Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

73 reviews

mfrabbiele's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs

jenny_librarian's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

3.5

I'm not much a reader of adult fiction, and this book reminded me why: so. much. sex. There were way too many sex scenes in the first half of this book for me. And on that subject, this is one of those occasions I'm glad to be ace. For all the people who love to tell us we're broken, at least I never had -- and will never have -- to go through this kind of thought process and voluntarily let men destroy me and my body.

I get why Queenie is the way she is in the beginning, and this book does a very good job of showing how hard being a Black woman in the UK can be. All her problems basically come back to the way Black people have been (and still are) treated by white folks. It's a very good lesson in systemic racism.
Despite all that, I couldn't help thinking "damn, this girl's a mess" throughout the book. She's lucky she has such good friends, because Darcy and Kyazike are absolute gold. Darcy especially was amazing at helping with her recovery when she started to work again.

In the end, it's a pretty good book, but had way too much self-loathing sex for my aroace self.
Also: men are trash.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Racism

marie_is_reading's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage

lreads's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Miscarriage

bringonthenight's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity

Minor: Abandonment, Medical content, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment

becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

“Queenie” is a book that I fell in love with as it portrays race,  love, mental health, and self-acceptance. It is hard not to love our titular character, Queenie, as we meet her at her lowest. Struggling after a breakup and being looked over and pushed back at her job, she is on the verge of a breakdown. She is unable to see the version of her that we do, a caring, intelligent, and loving person. 

As Queenie spirals we see her make decisions to try and comfort herself and chooses sex as her method to do so. These sections were difficult to read as the men are abusive, manipulative, and cause her physical harm. I would warn those who read it that there are scenes of sexual abuse and harassment. Not only this but these men seek her out due to her race, and have a fantasy of being with a black woman. The way these men treat her is heartbreaking and made my blood boil, and even more shattering is Queenie’s viewpoint that she doesn’t deserve any better. 

One of the things I liked most about this book and praise it for would be the challenges and commentary Candice Carty-Williams makes on stereotypes. As Queenie seeks help for her mental health, we are shown the cultural stigma around mental health and therapy. She is the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants and expects that they will be angry and upset at her for going to therapy. Instead, she receives an outpouring of love from her family and friends. Another stereotype that she makes abundantly clear and shows the traumatising effect of, is the fetishization of black women. 

Through it all, Queenie has the support of her friends. I would love to have Kyazike as one of my best friends if only fictional characters were real-life people.  Their Whatsapp group reminds me of my own group chats with friends, hilarious moments filled with honest and heartwarming friendship. They support each other and are there for Queenie no matter what. 

Pitched as the next “Bridget Jones,” I couldn’t disagree more. This is a book that I devoured and has its funny uplifting moments. But underneath is a much more complex story that tackles race and mental health. Queenie herself is a character that you love from the moment you meet her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Mental illness

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

bunnyreads2's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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? Yes

4.75

Really enjoyed it! (Some slight thematic spoilers) An amazing way to expose how intergenerational trauma and domestic violence can impact someone well into their adult life until they can unpack it all! 
Also loved the way the friendships and support systems were explore through the cast of characters. 
And very concrete examples of how racism shifts someone’s daily life and existence as a whole. 
All wrapped in some intelligent humor and sarcasm 👌

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Infidelity

Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Miscarriage

beccic's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Sexism

Moderate: Racism, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicide attempt

lena04's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, and Miscarriage

frankie_reads2's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship