halfcentreader's review against another edition
4.0
Great book! The ending left me with goosebumps. Was a real treat to get this "other side" of the story.
3wilcotroad's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
colourfulthreads's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a tough one. I picked it up and put it down several times, never getting past the first chapter or two. Then finally, with nothing else easily available to read, I powered through. By the end I was in love with how Joyce constructed two stories simultaneously, told them independently and yet wove them together is such a rich and unusual way. I have a secret plan to try and read the Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and the Love Song of Queenie Hennessy in unison!
claire60's review against another edition
3.0
Read this after the unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry, I have to say that I enjoyed this book so much more, although you would probably need to read the other book to appreciate this one. I still enjoy Rachel's writing so much, she has a lovely ability to create evocative scenes. I loved all the characters in this book and the gentle uplifting way she explores life in a hospice. There are lots of very funny scenes which you wouldn't expect and the same exploration of people's hidden emotional depth. I did like Queen even though I wished that she had stood up for herself more, her pain and and passion were very much alive on the page.
gr8reader's review against another edition
5.0
Was glad that I read this book right after "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye." It added depth. I had mixed feelings about how Queen dealt with Harold's son and her withholding information from Harold.
fionadinw's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
3.0
Finished reading: January 21st 2021
“People always assume that just because something is true for them, it must be true for everyone else. It's a very narrow way of looking at life.”
Spoiler
I loved my time with The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry last year and I've been meaning to pick up the second book ever since... I'm still not sure why it took me this long to actually do so, but in a way I'm glad I did because I'm having a feeling I would have felt even more disappointed by The Love Song Of Miss Queenie Hennessy otherwise. Why? Well, let's just say that I ended up having mixed thoughts about this sequel... Especially relating to the main character Queenie. In the first book, I managed to warm up to her almost immediately and I loved the friendship between Harold and Queenie as well as following Harold on his journey to see her after being apart for twenty years. Sadly, this special bond was broken with the appearance of the 'unrequited love' trope that is introduced in the sequel... Very much annoying and the way Queenie was constantly mooning over Harold and lamenting her past got old pretty fast. It basically ruined my good first impression of her, and while I still like the idea of reading more about her side of things during the weeks of Harold's walk, the bad kind of overshadowed the good for me. I did like the selection of other characters in the hospice, and very much preferred those chapters set in the present. The chapters referring to the past were less to my taste, and especially those relating to Queenie's feelings for Harold and her strange relationship with Harold's son. All in all the chapters in the present weren't enough to save the story for me, even though I did also like the idea of Queenie writing down her 'confession' and telling the truth about her time with Harold as well as the years after. I guess The Love Song Of Miss Queenie Hennessy can go both ways for you depending on how you react to the introduction of the 'unrequited love' angle and a Queenie who seems very different from the character in the first book... Sadly, for me personally it wasn't the experience I was hoping for.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
shelbybee's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't fully satisfied with the ending of The Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry just because it didn't give me the closure I wanted about Queenie. That story was very much about Harold and Maureen and their story was beautiful, but I ended that book feeling very sad for Queenie. I'm really glad we got her perspective of the events of the last book, it really added a whole new dimension that makes me love Harold's story more than I already did. This was totally worth the read and now I feel a lot better about how Queenie's life ended. I also appreciate that certain things are kept open ended, so you can kind of decide if Harold actually gets the letter from Queenie. Because in the end, the letter was never for Harold, it was for Queenie. We watched Harold come to terms with things and find closure in the last book. He doesn't really need this letter, and in fact, it might serve to open old wounds that had just begun healing at the end of his journey. No this whole book was dedicated to Queenie finding peace with her own past and I loved every minute of it. I said Harold's journey was profound and touching, and it is, but Queenie's own journey is on a whole other level.
This was a truly rewarding read and definitely makes the whole series worthwhile.
This was a truly rewarding read and definitely makes the whole series worthwhile.
herreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
For anyone who, like me, loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, this is a MUST read. Another completely wonderful story from Rachel Joyce, this time we learn more about Queenie Hennessey and her quiet love for Harold Fry. She was the reason Harold Fry set out in his pilgrimage in the first book. In this book we learn more about Queenie and about why Harold decides he must set out on his journey to see terminally ill Queenie before she dies; and it also fills in some of the gaps from the first book. It is an extraordinary and profound story beautifully written and wonderfully told. It'll make you laugh and make you cry. It's not to be missed.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is in my top ten books and now Queenie's Love Song joins him in my ratings! Both are books that will stay with you long after you have reluctantly turned the last page.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is in my top ten books and now Queenie's Love Song joins him in my ratings! Both are books that will stay with you long after you have reluctantly turned the last page.
aerin_angafirith's review against another edition
Did not finish, for now.
I loved the first book, but I just can't get into this one. The story has it's moments and I like the humor, but I'll put it away for now and maybe try again sone other time.
I loved the first book, but I just can't get into this one. The story has it's moments and I like the humor, but I'll put it away for now and maybe try again sone other time.