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taylormadespines 's review for:
Queenie
by Candice Carty-Williams
4.5/5 stars
After all the hype surrounding this book and the few less-than-stellar reviews I’d read, I was a little nervous for Queenie. But I was quickly proven wrong! I think most people have VERY different expectations of who and what Queenie will be (as a character and a book). Comparing this to Bridget Jones is a bit misleading because Bridget is a comedy, and Queenie is a rollercoaster of self-destruction as a result of childhood traumas. Are there lighter moments, absolutely. But this is not a light book.
One review I read called this book “middle school drama” and said that Queenie acted 12 and not 25. I don’t know about most other 20 somethings, but I often feel like I don’t have control over my life and therefore still feel like a powerless 12 year old! Being in your 20s is an odd time. Especially now. 25 is not the same as it was 30-40 years ago—thanks, economy! As Queenie’s mum says, she’s ONLY 26 (she celebrates a birthday in the book so mini spoiler??)
As a mixed race, non-black POC, I understand and face microaggressions fairly frequently, but Queenie displays the constant stream of racism that the world barrages Black women/femmes with on a daily basis. It can be overwhelming (and towards the end predictable) but isn’t that the point? It IS overwhelming and predictable for those of us who experience it. Compound that with trauma and an intense breakup and it’s no wonder this girl is falling apart—doesn’t sounds like middle school stuff to me but OK!
I loved every character who loved and respected Queenie because I wanted the best for her. Similarly, I hate ALL of the horrible white men lol. The last quarter of the book had me shouting out loud in both annoyance, shock, and pride.
One of my hopes that comes out of this book is that it helps destigmatize therapy and mental health services in BIPOC families and communities. Mental health is not just for white folks; we all need help coping, maybe even more so with the added element of systemic racism.
Very happy I picked this book up on a whim! Can’t wait for more from Candice Carty-Williams!
After all the hype surrounding this book and the few less-than-stellar reviews I’d read, I was a little nervous for Queenie. But I was quickly proven wrong! I think most people have VERY different expectations of who and what Queenie will be (as a character and a book). Comparing this to Bridget Jones is a bit misleading because Bridget is a comedy, and Queenie is a rollercoaster of self-destruction as a result of childhood traumas. Are there lighter moments, absolutely. But this is not a light book.
One review I read called this book “middle school drama” and said that Queenie acted 12 and not 25. I don’t know about most other 20 somethings, but I often feel like I don’t have control over my life and therefore still feel like a powerless 12 year old! Being in your 20s is an odd time. Especially now. 25 is not the same as it was 30-40 years ago—thanks, economy! As Queenie’s mum says, she’s ONLY 26 (she celebrates a birthday in the book so mini spoiler??)
As a mixed race, non-black POC, I understand and face microaggressions fairly frequently, but Queenie displays the constant stream of racism that the world barrages Black women/femmes with on a daily basis. It can be overwhelming (and towards the end predictable) but isn’t that the point? It IS overwhelming and predictable for those of us who experience it. Compound that with trauma and an intense breakup and it’s no wonder this girl is falling apart—doesn’t sounds like middle school stuff to me but OK!
I loved every character who loved and respected Queenie because I wanted the best for her. Similarly, I hate ALL of the horrible white men lol. The last quarter of the book had me shouting out loud in both annoyance, shock, and pride.
One of my hopes that comes out of this book is that it helps destigmatize therapy and mental health services in BIPOC families and communities. Mental health is not just for white folks; we all need help coping, maybe even more so with the added element of systemic racism.
Very happy I picked this book up on a whim! Can’t wait for more from Candice Carty-Williams!