Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

66 reviews

bethanwx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

Queenie's story is a chaotic one, following a break up which sends her spiralling. Her mental health journey reveals some horrific moments in her past and present and ultimately, she has so much love to give and grows to feels that love back at last, with a sturdy foundation for her future. The group chat sections in particular are a massive standout in conveying the intimacy and humour in her life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Antisemitism

mlovesbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

holliesatchell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

meat_muffin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

franksreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny sad fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Miscarriage

sarah_reading_party's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

the good:
-queenie's jamaican british family, their dialogue/slang, and the way they care for each other
-queenie's friend group, the corgis... nothing like a good group of friends :)
-queenie's determination to improve her mental health and seek the therapy she needs

the bad:
-graphic abuse & sexual content - queenie put herself into bad situations and men put her into bad situations. that could have been shown without such graphic content/descriptions. i had to skim some large portions of this book. :(
-some of the workplace things queenie deals with could have been avoided if she just, ya know, worked. alas....

i probably would not have finished this book if it had not been a book club selection. the author is a talented writer and i'd consider reading another of her books in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexism, Medical content, and Grief

denlia's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

kimberlyallen011's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Miscarriage

Minor: Eating disorder and Suicide attempt

anastasia_okodure's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

To characterise the protagonist, Queenie, as a ‘black 21st century Bridget Jones’ would be a misnomer, as Queenie defies the ‘frazzled English woman’ stereotype.  A story about a young black woman trying to navigate modern day (but pre-Covid) gentrified Brixton, facing challenges related to heartbreak, identity, trauma, mental health, and life generally going from bad to worse. Queenie’s is a story of inner strength, proof that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual assault

Minor: Eating disorder, Miscarriage, and Sexism