Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

113 reviews

martamae77's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Toxic friendship

suzynotsontag's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It was a little shallow for me, which I think is why it was such a breeze to read. There weren’t many times I had to put the book down to process what I’d just read, but that may be because I’m already well versed in the subject matter. More than anything it was infuriating and triggering as a black person that has lived experience as a woman. At times it felt like

it was just completely pointless, like there wouldn’t be any development on Queenie’s part. That’s why the ending felt rushed, with her going to therapy and getting her act together. Also just the fact that absolutely everyone she encountered was just a massive dick with absolutely no positives seemed a bit unrealistic.  I’m also very very salty that Cassandra got back into her life, she was a toxic presence since the very beginning.

All in all, I don’t regret reading it because there were quite a few instances that made me laugh and I cried twice. Can’t say I’d eagerly recommend it to anyone though

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

quinn12_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Grief, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Stalking, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Racism, and Fatphobia

ruth_power's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative 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

Hilarious! So many emotions! This book is a really honest portrayal of recovery and it discusses serious issues in a sensitive way. Shvorne Marks is a fantastic narrator too!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Body shaming

marissab's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

Moderate: Dysphoria, Miscarriage, Rape, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Racial slurs

Minor: Cursing, Police brutality, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Drug use, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Violence

serpina's review

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

How to review this book... 
I do think it's a good book with a good message. Queenie is a 25 years old woman, who loses her boyfriend, job, one of her best girl friends and her dignity in a very short amount of time. Her life sucks, men are using her, she has to move back into her grandparent's house and all of this is coated with a thick layer of racism on top. 
This is a good story, relatable in some parts and uncomfortably unrelatable in other parts (I'm a white woman). So why do I only give three stars? Because I hate contemporary stories. I dislike the genre and don't enjoy spending my time reading about normal people with normal problems. 
If your job is bad, you better be a reaper. If your family is dysfunctional, your parents better be Lillith and the Archangel Gabriel. If your partner sucks, they better be a vampire, or at least a fae. 
If I read books without any fantasy elements, they're usually at least some cozy mysteries. 

But Queenie was a gift some Christmases ago and a) I plan to reduce my physical TBR this year significantly and b) in honor of Black History Month, I wanted to read it and I finished it, because I think the story deserves to be read, even though I don't like it much. I skimmed roughly two thirds of the book, but I followed the plot and the development. And if you like contemporary stories, I would recommend the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Infidelity and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Miscarriage

teh_niarr's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Fatphobia, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Sexism, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Child abuse

froggybooks's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

slow to start 

im not black so i’m not gonna say anything else, it’s not my place to have an opinion on lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Racial slurs

georgie_mb's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

For me, this lived up to the hype that I’d heard about this. 

Queenie is a modern flawed woman who I came to love through this audiobook (highly recommend listening as Tamara Lawrence is just FAB).She is going through everything from the breakdown of long-term relationships, a miscarriage, casual sex, systematic racism, workplace romances, childhood trauma and mental health issues and I just found her journey from beginning to end to inspiring. 

I was truly gripped from start to finish and was rooting for Queenie like she was a real person! 

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Content Warnings

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

ccassidy98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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: Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Suicide, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship