Hi readers, I’m back again with another book review. I stumbled upon Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams back in 2020. Despite my efforts to steer clear of reviews, the buzz surrounding it was impossible to ignore. The draw? A protagonist who’s a bit of a hot mess—my kind of character.
Funny story: I got my copy for $4 at Value Village. And get this, while I was deep into the story, I found a random receipt tucked inside. It was a receipt for rent somewhere in Mississauga. The thought of tracking down the previous owner crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it as potentially creepy and thought it was best to let the mystery of the receipt remain unsolved. Another thing I noticed was how cheap rent used to be.
Now, let’s talk about “Queenie.” She’s a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman trying to make sense of life in London. Freshly single but hanging onto hope for a reunion with her ex, she’s on a rollercoaster of emotions, bombarding him with messages despite his obvious need for space. And guess what? she starts unravelling. She’s trying to navigate life’s twists and turns while struggling with her mental health. Oh, and fair warning: the guys in this book are absolutely terrible. ALL of them. Seriously, I lost count of how many times I muttered “Why are men???” while reading.
But here’s the kicker—the author nails Queenie’s character. I felt for her, got mad at her, and sometimes just wanted to shake some sense into her. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster. And the deeper you dive into her story, the more you understand why she’s the way she is.
Queenie felt like a little sister to me. While I was disappointed by her actions, I also recognized that the most profound growth often arises from life’s experiences. Candice Carty-Williams’ engaging writing style, coupled with the incorporation of texts, added a delightful layer to the narrative.
The author did a wonderful job with crafting such an engaging story. She also tackled heavy themes like anxiety, panic attacks, being a black woman at a work place, relationship, sex, family.
I highly recommend this book. I’m grateful I read it now instead of four years ago because I might have been more judgmental of Queenie back then.
Exciting news! “Queenie” is hitting our screens as a TV series, set to premiere in June 2024! I’m thrilled, especially since Candice Carty-Williams, the author produced the Netflix series “Champion” that I absolutely loved. For those curious about the cast, Channel 4 has all the juicy details in this article here.
If you enjoyed reading this book review, you can read my other reviews here. Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one if you’ve read it.
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