A review by miss_soup
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

challenging dark emotional tense 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

5.0

Queenie and her long-term boyfriend Tom are the interracial Ross and Rachel. The book opens with the two as they have decided to take a "break." Queenie is now trying to navigate her life, health and interpersonal relationships. Queenie makes questionable decisions throughout the novel, ending up in tense situations. 

Again, I didn't reasonably expect this book to be as dark as it turned out to be; it gave me all the feelings. There are many times in this book that I wanted to reach through the pages and slap some of the characters (men) that Queenie has to deal with in her life. Between Tom, Ted, Guy, and Cassandra, I have never wanted to throw a book against a wall more. 

Queenie is a strong, intelligent, and independent yet flawed character. While, at times, this book is devastating, it is genuinely relatable. In addition to Queenie, I am impressed with the creation of the minor characters; they felt like whole people and not one-dimensional "token" characters. 

Happy to give this book my first five stars of 2023!