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ineedsomemoretea's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
3.75
gifcompatible's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
shellyisreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
retiredjourno15's review
3.5
Queenie takes you through it but the underlying themes were well worth exploring.
shimmery's review against another edition
4.0
Starting out reading this book, I thought it was going to be one of those happy go lucky stories about a 20-something year old woman making her way in the world and trying to navigate dating — the kind of book people love to stick in the ‘Bridget Jones’ category.
It quickly shows it has many layers to it, however — the eponymous heroine Queenie has had a difficult childhood and is struggling with its repercussions in her adult life, not to mention the many micro aggressions and negative stereotypes black women are subject to every day. I found I quickly cared about and was rooting for her character, and was moved by her journey as she seeks therapy to come to terms with what has happened to her. But while it’s emotional and doesn’t shy away from difficult subject matter, it’s also really funny — I found myself laughing out loud several times. A great read.
It quickly shows it has many layers to it, however — the eponymous heroine Queenie has had a difficult childhood and is struggling with its repercussions in her adult life, not to mention the many micro aggressions and negative stereotypes black women are subject to every day. I found I quickly cared about and was rooting for her character, and was moved by her journey as she seeks therapy to come to terms with what has happened to her. But while it’s emotional and doesn’t shy away from difficult subject matter, it’s also really funny — I found myself laughing out loud several times. A great read.
nike_1212's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and really enjoyed the performance of the reader.
On the one hand I really liked the dedication of the author to maintain the relatability of the characters. She brought basically all parts of a human life to the forefront and dealt with them intimately. Usually I have the experience that a book tackles a couple elements, like someone’s family and job, or their love life and their struggle with their past. No this book really goes all the way, and it makes one realize how much everyone of us is juggling simultaneously, even though we somehow loose track of that and don’t give enough credit when we manage to give time and space to money, job, how to manage your ambitions, past and future, family, expectations based on gender, race, sexual orientation, class (the list goes on), heartbreak, love, health, how to be vulnerable, friends, conflict when things are in our lives that no longer serve us, our own identity and what it means to uniquely be us, how to deal with when everything seems to collapse. I think it’s an important book to highlight how hard it is too, to break free from expectations. It also is a book probably very important to validate how hard it can be to be Black and British. Even just for that fact it’s infinitely valuable. Plus I appreciate the British sarcasm lurking behind every other page.
On the other hand I didn’t enjoy the prose as much as with other books, and I found it at times too obvious. The answers can sometimes be left to the reader to figure out. In that way I feel like it was written a bit too heavy handed. Nevertheless, my biggest criticism is that it needed more character building of Queenies friends- they are absolutely necessary and carry the story. They deserved more complexity rather than be archetypes.
All in all a great read when I unpacked and reorganized my stuff, nothing too complex but entertaining and proper!
3/5
On the one hand I really liked the dedication of the author to maintain the relatability of the characters. She brought basically all parts of a human life to the forefront and dealt with them intimately. Usually I have the experience that a book tackles a couple elements, like someone’s family and job, or their love life and their struggle with their past. No this book really goes all the way, and it makes one realize how much everyone of us is juggling simultaneously, even though we somehow loose track of that and don’t give enough credit when we manage to give time and space to money, job, how to manage your ambitions, past and future, family, expectations based on gender, race, sexual orientation, class (the list goes on), heartbreak, love, health, how to be vulnerable, friends, conflict when things are in our lives that no longer serve us, our own identity and what it means to uniquely be us, how to deal with when everything seems to collapse. I think it’s an important book to highlight how hard it is too, to break free from expectations. It also is a book probably very important to validate how hard it can be to be Black and British. Even just for that fact it’s infinitely valuable. Plus I appreciate the British sarcasm lurking behind every other page.
On the other hand I didn’t enjoy the prose as much as with other books, and I found it at times too obvious. The answers can sometimes be left to the reader to figure out. In that way I feel like it was written a bit too heavy handed. Nevertheless, my biggest criticism is that it needed more character building of Queenies friends- they are absolutely necessary and carry the story. They deserved more complexity rather than be archetypes.
All in all a great read when I unpacked and reorganized my stuff, nothing too complex but entertaining and proper!
3/5
hannahhamburger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Loved this. It's like Bridget Jones but more raw and human, didn't want to put it down ♥️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
lorena_rose's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
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
3.5
shay455's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookyanna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
slow-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
3.0
This book was insightful in many ways. The author portrays how it feels to navigate life as a black woman vividly.
This book was also incredibly frustrating. Many of the characters were consistently unpleasant (even the "good" ones!) - the titular character definitely needs to surround herself with better friends, and far better lovers. What's worse was is that Queenie ultimately forgives people who have behaved unforgiveably. I absolutely hate it when its suggested that forgiveness is somehow the morally superior choice, regardless of what people have done to you.
This book was also incredibly frustrating. Many of the characters were consistently unpleasant (even the "good" ones!) - the titular character definitely needs to surround herself with better friends, and far better lovers. What's worse was is that Queenie ultimately forgives people who have behaved unforgiveably. I absolutely hate it when its suggested that forgiveness is somehow the morally superior choice, regardless of what people have done to you.