Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

17 reviews

janetteb12's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I had a very difficult time getting into this book. I finished it because I was curious to see how the conflict would be resolved, but I didn’t really care either way. There were some good moments, especially near the end, where you’ll root for the main character. But a couple moments at the end wasn’t enough to salvage this reading experience for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

tarinahmed's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

simonemaybe's review against another edition

The content of this book is very triggering and I was very surprised. CW: sexual assault, mental health neglect, family trauma, abusive relationships - I can go on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Rape, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Medical content, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Bullying

myfriendthatcanread'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: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide attempt

areadingstan's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-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

5.0

This was a really beautiful story. Williams crafted the character of Queenie, her family and friends so well and managed to somehow find a balance between comedy and seriousness within Queenie's story, as she must traverse many changes, racism in every day life, generational differences in family, trials of friendship and dating, and her own mental health issues.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

strudel_doodle's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Miscarriage

Minor: Domestic abuse and Police brutality

tashadandelion's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is a heart-breaking but ultimately hopeful tale of a young woman coming to terms with her self-loathing and its origins and making every effort to claw her way back from the edge of self-obliteration. At once a condemnation of present-day sexual predation practices by men and an indictment of the racism running through it, it's foremost a story of self-awareness's awakening. Queenie, a 2nd generation Jamaican-Englishwoman, has a good job she's worked hard to get, but as she slowly realizes she's lost her comfortable, kind, long-term white boyfriend, Tom, she spirals out of control

with non-stop meaningless and damaging one-night stands during which she's treated poorly and objectified not just as a set of convenient orifices, but also as someone deserving abusive, dismissive treatment due to her ethnicity. In time she begins to unravel and it is only with the help of a persistent therapist, stalwart friends, and a caring family that she puts on the brakes and begins the painful process of learning to love and value herself.

I know it's not the done thing these days to reject casual sex as a way of life (in a world where Tinder is considered normal), but this novel does an excellent and painful job of taking the rose-colored glasses off of that practice and exposing it to the harsh light of truth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship