Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

150 reviews

andrearuthelyn's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, and Sexual content

bookcookshoprepeat's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

flashandoutbreak's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Racism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Medical content, Alcohol, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

angelbabe_cj's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense slow-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

3.75

The writing here is absolutely excellent, just the story wasn't as much for me. Even if the arc overall was both satisfying and something I enjoyed. The early parts of the story were pretty off putting for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Body shaming, and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse

Minor: Fatphobia, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide

passionatereader78's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Racism and Toxic relationship

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

Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual assault

Minor: Sexism, Eating disorder, and Miscarriage

ank3's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring 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

4.5

I picked this book up with no idea what would come. The misogynoir way (white) men handle Queenie and her body is devastating. The book shows how it feels to be lusted after by misogynistic, racist men who crave the exotic black female body. The accumulation of all these interactions keep building up on Queenie's already traumatised life experiences and low self esteem until eventually she gets knocked down by it all.

The first half of the book is heart wrenching. The ending warmed my heart. Queenie shows great strength in this world where she is mistreated repeatedly. She picks herself up by accepting therapy which is not accepted in her culture. She slowly recovers with the help from her realistically imperfect friends and family.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Abandonment, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Racism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Violence

beetandbaguette's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Alcohol, Drug use, Medical content, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, and Sexual violence

beccamarriner's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

4.75

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I was totally encapsulated by it and know that I will continue to think about it for a long time. It’s an extremely personal book and having similar mental health issues, it was almost comforting to read about queenie’s experience knowing that we’re not alone even when we feel like it. The only thing that wasn’t perfect for me in the book were the included texts/emails but that’s just personal preference

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Racism

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Miscarriage

Minor: Alcoholism

ebun_reads's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

Moderate: Racism and Physical abuse