Reviews with content warning for Racism - Queenie

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records. This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader. Queenie is a black journalist navigating her life. Its about live, race and relationships. She and the other characters are not very likeable. She badly navigates the dating scene. Mysogony and racism make uncomfortable reading. I wanted to shake her to make her come to her senses. After counselling it does get better fo her, but I really disliked some of the characters and situations she found herself in. It's a Bridget Jones type book.

Content Warnings

megansoetaert's review against another edition

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fast-paced

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

4.25

Queenie 😭😭😭 This book stressed me out!!! All I can say is i’m glad there is growth & reflection happening by the end of the book. thank god for therapy & family.

Even though Queenie was a complete mess, she still felt endearing. I was rooting for her even though I was cringing the whole way through! Alsoooo, almost everyone around her was awful and not making her life easier. I think this’ll be great as a show, i’m excited for the tv series’ release!

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djcarter's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.75

I enjoyed this book. I felt like I could relate to Queenie when it came to her dating life and also her anxiety. The way her oncoming panic attacks were described made me remember how mine also felt. I’m happy that in the end of the book the focus was on Queenie and how much progress she made throughout the book and she didn’t need to end up with another man to have a “happy ending”.

Content Warnings

ghostmomxoxo's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense 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

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bobinsbooknook's review

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challenging emotional sad medium-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

2.5

I wanted to enjoy this book more but overall found myself really struggling to get through this audio book.

The majority of the characters felt very 1 dimensional. I found Queenie to be incredibly difficult to enjoy as a character for a vast portion of the book and it was only watching her develop towards the end that actually sold it for me.

The fact that pretty much every guy in this book has some form of black fetish or is racist just made the characters feel so impactful in places. Also that Queenie is a so self centred until she has therapy and even then it’s still such a minor change in terms of her actually giving a shit about the people around her.

I can understand the comparisons so similar coming-of-age style books like Bridget jones but the decisions made by Queenie really took me out of a lot of the story and made it very difficult to sympathise with at times when you realise she is meant to be 25/26 and for a huge part acts really immature.

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rockyreading's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.0

In full transparency, I saw a lot of myself in this book. A lot of my darkest times and worst decisions is reflected in Queenie and what she went through. We're human, we're not perfect, and sometimes we go on paths of self destruction before coming back out of the rubble and realizing who we are and what we deserve.

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trixster33's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

Queenie is a great pace story, very emotional rollercoaster, hope she gets a sequel where she's a little further on her healing journey, because she does not catch a break.

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