A review by jularcido
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

4.5

I heard so much praise for this book (and a comparison to Bridget Jones??) so I HAD to read it. This story follows Queenie, a 20-something Jamaican Brit, and her life spiraling as she deals with heartbreak, a job that isn't what she dreamed it would be, a family who won't listen, and friends who don't know how to help her. All Queenie wants is to be seen, and to figure it all out.
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The writing style and first-person narration really made me feel like I was listening to a friend. This made it all so much more frustrating when she kept making self-destructive decisions. These decisions were only some (not all) of the triggering content that made the story so raw and realistic. To me, this book wasn't as much a cute heartwarming read but more cathartic and relatable. Queenie's mental health issues were written well and I really liked her nonlinear path of recovery.
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All Queenie's interactions really showcased the different forms of racism and sexism a person can face simply dealing with work issues, talking with friends, and dating trash men. While I cannot speak for the Black experience, as a POC myself, I connected with many of the micro-aggressions (and straight up aggressions) that she had  to deal with, especially with men. The racial gaslighting that Queenie faced throughout the book really made my heart hurt. 😕
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Although the book dealt with a lot of heavy topics, I feel that I found a friend in Queenie, and maybe you will too. 💕
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