Scan barcode
A review by mina_m
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.0
Oh, Queenie.
This took me quite some time to get through, which is why I can't really give it more than three stars. (Like, the first 250 pages took me over a month...). The structure just didn't do it for me. It's kind of messy, but it makes sense, because Queenie is kind of messy. She's an infuriating main character who just keeps on making bad decisions for herself and ends up in so many unfortunate situations, but I did root for her nevertheless. Her healing process for the last hundred pages or so (spoiler?) was what saved the book in my opinion. And, ultimately, Queenie is indeed a book "of the moment". I'm glad I read it.
Sidenote: I still cannot fathom that so many people have described this book as "funny"? I chuckled maybe twice, but for the most part it's sad and bleak, with so much self-destructive behaviour. (I lost track of the amount of times I mumbled "please go to therapy" into the pages). It covers a significant amount of very heavy themes (I literally added fourteen content warnings on the storygraph), so if you're looking for a light beach read, this is not it. Not every book should be easily digestible though.
This took me quite some time to get through, which is why I can't really give it more than three stars. (Like, the first 250 pages took me over a month...). The structure just didn't do it for me. It's kind of messy, but it makes sense, because Queenie is kind of messy. She's an infuriating main character who just keeps on making bad decisions for herself and ends up in so many unfortunate situations, but I did root for her nevertheless. Her healing process for the last hundred pages or so (spoiler?) was what saved the book in my opinion. And, ultimately, Queenie is indeed a book "of the moment". I'm glad I read it.
Sidenote: I still cannot fathom that so many people have described this book as "funny"? I chuckled maybe twice, but for the most part it's sad and bleak, with so much self-destructive behaviour. (I lost track of the amount of times I mumbled "please go to therapy" into the pages). It covers a significant amount of very heavy themes (I literally added fourteen content warnings on the storygraph), so if you're looking for a light beach read, this is not it. Not every book should be easily digestible though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage