Queenie

It’s taken me a few days to process my feelings about this book. At first, I wasn’t sure I cared for it. I thought about DNFing, but for some reason I didn’t, and I’m glad! The story definitely came around for me by the end.

I think what I didn’t like at first was the character of Queenie. She was so frustrating and seemingly intent on destroying her own life. Bad choice after bad choice, I was just so annoyed with her. But as I continued reading, a light began to shine on her and her struggles. As she came to this realization herself, Queenie took steps towards her own transformation. By the end of the book, Queenie came to hold a special place in my heart.

I recognized parts of myself in Queenie. Raised in a violent home, the things Queenie witnessed and experienced had a pervasive affect on her self-esteem and adult life. Struggling to process those feelings amongst that poor self-esteem and her failed relationships, Queenie made many self-destructive choices. It wasn’t until she hit rock bottom that she finally realized she needed help to get healthy. One of my favorite parts of the book was the way her friends (except one) continually rallied to support her and love her and remind her of who she really was. They were her champions – through thick and thin – and that total acceptance brought tears to my eyes.

Marketed as a companion book for those who loved Bridget Jones’ Diary, I expected this to be a light-hearted disastrous story. If you make the same assumption, I think you’ll be misdirected and disappointed. This book has grit and it’s hard to read at times (trigger warnings below, if you’re interested). Queenie is quick-witted  and I even chuckled at a few of her comebacks, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a transformative read of a young woman who battles her childhood demons to finally embrace the live she has. She struggles to find her own self-worth and to be her own hero in her life.

Queenie will stick with me for awhile. I finished it several days ago and keep catching myself thinking about her. Maybe it’s the personal connection I felt to her childhood, but I think she’ll become one of the most memorable characters I’ve ever read.

This book is out today (March 19, 2019)!

For some #ownvoices reviews, please check out the following instagram posts: @bookish.canuck, and @absorbedinpages.

🚨 Trigger warning: sexual violence, mental health, miscarriage, childhood trauma, graphic sex, and race.

If you’ve read this one, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please drop a comment below.

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