Unraveling Love and Loneliness: A Book Club Guide to Cleopatra and Frankenstein

February — the month of love — was the perfect time for our readers at Open Book Club to dive into Coco Mellors’ Cleopatra and Frankenstein, a story that dissects love, longing, and loneliness in a raw, cinematic way. Far from being a classic romance, this novel peels back the glittering surface of modern relationships to reveal what really holds two people together — and what can slowly tear them apart.

What Makes Cleopatra and Frankenstein So Special

Set in the bustling, creative chaos of New York City, this debut novel by Coco Mellors feels like a confessional whispered at 3 a.m. It follows Cleo, a young British artist, and Frank, a much older advertising executive, whose impulsive marriage sets off a chain of emotional ripples that affect everyone around them — from friends to ex-lovers to strangers caught in their orbit.

What makes this story stand out is Mellors’ unflinching honesty. Every character is flawed, messy, and deeply human. The writing captures the intoxicating highs and heartbreaking lows of adult love — the kind that is more about survival than happily-ever-after. It’s not just about romance; it’s about identity, mental health, creative ambition, and the compromises we make in pursuit of connection.

This is a book for readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven fiction — the kind that feels like therapy, heartbreak, and poetry rolled into one. If you liked Normal People by Sally Rooney or Beautiful World, Where Are You, this one will strike the same deep chord.

10 Book Club Discussion Questions

• Cleo and Frank’s marriage begins impulsively. Do you think their love was ever built on a solid foundation? Or was it doomed from the start.
• The book portrays mental health with sensitivity — particularly Cleo’s depression. How did you perceive her struggles, and did you empathize with her choices?
• Frank is often criticized for his self-destructive tendencies. Do you think he was a victim of his past, or simply unable to evolve?
• Cleopatra and Frankenstein is filled with secondary characters like Quentin, Zoe, and Eleanor. Whose story resonated with you the most, and why?
• The novel portrays New York almost as a character. How does the city influence the mood and trajectory of the story?
• What do you think the title Cleopatra and Frankenstein symbolizes? Is it about the characters themselves or the emotional duality of love — creation and destruction?
• The book explores privilege, money, and art. How do these factors shape Cleo and Frank’s relationship and the power dynamic between them?
• Mellors’ prose is vivid and cinematic. Did her writing style make you feel closer to or more detached from the characters?
• By the end, do you think either Cleo or Frank find redemption or peace? Or does the story suggest that love itself is inherently flawed?
• If you could ask Coco Mellors one question about this book, what would it be?

The best part of our February meet was how personal the discussion became. Readers shared their thoughts on love that burns bright but fast, on growing apart while trying to hold on, and on the bittersweet art of starting over. There were sighs, debates, and even a few tears — proof that Cleopatra and Frankenstein doesn’t just entertain, it makes you feel.

If you’re looking for a book that leaves you raw, reflective, and maybe even a little more forgiving of your own imperfections, this is your next read.

Want to be part of such conversations?
Join Open Book Club at Chapters Bookstore, where stories turn into conversations, and books into friendships.