Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

216 reviews

googie_puvdan's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense 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

Not only is Queenie relatable, but she's a necessary character. We need more representations and stories like Queenie's, where it's not a neat and tidy packaged story in 300 pages; she's real. And I wish I'd had access to her stories, and stories like this, when I was younger. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment

madamelacy's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

This wasn’t my usual read as it was a bit Gen Z but I found the main character’s struggle with coming to terms with neglect as a child, coping with racism and realisation that she doesn’t have to put up with sexual violence very believable, as it wasn’t a smooth journey. The ending was really uplifting and I wanted to hug Queenie when she finally learned to love herself, but she’s not a hugger.

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.

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Content Warnings

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

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Suicide attempt

quasinaut's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

• 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

Oh, this is a complicated book to rate and review, because Queenie is a complicated character to read about. 

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.

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Content Warnings

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

april_98's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming and Sexual violence

Minor: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage

ndelaurence's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

angievansprang's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.25

I really enjoyed this read. Queenie is a young, Black, 20-something trying to find her way in London while coming to terms with some realities about her life. There are LOTS of terrible men, beautiful female friendships, complicated family dynamics, and most importantly, the rocky journey towards self love & self acceptance. Though Queenie is by no means perfect, I found her to still be a lovable character. You want everything to work out for her in the end. Check trigger warnings before picking this one up because there are definitely scenes that are hard to stomach, especially when you as the reader can recognize Queenie’s self-destructive behavior before she does. I thought the mental health representation of anxiety & panic disorders was completely on par in this book and I appreciated that rawness from the author. It was one of the many ways in which Queenie comes alive off the page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Mental illness and Toxic friendship

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Suicide

bookzombiee19's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Abortion

justcallmeemily's review against another edition

funny sad medium-paced

• 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

2.5

If it wasn't for book club, i would've DNFed a long time ago. Definitely not my kind of book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

sandysmith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-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

3.25

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records.  This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader.  Queenie is a black journalist navigating her life. Its about live, race and relationships. She and the other characters are not very likeable. She badly navigates the dating scene. Mysogony and racism make uncomfortable reading. I wanted to shake her to make her come to her senses. After counselling it does get better fo  her, but I really disliked some of the characters and situations she found herself in. It's a Bridget Jones type book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence