I'd read a whole series about Queenie!

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Oh, Queenie.

This was a heartfelt read for me. I've heard others note that the first half isn't the easiest to read, but I was drawn in from the very first page.

It's hard to talk about Queenie's character arc, or even the plot in broad strokes, without giving away what happens (and for this reason I avoided Queenie reviews like the plague prior to getting my hands on the book). Queenie's a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, working at a newspaper, and trying to navigate her life. But this book isn't just about one woman - it's also about mental illness, access to mental health care (and stigma associated with it), family, gentrification, the Black Lives Matter movement, sexual harassment, consent, domestic abuse, general reprehensible male behavior, online dating, dating while black, microaggressions, and more. I thought Carty-Williams did an excellent job weaving in so many important issues without ever feeling like she was simply giving lip service to them.

But I'm biased, because I loved Queenie the character. I wanted the very best for her, and I'd read a whole series following her life. (Not to mention, following what happens next with her friends, family, and boss!) Carty-Williams truly brought this story, and these characters, alive for me.