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mari1532's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Brief Summary: Queenie is a woman trying to find herself after a devastating breakup. However, the more she tries to avoid her problems the more problems she seems to have.
Thoughts: If I was rating this book simply on writing it would be 5 out of 5. Carty-Williams writes with such emotionally vivid gripping detail that you can't help but sympathize or empathize with her characters. That being said this book was a lot. The book blurb describes it as Bridget Jones meets Americanah and I did not get the quicky, cheery vibes of Bridget Jones until the last 10 pages of the book.
I appreciated how this was written to read as if we were reading Queenie's thoughts as if she were writing in a journal because it made her seem vulnerable and relatable. There were quite a few points where I was yelling at Queenie to not do that thing. Carty-Williams wrote her in such a way that you immediately felt that Queenie was your friend and you wanted the best for her. I think the nuance of Queeni and every other character in the book was my favourite part.
Of course, there were a few people I did not like in this book even though they were well-written. Men whose names start with T, random Guys, and backstabbing friends were the villains of this book. On some level, I do think these subplots highlight the mess of being a woman in your 20s and on another level that some people truly never leave high school.
I also really liked the journey that Queenie went on with therapy and her family. The arc of that plot line was beautiful to see and highlighted how people can sometimes surprise you.
This was a really good book and I would recommend it as a read. However, this is more a coming-of-age story and what it takes to discover who you are as a person, rather than a rom-com. It is exquisitely written.
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
lucymcdougall's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
meat_muffin's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Medical content, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm
nikolas_fox'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual violence
katewashington's review against another edition
2.0
Minor: Racism and Sexual violence
madamelacy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There were aspects I liked less. There appeared to be a suggestion that her life disintegrated due to pregnancy loss, but it was clearly spiralling before that. I didn’t find the amenability or the responses from the counsellor very credible.
Overall an enjoyable read.
Moderate: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Minor: Emotional abuse
kefeshe'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
3.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Racism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt
quasinaut's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I appreciated seeing the development of Queenie and her relationships with her friends, her grandparents, aunt, and cousin, her mother, her boss, and the men in her life - and how each of them respected (or didn't) Queenie's boundaries and choices, while at the same time we get glimpses of how other characters' lives are going and what roles Queenie plays.
Is she a good friend? Is she a good daughter and granddaughter? Is she a good worker? Nothing is so black and white, good and bad, of course, but I was rooting for Queenie, even when she seemed determined to make destructive decisions.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Police brutality
issy_jacob's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
april_98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming and Sexual violence
Minor: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage