Queenie

Queenie Jenkins is a Jamaican British woman in her mid-20s, whose break-up with her boyfriend is one of the catalysts for a mental health crisis. Much of Queenie is about how she learns to work through past traumas, realise that she's not okay, and come to a better understanding of herself.

This is Candice Carty-Williams' first book, and it has a lot of the typical problems associated with a debut novel: the character voice is strong but much of the characterisation is sloppy and sometimes verges on the cartoonish; Queenie is at times a believably warts-and-all protagonist, but at others she reads more like a 15-year-old than a 25-year-old; the tone and the content sometimes clash. (The marketing for this is fairly inexplicable—this show more is not a light, Bridget Jones-esque comedy.) That it's a quick and compelling read despite those issues is a testament to Carty-Williams' promise as a writer. I'll keep an eye out for further books by her, even though I didn't really love this one. show less

Twenty-five year old Queenie is on the verge of a nervous breakdown combined with very low self esteem that she attempts healing with casual sex. She is on a 'break' with long time boyfriend, or a 'break-up' as he sees it, and is unfairly fired from her job. Even the tattiest shared accommodation is beyond her means, requiring her to live with her Jamaican grandparents who, like many grandparents, have funny ideas about hot water usage, the internet, and mental health. This novel has been called a 'black Bridget Jones' but Carty-Williams' book is so much more and Queenie suffers more than Bridget ever did. The casual and blatant racism she experiences is as damaging as the savage sexual encounters that while heartbreaking have some show more humorous moments. Moving yet shocking, this is an excellent debut novel set in 21st century mulitcultural London. Queenie will remain in my mind for a long time. I look forward to Carty-Williams' next work. show less

This is a novel that showed up in pretty much every book list in 2019, which meant it ended up on my own list of books-to-look-for, but somehow I never got around to reading it until now. I'm glad I finally took the time to read it. [Queenie] is a young Jamaican-British woman who works for a national newspaper where she is under-valued and has stopped putting her heart into her job. She's also reeling from her partner telling her that he wants a break and that she has to move out. She finds a flat-share in a moldy apartment and throws herself into finding validation from men, a terrible idea in the best of circumstances, but the worst men have a talent for finding her and relentlessly harassing her until she gives in and then behaving show more badly. And then there's the low-key racism (with occasional blatant outbursts) that she deals with on a daily basis.

This might be a grim novel to read, but Queenie has a solid group of friends (some better than others) who support her, and Queenie herself is a determined and remarkably resilient woman, with a good sense of humor. Her family may often frustrate her, but they all are pulling for her. She may be down but she's willing to fight her way forward. Carty-Williams's writing reflected Queenie's voice, sometimes scrappy, sometimes funny, fully rooted in the present. I was won over by this novel, it's one that forced me to feel so much, from rage, to exasperation to hope. show less

Part Sex and the City, part Bridget Jones’ Diary, and yet wholly herself, Queenie Jenkins serves up a heartfelt (if occasionally mortifying) coming of age story that has well earned her a place amongst this generation’s spiraling millennials. We know going into the story that Queenie is going to be a mess; her boyfriend has just kicked her out, her family is full of judgemental drama, her forays into the online dating world are nothing less than epic catastrophes, and to top it all off the emotional instability is affecting her work life. And yet, this mess is what makes Queenie so relatable, since we’d be lying if we said that we all haven’t been there, done that. The details may differ, but we’ve all been through the show more quarter-life crisis breakdowns that necessitate picking ourselves up and starting all over again. Throughout the novel we cringe at Queenie’s mistakes, knowing that things are likely going to get worse, but by the time we reach her triumphant finale we can’t help but cheer alongside her. And yet, like real life, we know that Queenie still has plenty of challenges ahead of her, and it is this realistic (rather than fairytale) ending that really makes this novel work. show less

Queenie is a book I kept seeing mentioned on Twitter. It has a fabulous cover and captured my attention straightaway with the idea of the eponymous Queenie, but I honestly didn’t take much notice of the blurb and so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I started reading. I made a special little place in my schedule for Queenie and when I embarked on her story I fervently hoped that I would be pleased I had done so. Was I going to like this story of a quite prickly young woman? Well, I can tell you quite categorically that the answer is yes. I loved it!

I think the reason the blurb didn’t quite stick in my mind as such is because Queenie is a slice of life story. It doesn’t have a major plot, it’s more a case of the reader show more looking on at a snapshot of a time when Queenie is 25, about to turn 26. She’s on a break from her boyfriend of three years, Tom, (it’s definitely a break, not the end, she’s sure) and she goes on something of a collision course. She allows herself to be used by other men, she spends all her time at work talking with Darcy, her friend, instead of getting on with what she’s supposed to be doing. Frankly, her life starts to become a bit of a mess.

Two things really stand out about this book for me. One is the treatment of Queenie as a black woman. I was agape at the way people would talk to her and treat her in the derogatory way that they did. I’m sure that Candice Carty-Williams is writing from experience or knowledge or both, and either way, it’s truly shocking.

Which brings me round to the second thing that stands out: Queenie’s self-esteem, or lack of. A difficult childhood and the way she has been treated have really knocked her confidence and she doesn’t think she’s worth very much. I really wanted to reach into the book and tell her that she absolutely is a queen in every way. She’s sassy, she’s outspoken and she’s just a wondrous, glorious woman.

Her group of friends try to keep her on the straight and narrow and I thought they were a great group (for the most part). They often made me smile, in fact this is a story that made me smile a lot. It’s about getting knocked down, getting back up again, and rising above where others want to put you.

Then there’s her family. Queenie is British but her family are from the Caribbean. Her grandfather is obsessed with his water meter and her grandmother believes that they should never ask for, or accept, help. I really enjoyed reading these sections as they offered a cultural backdrop to Queenie’s life. Part of her longs for the Jamaican landmarks of Brixton which are disappearing in favour of generic burger bars and the like. They remind her of good times in her childhood, but at the same time she has to deal with trying to fit in as a second generation Londoner and in part this means leaving behind some of her cultural roots, casting her adrift from her family.

Queenie is an amusing story but one which also made me think, and made me hope that Queenie would come out the other end stronger and wiser. It’s a beautifully written debut and I think Queenie is going to go far. show less

Queenie is a book with a range of emotions, from happiness to despair, that tackles a wide range of topics (including race, self-worth, mental health and trauma). Queenie is a complex character, and Candice Carty-Williams does not hold back on her portrayal of Queenie’s struggles. It’s a bold and strong novel with the kind of assurance you don’t always get from a debut. I loved it.

Queenie is not OK. She’s a 25-year-old Black woman in London and she’s on a break in the relationship (not of her doing). She can’t seem to concentrate on her work and is bored by it. But that’s not the only things Queenie has going on. She’s had to take a room in a mouldy share house, she’s objectified by men and she carries multiple traumas show more from her childhood and the difficulties of being Black in the UK. Nobody around her seems to care about police brutality and Black Lives Matter to the extent she does. It’s all too much to worry about so she tries to forget. Nights out with her friends where she ends up incredibly drunk and sex with men who objectify her and abuse her. A secret that she tries to tell her ex, but who won’t respond. Family trying, but their own beliefs don’t help. Queenie is in a downward spiral, yet this novel isn’t as dark as it sounds. Queenie has some good times, with good friends and can see the humour in some of her actions, even when she’s recoiling from what she’s done.

Queenie is a character that you want to support. She’s a caring person, who recognises the need for help. Her friends and boss recognise it too, and later on so does her family. Their support goes a long way in helping this novel being 100% bleak. Queenie’s niece is good fun, and very mature for a teenager. Likewise, her friend Kyazike is straight talking and super loyal. Queenie’s grandparents were also amusing in their banter and need to control the hot water, but very caring too.

I loved the use of WhatsApp messages, DMs in dating apps and emails as a form of communication. It made the story more relatable and gave insights into the other characters through their messages. Using the first person for Queenie to tell her story also made the novel’s progression raw and heavy with feeling. Yet it still felt light hearted with a sense of hope at the end. It was hard to leave Queenie after the story finished. I really hope she’s doing okay.

Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com show less

This one took me a bit to fully invest, but once I got there, I got there. Loved how Queenie is shown in all her imperfections which you then realize stem from past experiences (which reminds us that so many issues are just coping mechanisms - for everyone.) Through it all, we see powerful and everyday examples of racism and misogyny, adding layers to the trauma. In the end, though, Queenie is a strong, funny protagonist with depth and heart.