Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors: Book Review - Sisterhood and Ambition
Part of my ongoing series analyzing Book Club picks to study what resonates with me as a reader and what craft tips I learn as a writer—and how debut authors like me can hopefully position their work for book club success!
Premise: Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors (published in 2024) is about three accomplished adult sisters—a lawyer, a boxer, and a supermodel—who return to their family home in New York City after their sister's death to navigate grief while confronting their own messy lives.
Genre: Penguin categorizes it as "Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction" - also contemporary fiction and family drama
Book Club: Read With Jenna book club pick for September 2024
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Things I Loved
Stories about ambitious women in demanding careers always captivate me! (See my post about Reading About Work). My favorite parts of Blue Sisters were the sibling dynamics and learning about each sister's career -- professional boxing and modeling in particular (I already know too much about being a lawyer after two decades of practice).
The cinematic quality of Blue Sisters made every scene vivid and engaging - I could see each scene play out like a limited series.
Mellors skillfully weaves together complex themes - addiction, grief, adultery, violence - without ever feeling heavy-handed.
Craft Spotlight
Each of the three character POVs felt unique in voice and tone - it was easy to follow, as each sister is distinct with a different worldview, career, romantic partner, etc.
Their sibling conversations sounded authentic and captured the complicated love that exists between sisters. I am still figuring out how to do this when drafting dialogue - it’s hard!
I loved the ending (no spoilers). The head-hopping caught me by surprise in the best way.
Author Spotlight
In Blue Sisters, Coco Mellors brings authentic insight to these complex characters. She clearly understands the pressures facing ambitious women in demanding careers, not to mention the politics of sisterhood. I admire her remarkable skill in crafting distinct voices for each sister while maintaining the emotional core of their family bond.
Final Thoughts
Blue Sisters offers a compelling exploration of family, ambition, and healing that will resonate with anyone who's navigated complex sibling relationships or career pressures. Perfect for readers who enjoyed books like Hello Beautiful or Little Fires Everywhere, this novel balances emotional depth with page-turning momentum.
Mellors has created something special here - a family drama that honors both the messiness and the beauty of sisterhood while never losing sight of each woman's individual journey.
