Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

67 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

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

mariamsaidwhat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

3.25

So many of Queenie’s experiences were so brutal I really question the judgment of everyone who compared this novel to Bridget Jones because there is truly nothing similar in tone. I will say that while some situations felt forced, and I didn’t believe Queenie’s relationship with Tom at all, the dialogue all felt very real, which is so difficult to do. Seeing her growing relationship with her grandfather was nice, and I wish we could have seen more of that. 

I would also fully recommend checking the content warnings for this book if that’s something you need. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Self harm

Moderate: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Medical content, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity and Eating disorder

amaranth_wytch's review against another edition

emotional

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Stalking, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Racism, and Sexual harassment

stephmcoakley's review

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Religious bigotry, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

brianareads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, and Racism

pamxramirez's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

i found the first half quite difficult to read, but once I understood the author's intentions (and noticed the bookis in the Fleabag genre), everything settled into place. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Mental illness

Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Self harm

Minor: Toxic friendship, Miscarriage, Classism, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Alcoholism