Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Girls in Queens

this book has all of the right ingredients - an exploration of female friendship and the way it ebbs and flows throughout our lives, how speaking our truth can uncover so much of what we have spent our lives hiding from or refusing to see, and a reckoning with the variety of ways sexual abuse is inflicted on us. i enjoyed the novel, but to me, it lacked an emotional depth leaving me feeling disconnected from the story.

Content Warnings

thewordsdevourer's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

The Girls in Queens is an interestingly structured book that simmers with tension and buildup throughout to culminate in a thematically explosive conclusion.

This has both pros and cons. For the latter, the mounting tension means at least the first 60% of the book is a little slow, with some chapters and scenes that I feel could be tightened up more to improve the pacing. While some significant scenes do happen in the 1996-2001 timelines, they come in fits and starts amid otherwise seemingly typical days of youth. Brisma and Brian's will-they-won't-they in the 2006 timeline also gets old pretty quick because it feels like an endless loop.

Another thing that really irks me throughout the book is the overly liberal line breaks for dialogues - despite them being said by the same character - and the lack of mention of which quotes is said by whom, making reading certain interactions very confusing at times; I had to try to make sense of them by reading the previous and next lines, and I wish this aspect of the writing would be less sloppy.

Nonetheless, the novel has an interesting - and effective - structure that helps amp up anticipation and mystery, in addition to providing much insight and clarity to the characters and their growth. The characters are also multidimensional, which is a notable feat especially considering how, despite knowing some of them are flat out wrong in their heinous actions and viewpoints, I also understand where they're coming from.

My favorite thing about this book is perhaps how deliciously complex it is, whether it be the depiction and exploration of the patriarchy at work: how messed up views and actions both big and small encountered by women since young in every imaginable environment essentially socialize and desensitize them to the awfulness of it all, most unfortunate of all how some - like Kelly - resort to this as an ironic survival mechanism that also makes them blind or indifferent to other disturbing actions. I also like how Torres illustrates the complexity of sexual assault and allegations in communities of color, where intersectionality is always at play.

Overall, despite its few shortcomings, this is a great debut novel with complexity - be it in terms of characters, structure or themes - and a stirring yet disturbingly relatable story.

Content Warnings

shannondreads's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

So good it almost made me want to be a Mets fan. A beautifully done testament to the friendships and places that make us. Though I'm exactly the kind of Long Island white girl the characters mock at times, I couldn't help but see myself and the women I grew up with reflected in these characters. So glad I picked it up.

Content Warnings

More...