culown's review
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexism, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence
applesaucecreachur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I checked Queenie out thanks to a bookstagram account that claimed the audiobook version was a masterpiece. Niether the author, Candice Carty-Williams, nor the narrator, Shvorne Marks, disappointed. Non-speculative contemporary fiction isn't usually my vibe but the voice acting, humor, tragedy, and occasionally even the joy covered in this story lead me to devour the book in four days flat. The titular Queenie is a deeply flawed woman who makes questionable decisions and has skewed priorities. She is also a woman who's been forced to rise to the occasion time and again, and is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted by it all. For every misstep Queenie makes, it is ten times more frustrating to watch the world respond to her mere existence.
Spoiler
The pool scene was one of the rawest and most devastating bits of fiction I've consumed in years. It gave a voice to how one person's, particularly one white woman's, casual action can crumble another human.Also, Shvorne Marks? Talented. Her range of accents and unique voices for each character elevates this book even further. Queenie was everything I didn't know I needed from fiction.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence and Toxic friendship
Minor: Fatphobia
jaywithwhiskey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, Miscarriage, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Infidelity, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Grief
Minor: Police brutality
quinn12_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Grief, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Stalking, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Racism, and Fatphobia
marissab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Dysphoria, Miscarriage, Rape, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Racial slurs
Minor: Cursing, Police brutality, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Drug use, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Violence
ireadtoescape_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved the humour and pace. I really did enjoy it. Bonus points for all the chaotic drama. Wow 😂😂.
So well written.
I unfortunately cannot say that I was a better 25-year-old 😂 minus the white men 👀👀👀. I’m trying so hard not to judge 😂😭.
The lack of body autonomy that Black women are often afforded and how it was shown throughout this book was really good. From both women and men who are white. Triggered 😭😭. Also the way Queenie’s physical features were often sexualised! 🫠 An exhausting amount of this was done but no lies were told, unfortunately.
I have some other mixed feelings, too though. And I have a lot more to say about that stuff 🥲.
I don’t know if this is just me but I also felt a lot like some of the POC characters were made into caricatures. This may also come from the feeling that Queenie’s issues with Black men were obviously hanging throughout, but also that she seemed to have found her safe spaces and support structures in white people (Janet and Darcy mainly).
Spoiler
This is despite the harm Queenie experienced because of white people in so many ways [Tom (🫠🥴) and his family (not surprised, tbh), Ted (😖🤢🤢🤢🤢), Guy, Cassandra (!!!!!????), mf Courtney with his reverse racism, and all those girlies at her job (faux woke white people are a choking hazard)].I don’t care, okay; but there is no safer space for Black women than those created by other Black women and I would have loved so much to see that for Queenie. I fully understand the complexity of her family situation and can fully relate but that for me is more reason to have seen Queenie find safe spaces in non-white spaces. The trauma of so many Black families, especially families like Queenie’s stem from the actions of white people in the first place?? And yet Queenie kept on getting help from them? Urgh I hated that.
Kyazike especially felt like a caricature for me - nothing else of her existed except being the friend with the funny dating stories and nothing else - made it worse during the last confrontation with Ted. I didn’t like that and it made me increasingly uncomfortable throughout because she also appeared to be emotionally closed off outside angry and funny. She cared about Queenie and it was obvious but there was more from the white girlies and that was super wonky for me.
Back to the Black men - there was absolutely no resolution of Queenie saying what she said about them. Or anyone calling her out for saying it??!! Especially as a BLM supporter although I found that to be a bit shaky and inconsistent on Queenie’s part 😬😬😬😬 This is especially difficult for me from a Black woman author. Also with how much the treatment of white men towards Black women is depicted throughout the book. Omg!! 😵💫 I got really tired with all these white men. I wanted to cry 😭. I know that this was part of the point but wow how exhausting! 😂 Sis, maybe leave the white guys???? Omg!! 🫤🫤😶🥴 Courtney was especially the worst. Didn’t like how that was handled at all and how she gave him the time of day at all.
Also - Queenie’s mom’s story was utterly heartbreaking! Would have loved to see more of her and Queenie resolving what they’d been through together - another Black woman I wished got more care, frankly.
Complicated feelings aside, I really did enjoy this book. Chaotic in all the best ways. Totally representative of being 25 😂😂😂😭😭😭
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and Miscarriage
sydapel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, Sexual violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage and Police brutality
paulawind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you for not having her end up with a man and having family and friends be the most important relationships in her life
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Fatphobia, Grief, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Addiction, Racism, Rape, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Miscarriage
zcall13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Racism, Violence, and Mental illness
sweetpeach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Sexual violence