laurensalisbury's review against another edition
2.0
I was so disappointed by this book. Queenie is an incredibly frustrating protagonist: not because she is unlikeable, not because she never seems to grow, and not because she repeatedly makes life choices that made me want to throw the book across the room. Queenie is frustrating because she is like the shadow of what I hoped she would be. Bits of her personality and character development are thrown in seemingly without care and definitely without resolution. Her repeated pitches to her boss and interest in BLM are sprinkled in but never go anywhere. Despite her interest in these issues and her rightful anger when she is faced with micro- and macroagressions by her boyfriend, friends, and coworkers, she never actually acknowledges that these relationships might be toxic.
The biggest sticking point was, as others have mentioned in community reviews, her inability to see how terrible of a boyfriend and partner Tom was. Even by the conclusion of the book she refuses to notice that he was a racist-apologist who refused to stand up for her, who negged her throughout their relationship, and whose only interest in her was some sort of "achievement unlocked: dated a black girl" voyeuristic stream of bullshit. It's safe to say that Tom sucks.
Other never concluded bits of information include: her relationship with her grandparents; what exactly happened to make her so afraid of black men; and her life goals outside of dating an endless line of worthless white dudes.
The writing style and Carty-Williams voice is wonderful -- I would probably read her next book -- but Queenie did not live up to the hype or my hopes.
The biggest sticking point was, as others have mentioned in community reviews, her inability to see how terrible of a boyfriend and partner Tom was. Even by the conclusion of the book she refuses to notice that he was a racist-apologist who refused to stand up for her, who negged her throughout their relationship, and whose only interest in her was some sort of "achievement unlocked: dated a black girl" voyeuristic stream of bullshit. It's safe to say that Tom sucks.
Other never concluded bits of information include: her relationship with her grandparents; what exactly happened to make her so afraid of black men; and her life goals outside of dating an endless line of worthless white dudes.
The writing style and Carty-Williams voice is wonderful -- I would probably read her next book -- but Queenie did not live up to the hype or my hopes.
anuajit's review against another edition
3.0
This book was painful and real! I read many reviews that called it humorous and funny, but i found it neither! I am liked how the story ended on a new note not a HEA but a happy happy WIP, I felt that was the best part!
sujata's review against another edition
5.0
Very good. And very real and resonant scenes and writing about what someone thinks and feels and says during depression.
marryallthepeople's review against another edition
3.0
Can you like a book where you dislike all the characters? Not sure...
bessie's review against another edition
3.0
This book was ~heavy~. I did really enjoy it but it's tough to watch a character completely tailspin like that.
ashes2003's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was a car crash that blew up in the middle of the highway and everyone hyped it for 3s, then went about their day. A visual representation of the Queenie would be Devi from Never Have I Ever because boy was she messy. At no point did I find this character lovable, all she did was annoy me and repeated the same mistakes over and over again.
Props for the Caribbean representation, but as a Caribbean woman myself, there was no way realistically my community would have condoned this. We do not form unhealthy attachments with unflavoured beings unless we are benefiting lol. Cassandra was the only character I truly liked, simply because she seemed to be less of a "yes man". However, in the final chapters, the author just trampled her character to make Queenie have some significant character development and make her a righteous character.
In some friendships, we need people like Cassandra to call us out on our Bs. Be like Cassandra.
or maybe I'm too stupid and missed the entire plot of the book.
Props for the Caribbean representation, but as a Caribbean woman myself, there was no way realistically my community would have condoned this. We do not form unhealthy attachments with unflavoured beings unless we are benefiting lol. Cassandra was the only character I truly liked, simply because she seemed to be less of a "yes man". However, in the final chapters, the author just trampled her character to make Queenie have some significant character development and make her a righteous character.
In some friendships, we need people like Cassandra to call us out on our Bs. Be like Cassandra.
or maybe I'm too stupid and missed the entire plot of the book.
leawyo's review against another edition
5.0
The audio was magical! I love how real this narrative felt. I love how it showed a universal struggle with an up close look at how certain cultures view mental health care and dating and coming of age. This book on the surface is a take on modern dating but underneath is so much more. I highly recommend this one!
courtney_mm's review against another edition
2.0
So far she is annoying and needs to fucking leave that white boy alone why she so obsessed with him when clearly he don't give a fuck.
literally all of these characters are annoyingggg. like her friends are kinda good friends but they also kinda mean. but I also feel bad for them because literally all queenie does is complain and talk about her problems and doesn't give them space to do anything. like they literally only exist for her purposes
LEAVE TOM omg he and his family is racist and he's mean why are u so torn up about him. and the thing with ted was so icky. all her interactions with men are icky
and the blm protest ESPICALLY but all the blm stuff just feels so forced and out of place, and all the modern references like its trying too hard to be black and woke and modern.
is queenie relatable? i guess in some ways yes but more annoying and sad than anything
Sigh. I feel the same exact way i felt about I'm not your mexican daughter. Like in the beginning so annoyed at her for being annoying but then when she had had the big episode i was like oh ... my b and the actually started to like the book a lot more. Maybe I'm just a bad person and mentally ill people get on my nerves. But now knowing more about her child hood trauma with her mom and what not i have a lot more understanding and empathy for her.
Okayyyyy so after finishing the book i actually liked it a lot more than i started. Like i really enjoyed seeing queenie's growth and realization that all the men in her life were trash. Sis was going through it and i have accepted she needed that. And there were moments where i really did lol like the description of the neo nazi. I also really started loving her friends and family a lot more after i realized how loyal they were, like i love Darcy and Kyazike and how they ride for her and also their friendship with each other. Cassandra can rot.
So yeah definitely a really interesting book with highs and lows and made me think a lot about my own life.
literally all of these characters are annoyingggg. like her friends are kinda good friends but they also kinda mean. but I also feel bad for them because literally all queenie does is complain and talk about her problems and doesn't give them space to do anything. like they literally only exist for her purposes
LEAVE TOM omg he and his family is racist and he's mean why are u so torn up about him. and the thing with ted was so icky. all her interactions with men are icky
and the blm protest ESPICALLY but all the blm stuff just feels so forced and out of place, and all the modern references like its trying too hard to be black and woke and modern.
is queenie relatable? i guess in some ways yes but more annoying and sad than anything
Sigh. I feel the same exact way i felt about I'm not your mexican daughter. Like in the beginning so annoyed at her for being annoying but then when she had had the big episode i was like oh ... my b and the actually started to like the book a lot more. Maybe I'm just a bad person and mentally ill people get on my nerves. But now knowing more about her child hood trauma with her mom and what not i have a lot more understanding and empathy for her.
Okayyyyy so after finishing the book i actually liked it a lot more than i started. Like i really enjoyed seeing queenie's growth and realization that all the men in her life were trash. Sis was going through it and i have accepted she needed that. And there were moments where i really did lol like the description of the neo nazi. I also really started loving her friends and family a lot more after i realized how loyal they were, like i love Darcy and Kyazike and how they ride for her and also their friendship with each other. Cassandra can rot.
So yeah definitely a really interesting book with highs and lows and made me think a lot about my own life.