Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Growing up, I often felt like my family was a bit dysfunctional. But through all the changes, one thing stayed the same: my sister and I, and the experiences we’ve shared. You’d think those would help us understand each other better, but that’s not always the case. Don’t get me wrong, I love my sister, and we have a good relationship, but we can definitely be frenemies sometimes 😂 That’s exactly why I enjoyed reading Blue Sisters so much. It perfectly captures the essence of sisterhood, how sisters can clash, argue, and even drift apart, yet still come together when it matters most.
More than anything, Blue Sisters is a story about how grief forces us to confront our inner demons and pushes us to heal, even in the hardest moments. It beautifully illustrates the complicated dynamics present in many, if not all, families. Why is it so hard to be vulnerable with the people we love, even when we know that love is there in abundance? In this way, I related deeply to Avery. I’m not the eldest, but I carry a strong sense of responsibility. I can be a bit of a perfectionist and often come across as overly independent, which makes it hard for me to ask for help or open up about what I’m going through. Still, no matter how many misunderstandings or fights there are, love for family always rises to the top.
What I also appreciated about Coco Mellors’ writing is how effortlessly she brings each sister to life. They’re messy, complex, and real. Their bond, though challenged at times, is undeniably powerful. She doesn’t shy away from the ugly parts of death and addiction, but still gives us hope that healing is possible, even if it doesn’t follow a straight line. It made me reflect on how we often carry unspoken resentment in our closest relationships and how hard, but necessary, it is to unpack those feelings.
Three estranged siblings return to their family home in New York after their beloved sister's death in this unforgettable story of grief, identity, and the complexities of family.
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 Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky 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 the greatest secrets they've been keeping might not have been from each other, but from themselves.