Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Length: 330 pages
Published: March 2019
Queenie is a hot mess, but Queenie, the debut novel by Candice Carty-Williams, is a pure delight. This fictional novel published just a few weeks ago, and I was lucky enough to snag a copy from my local library shortly after publication. Queenie is the Jamaican-British protagonist of this London-set novel. As the book opens, we learn that Queenie is embarking on a break from her live-in boyfriend, Tom. She moves out of their flat, and her life subsequently begins to unravel. About halfway through the novel, she hits rock bottom and is forced to face her demons in an effort to begin a journey of self discovery and healing.
I found Queenie very relatable in her struggles with acceptance and also quite similar to my own struggles. It's amazing how a black woman in the United States can identify with the challenges of a fictional Jamaican woman living in England. Because of her upbringing and surroundings, Queenie is constantly comparing herself to her white counterparts, dealing with thinly veiled racism in the work place and social settings, and even tolerating her white boyfriend's (Tom) racist family members. Her past, and a lot of her present, have shaped who she is and caused a callous exterior to form as an emotional coping mechanism. I think, until her turning point in the novel, she was her own worst enemy, often self-sabotaging the most important relationships in her life.
I really enjoyed the writing, the humor, and the care that the writer took in tackling the very heavy issues of depression, panic attacks, and self-esteem. My favorite parts of the book were the WhatsApp chats between Queenie and her girlfriends. My only very minor criticism is that in flashback scenes, it was sometimes difficult to identify that it was a flashback until I was a few sentences in.
Recommendation: I think any woman can find some of her own truth in this novel, but I think it might speak more strongly to single and dating women of color. I would definitely recommend giving it a try. This is modern fiction novel is a solid debut for Ms. Carty-Williams!
Until next time ... Read on!
Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.
