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nike_1212's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and really enjoyed the performance of the reader.
On the one hand I really liked the dedication of the author to maintain the relatability of the characters. She brought basically all parts of a human life to the forefront and dealt with them intimately. Usually I have the experience that a book tackles a couple elements, like someone’s family and job, or their love life and their struggle with their past. No this book really goes all the way, and it makes one realize how much everyone of us is juggling simultaneously, even though we somehow loose track of that and don’t give enough credit when we manage to give time and space to money, job, how to manage your ambitions, past and future, family, expectations based on gender, race, sexual orientation, class (the list goes on), heartbreak, love, health, how to be vulnerable, friends, conflict when things are in our lives that no longer serve us, our own identity and what it means to uniquely be us, how to deal with when everything seems to collapse. I think it’s an important book to highlight how hard it is too, to break free from expectations. It also is a book probably very important to validate how hard it can be to be Black and British. Even just for that fact it’s infinitely valuable. Plus I appreciate the British sarcasm lurking behind every other page.
On the other hand I didn’t enjoy the prose as much as with other books, and I found it at times too obvious. The answers can sometimes be left to the reader to figure out. In that way I feel like it was written a bit too heavy handed. Nevertheless, my biggest criticism is that it needed more character building of Queenies friends- they are absolutely necessary and carry the story. They deserved more complexity rather than be archetypes.
All in all a great read when I unpacked and reorganized my stuff, nothing too complex but entertaining and proper!
3/5
On the one hand I really liked the dedication of the author to maintain the relatability of the characters. She brought basically all parts of a human life to the forefront and dealt with them intimately. Usually I have the experience that a book tackles a couple elements, like someone’s family and job, or their love life and their struggle with their past. No this book really goes all the way, and it makes one realize how much everyone of us is juggling simultaneously, even though we somehow loose track of that and don’t give enough credit when we manage to give time and space to money, job, how to manage your ambitions, past and future, family, expectations based on gender, race, sexual orientation, class (the list goes on), heartbreak, love, health, how to be vulnerable, friends, conflict when things are in our lives that no longer serve us, our own identity and what it means to uniquely be us, how to deal with when everything seems to collapse. I think it’s an important book to highlight how hard it is too, to break free from expectations. It also is a book probably very important to validate how hard it can be to be Black and British. Even just for that fact it’s infinitely valuable. Plus I appreciate the British sarcasm lurking behind every other page.
On the other hand I didn’t enjoy the prose as much as with other books, and I found it at times too obvious. The answers can sometimes be left to the reader to figure out. In that way I feel like it was written a bit too heavy handed. Nevertheless, my biggest criticism is that it needed more character building of Queenies friends- they are absolutely necessary and carry the story. They deserved more complexity rather than be archetypes.
All in all a great read when I unpacked and reorganized my stuff, nothing too complex but entertaining and proper!
3/5
hannahhamburger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Loved this. It's like Bridget Jones but more raw and human, didn't want to put it down ♥️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
lorena_rose's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
shay455's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookyanna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
slow-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
3.0
This book was insightful in many ways. The author portrays how it feels to navigate life as a black woman vividly.
This book was also incredibly frustrating. Many of the characters were consistently unpleasant (even the "good" ones!) - the titular character definitely needs to surround herself with better friends, and far better lovers. What's worse was is that Queenie ultimately forgives people who have behaved unforgiveably. I absolutely hate it when its suggested that forgiveness is somehow the morally superior choice, regardless of what people have done to you.
This book was also incredibly frustrating. Many of the characters were consistently unpleasant (even the "good" ones!) - the titular character definitely needs to surround herself with better friends, and far better lovers. What's worse was is that Queenie ultimately forgives people who have behaved unforgiveably. I absolutely hate it when its suggested that forgiveness is somehow the morally superior choice, regardless of what people have done to you.
jordynedwards98's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
3.75
ooohgoshtara's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
This was a reread for me. I loved it just as much this time around. Queenie is a totally relatable character to me. She is a young twenty something reeling from a break-up and miscarriage. She is suffering from unresolved childhood trauma. She is making horrible dating and life mistakes. Her life is spiraling and each decision she makes seems to make things worse. What I loved is that although bumbling through life Queenie sought help through therapy to the horror of her family. Through it all Queenie was hilarious. I loved her friend group even though she rarely listened to their solid advice. They were supportive. The use of text messages and their group chat was a nice touch. Queenine's experiences in a predominantly white workplace were relatable. I found Queenies family especially her grandparents endearing even when they were overbearing. Queenie is just a character that sticks with me and I cannot understand the hate she gets. I also love how we all experience novels differently. But Queenie hate how dare you?! Here for the messy black girls who do the work to untangle their messy lives and grow.
madkatrob's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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