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cleansky7's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Racism, and Racial slurs
brigitta_anna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, and Racism
thissagreads's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A must read! This book had me shaking my head, laughing, getting defensive over Queenie, and emphasizing. This book was a refreshing read with a fresh perspective on a black British woman finding her way and figuring her sh*t out. Readers follow Queenie’s journey as she tries to get over her breakup, date/sleep around, keep up her relationships with friends and Jamaican family, working through all the various traumas she’s experienced AND tackles her mental health.
Just a warning: this is a heavier read and there are some trigger warnings SA: Queenie is sexually assaulted, harassed and raped by a guy at work who pretended to show interest in her, and by this hook up that she liked a little bit until they had sex.
!!!!!!!!!!! GRAPHIC WARNING BELOW !!!!!!!!!
The colleague at work implied they were going to have sexy, sneaky sex at work in the bathroom but Queenie was turned around and he roughly penetrated her roughly, not waiting for consent and not caring to know if she was okay with what was happening. The most graphic!!! Was that during a hook up Queenie was roughly penetrated anally without consent!!!! It was aggressive he did not ask, and unfortunately she was too uncomfortable to stop him or to say something. In fact, she goes back to him a few more times for sex because she’s emotionally hurting and missing her ex boyfriend. Personally I think she was so depressed that she wanted to feel loved and wanted so she kept going back to him even though this asshole was assaulting her. Because when she goes to the doctor to check for STI’s or pregnancy, they ring alarm bells for seeing the tearing and bruises and she’s just casually says it was “rough sex” even though she knows it was rape but is trying to cope. Fortunately the doctors and nurses point her to a therapist and she agrees later on to go thankfully.
!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRAPHIC WARNING OVER!!!!!!!!!!
So Queenie goes to therapy reluctantly at first but willingly by the end, and completes therapy sessions. But I wish the author made that asshole hookup pay for what he did! I wanted karma to get him hard! I wanted him to be in pain and HURT. And I wanted Queenie to have more therapy sessions- especially since she got her job back in the end, she could’ve kept going! There was so much more that readers learned about her, just through those sessions. Sigh oh well…
I wanted to be a friend to Queenie as she clumsily traversed through her journey, with the perfect amount of humor. And I’m glad her friend Kyazike (pronounced Chess-keh) because she ALWAYS had Queenie’s back. And as another black woman she understood Queenie better than her other nonblack friends, so they connected on a deep level. Their relationship was so important to this story. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars, is that I wanted payback and karma for those mother fuck*rs who assaulted and wronged Queenie. And I wished the author delved more into Queenie’s relationship with her mother and her mother’s asshole ex abusive boyfriend. I wish the book was longer so Queenie could in fact have a few harder conversations with her mother and grandparents about her childhood, even if she basically decided to forgive her and take her mother for who she is now that they’re older and her mom is so weak and broken from her ex boyfriend. But I wish there was more accountability taken. I know that culturally Queenie’s grandparents just loved their daughter regardless, but Queenie’s mother and the ex gave Queenie a lot of childhood trauma and not enough people are taking accountability in my humble opinion haha. Regardless, I still HIGHLY recommend this read, and I hope there will be a part two because there’s so much more of Queenie’s story!
Just a warning: this is a heavier read and there are some trigger warnings SA:
!!!!!!!!!!! GRAPHIC WARNING BELOW !!!!!!!!!
The colleague at work implied they were going to have sexy, sneaky sex at work in the bathroom but Queenie was turned around and he roughly penetrated her roughly, not waiting for consent and not caring to know if she was okay with what was happening. The most graphic!!! Was that during a hook up Queenie was roughly penetrated anally without consent!!!! It was aggressive he did not ask, and unfortunately she was too uncomfortable to stop him or to say something. In fact, she goes back to him a few more times for sex because she’s emotionally hurting and missing her ex boyfriend. Personally I think she was so depressed that she wanted to feel loved and wanted so she kept going back to him even though this asshole was assaulting her. Because when she goes to the doctor to check for STI’s or pregnancy, they ring alarm bells for seeing the tearing and bruises and she’s just casually says it was “rough sex” even though she knows it was rape but is trying to cope. Fortunately the doctors and nurses point her to a therapist and she agrees later on to go thankfully.
!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRAPHIC WARNING OVER!!!!!!!!!!
So Queenie goes to therapy reluctantly at first but willingly by the end, and completes therapy sessions. But I wish the author made that asshole hookup pay for what he did! I wanted karma to get him hard! I wanted him to be in pain and HURT. And I wanted Queenie to have more therapy sessions- especially since she got her job back in the end, she could’ve kept going! There was so much more that readers learned about her, just through those sessions. Sigh oh well…
I wanted to be a friend to Queenie as she clumsily traversed through her journey, with the perfect amount of humor. And I’m glad her friend Kyazike (pronounced Chess-keh) because she ALWAYS had Queenie’s back. And as another black woman she understood Queenie better than her other nonblack friends, so they connected on a deep level. Their relationship was so important to this story. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars, is that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, and Sexual content
latashman's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
The conclusion to this book was a nice wrap up and conclusion to the growth that Queenie underwent. I hated a lot of this book, the choices Queenie made, the abuse she endured, but I felt compelled to see how it ended. I think the writing was good, it elicited a strong emotional response from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Infidelity, Medical content, and Alcohol
chloehayward's review against another edition
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Miscarriage and Physical abuse
genthepineapple's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, and Police brutality
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, and Stalking
773victoria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Sexual violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, and Infidelity
Minor: Gun violence and Miscarriage
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Body shaming, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage
m_a_j'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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Mental illness and Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
auteaandtales's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
I loved this. It was an enjoyable read about being Black and British and being in your low twenties in South London navigating dating, friendship and mental health in a humorous way.
It felt so real, like I was reading a snippet of someone’s actual life, and I really enjoyed the way it did flashbacks. I can see the similarities between this and Bridget Jones, like a lot of people have compared it to before. The very heavy themes in this were handled much better. though.
I do wish we got to see Queenie slap Tom just…once, a little slap, he got off way too easy.
I’m glad I finally got around to it, it’s been on my bookshelves forever!
It felt so real, like I was reading a snippet of someone’s actual life, and I really enjoyed the way it did flashbacks. I can see the similarities between this and Bridget Jones, like a lot of people have compared it to before. The very heavy themes in this were handled much better. though.
I do wish we got to see Queenie slap Tom just…once, a little slap, he got off way too easy.
I’m glad I finally got around to it, it’s been on my bookshelves forever!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, and Racial slurs