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Queenie

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Queenie

Written by: Candice Carty-Williams
Narrated by: Shvorne Marks
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*NOW A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES*

“A book that sneaks up on you...I am hooked.” —Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author

This acclaimed and “welcome debut from a seriously talented author” (New York Post) is a disarmingly honest, unapologetically black, and undeniably witty novel that will speak to those who have gone looking for love and found something very different in its place.

Queenie Jenkins is a twenty-five-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. She works at a national newspaper, where she’s constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle class peers. After a messy break up from her long-term white boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places…including several hazardous men who do a good job of occupying brain space and a bad job of affirming self-worth.

As Queenie careens from one questionable decision to another, she finds herself wondering, “What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Who do you want to be?”—all of the questions today’s woman must face in a world trying to answer them for her.

“A must-read novel about sex, selfhood, and the best friendships that get us through it all” (Candace Bushnell, New York Times bestselling author), Queenie is a remarkably relatable exploration of what it means to be a modern woman searching for meaning in today’s world. Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Witty Funny Health Mental Health
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What the critics say

“[B]rilliant, timely, funny, heartbreaking.”

(Jojo Moyes,)
“My favourite novel this year. Queenie is the sort of novel you just can’t stop talking about and want everyone you know to read. Snort your tea out funny one moment and utterly heart breaking the next, (and with the best cast of characters you’ll read all year), I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to read whatever Candice writes next. If there is anything right in the world, Candice Carty-Williams is going to be a literary superstar.”

(AJ Pearce,)
“This book isn't even out yet and people are talking about it. Written by a new and exciting young woman, it's articulate, brave and, in the new parlance, 'woke.' Funny, wise, and of the moment, this book and this writer are the ones to watch.” (Kit de Waal)
“This book isn't even out yet and people are talking about it. Written by a new and exciting young woman, it's articulate, brave and, in the new parlance, 'woke.' Funny, wise, and of the moment, this book and this writer are the ones to watch.” (Kit de Waal)
“I ate up Queenie in one greedy, joyous gulp last night. What a treat of a book. Lots to enjoy and think about. I loved Queenie and was cheering her on all the way. I thought all the mental health stuff was brilliant and so well done and authentic—it so often isn’t, in novels—and also all the unhappy sex rang so true. Is there a sequel planned? All I wanted to do when I finished was to open book two.”

(Cathy Rentzenbrink)
“Candice gives so generously with her joy, pain and humour that we cannot help but become fully immersed in the life of Queenie—a beautiful and compelling book.” (Afua Hirsch)

Continue the series
Queenie Is Working on It cover art
Queenie Is Working on It Written by: Candice Carty-Williams
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At first, I was extremely judgmental toward Queenie because of her behavior and the self-destructive choices she kept making. But as the story progressed, the book allowed me to better understand her struggles, her environment, and the deeper reasons behind her decisions and patterns of self-sabotage. Watching her begin her healing journey through therapy felt incredibly raw and realistic. In many ways, it also allows the reader to reflect, heal, and grow alongside her. The book is emotional, honest, and deeply human, which is what made it such a powerful read for me.

Unexpectedly really good

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I thoroughly enjoyed it! As much as I felt Queenie had a highly dysfunctional relationship with the men in her life and a disappointment dynamic with her friends. I did relate to the ‘drama’ of Queenie’s young life. Her bad decisions and anxieties and poor prioritisation skills were familiar to me as a young woman who’s friends with young women. The way mental health is addressed in a serious but totally unimportant way felt do normal. Queenie’s story felt like like and I loved it

Brilliant!

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Best book I’ve read and listened to in ages—which is saying something as I’m a literature phd student. Both beautifully written and Incredibly performed—Carty-Williams’ characters come powerfully alive through Marks’ phenomenal voice and virtuoso reading. Each character and their accent more memorable than the last. The sound effects were also hugely welcome. The story lends itself naturally from struggle to joy to sadness and back again and moved me from laughter to tears with ease. Highly recommended to all. An especially relevant read for our current, troubled times. Queenie offers a profound and important examination of sexism and racism (among others) at the same time that it provides a unique experience, perspective, and journey of how to find a way to live and love (ourselves and others) again in the face of struggle and such ignorance and hate. I fell in love with each highly believable character, but most especially Queenie. I’ll be reading—and listening—to this book again and again.

Magnificent novel.

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Thoroughly enjoyed it! Read for a women's book club. Also bought the book but really loved the audible version. Looking forward to reading other books from this author.

Great Novel!

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Really relatable. Especially for children who were raised by Jamaican parents/grandparents. Women of all ages should read this and pass it down to their daughters. it could really open up some important discussions.

Amazing performance! Great book

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