Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We follow Queenie through a relationship break up, job problems and multiple sexual encounters until it cumilates in a breakdown. Queenies lack of self esteem and self destructive behaviour is frustrating at times. Was easy enough to read.
Queenie (the character) was frustrating but I appreciated seeing her growth and her reasons behind the behavior toward the end of the book. Queenie (the book) was well-written and had important themes. It portrayed how awful dating is in today’s world - especially on the apps and especially for a Black woman.
P.S. Ted and Guy and Roy can go straight to hell.
P.S. Ted and Guy and Roy can go straight to hell.
3.5 stars
Well.. this was kinda tedious. I listened to the German audiobook version and the time jumps were really confusing at first, I couldn't tell when she was remembering something and when it was the present situation. Also, the narrator sounded annoyed the whole time and I don't know if it was because of Queenie's story or not, but I wasn't particularly eager to return to the listening experience.
Besides from that, I couldn't believe how toxic every relationship and situation Queenie was in was. Like, I can imagine it is an authentic representation of a young Black woman's experiences, but I sometimes just wanted to shake her awake and tell her not to let herself be abused like that. No one should endure sexual encounters like that, and sexual practices without consent or through coercion are still rape.
I'm glad she found her way to therapy and setting some boundaries, even though I can't believe her therapist thought it was a good idea to return to her toxic workplace, where she wasn't taken serious at all.
Well.. this was kinda tedious. I listened to the German audiobook version and the time jumps were really confusing at first, I couldn't tell when she was remembering something and when it was the present situation. Also, the narrator sounded annoyed the whole time and I don't know if it was because of Queenie's story or not, but I wasn't particularly eager to return to the listening experience.
Besides from that, I couldn't believe how toxic every relationship and situation Queenie was in was. Like, I can imagine it is an authentic representation of a young Black woman's experiences, but I sometimes just wanted to shake her awake and tell her not to let herself be abused like that. No one should endure sexual encounters like that, and sexual practices without consent or through coercion are still rape.
I'm glad she found her way to therapy and setting some boundaries, even though I can't believe her therapist thought it was a good idea to return to her toxic workplace, where she wasn't taken serious at all.
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this novel about a young Jamaican-British woman trying to live her successful life in London! Queenie has the degree and a good job, but when her boyfriend decides they need "a break," she doesn't handle it very well. But, like most people, she has baggage, and it all comes to light when she starts making poor choices (mainly about sex, not eating, and relationships). There are some Bridget Jones moments in this novel--you want to reach into the book and psycho-analyze Queenie for her, but, thankfully, she makes the huge decision to be the first in her family to go to therapy and she gets some help. There are some graphic sex scenes (warning for you prudish readers), but I thought it was a great depiction of a 26-year-old woman coming of age.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I will likely never in my life get to know someone like Queenie, but she is written with such a distinctive voice that I feel I got to know a real person. Her life experiences are quite different than mine, but yet I could relate to her because her humanity is right there on the page. The book is written in the first person in a way where the reader becomes her confidant. It’s genius writing.