“Every sentence of Coco Mellors' debut novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein shimmers with wit and wisdom. A love letter to New York, a love letter to love, Cleopatra and Frankenstein is a complex, funny, deeply-felt, beautifully written debut.” - Nathan Englander, author of WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK and KADDISH.COM

“An irresistible, un-put-downable, page-turner of a novel.

“Tantalizing … cinematic … has written some extraordinary sentences and shows a great talent for dialogue.” - Los Angeles Times It's giving me early-season Girls vibes, which I'm very much here for.” - LitHub's Most Anticipated Books of 2022 Their “impulsive marriage” sets off all sorts of reactions in their circle of friends and family-not to mention their individual reactions as they settle in as husband and wife. “Cleo is a 24-year-old painter with an expiring student visa Frank is 20 years older and financially stable (and then some). 'A clever debut novel… Cleo is a … self-possessed literary heroine.' - The New Yorker … This is a perfect read who loves a story with finely drawn characters you'll grow to care about.' - Buzzfeed 'If Conversations With Friends has you yearning to read about more dysfunctional relationships, look no further than Cleopatra and Frankenstein.

Whether it’s Cleo’s best friend struggling to embrace his gender queerness in the wake of Cleo’s marriage, or Frank’s financially dependent sister arranging sugar daddy dates to support herself after being cut off, or Cleo and Frank themselves as they discover the trials of marriage and mental illness, each character is as absorbing, and painfully relatable, as the last.Īs hilarious as it is heartbreaking, entertaining as it is deeply moving, Cleopatra and Frankenstein marks the entry of a brilliant and bold new talent. But their impulsive marriage irreversibly changes both their lives, and the lives of those close to them, in ways they never could’ve predicted.Įach compulsively readable chapter explores the lives of Cleo, Frank, and an unforgettable cast of their closest friends and family as they grow up and grow older. He offers her the chance to be happy, the freedom to paint, and the opportunity to apply for a Green Card. Twenty years older and a self-made success, Frank’s life is full of all the excesses Cleo’s lacks. Twenty-four-year-old British painter Cleo has escaped from England to New York and is still finding her place in the sleepless city when, a few months before her student visa ends, she meets Frank. An addictive, humorous, and poignant debut novel about the shock waves caused by one couple’s impulsive marriage. The smash Sunday Times bestseller and Goodreads Choice Award finalist-perfect for readers of Modern Lovers and Conversations with Friends.

Cleo and frankenstein