating tale of impulsive choices and the intricate webs they weave around us. For readers who loved Modern Lovers and Conversations with Friends, this debut novel offers an evocative journey through the chaos and beauty of love, friendship, and the search for identity in the heart of New York City.

The story introduces us to Cleo, a young woman struggling to find her footing. Her nights are spent drifting through the glittering parties of New York, yet she remains profoundly isolated. Her student visa is nearing its expiry, and even affording the simplest pleasures, like a pack of cigarettes, seems beyond reach. Enter Frank: twenty years her senior, laden with the kind of success and indulgence Cleo can only dream of. Their worlds collide, offering Cleo hope for a stabilised life filled with artistic freedom and a chance at securing a green card. Frank, in turn, sees in Cleo a flash of beauty and creativity that might just temper his own self-destructive tendencies.

Their whirlwind romance is both intense and tumultuous, altering the course of their lives as well as the lives of those in their orbit. Cleo's best friend grapples with gender identity in the shadow of her sudden marriage, while Frank's sister finds herself on a precarious path, struggling to maintain her lifestyle after being financially cut off. This touching and at times humorous narrative reaches deep into the human condition, examining how spur-of-the-moment decisions can reverberate through the lives of many, for better or for worse.

Coco Mellors' prose is both tender and devastating, allowing the reader to engage fully with the characters' quests for meaning and connection. As Pandora Sykes, author of How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right, praises, "Coco Mellors is an elegant and exciting new voice." Her sharp wit and poignant exploration of human relationships make this debut novel a must-read.

Cleopatra and Frankenstein is an extraordinary story of chance encounters, imperfect relationships, and the spontaneous decisions that shape our lives in the most unexpected ways. Dive into this addictive and poignant novel from a fresh, compelling voice in contemporary fiction.