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Queenie
Queenie Is Working on It
Candice Carty-Williams, internationally bestselling author of Queenie (now a television series on Hulu), reunites us with the iconic character nearly ten years on, facing new chaotic choices in life and love with cherished old friends and family in this highly anticipated sequel.
Queenie Jenkins is moving on up.
She’s thirty-three, the editorial director for The Good Sis, a thriving media network amplifying the voices of Black women, a far cry from her former toxic workplace. With a great platform and a renewed sense of purpose, she’s fighting the good fight.
So when an appointment for research goes haywire and reveals startling truths about her own fertility, Queenie is confronted with a racing biological clock when she’s not even sure she wants kids in the first place. She’s sort of seeing someone, but it’s not that serious (according to him), and her mom, grandma, and aunt Maggie all mean well, but they keep asking when she’s going to settle down.
Surrounded by loyal friends who seem to fall in love with their person and get pregnant at the drop of a hat, Queenie feels they just don’t get her. After a series of confusing “situationships” that prove more trouble than they’re worth, an old flame that she’s now second-guessing why she ended it with, and her beloved grandfather’s failing health, Queenie feels as though time is running out in all the parts in her life. And she’s going to do what she thinks is best to get back on track, no matter how inadvisable.
Bigger. Not better. Older. Not wiser. The beloved and flawed Queenie Jenkins is scared, she is frustrated, she is confused…but…she is working on it.
Queenie Jenkins is moving on up.
She’s thirty-three, the editorial director for The Good Sis, a thriving media network amplifying the voices of Black women, a far cry from her former toxic workplace. With a great platform and a renewed sense of purpose, she’s fighting the good fight.
So when an appointment for research goes haywire and reveals startling truths about her own fertility, Queenie is confronted with a racing biological clock when she’s not even sure she wants kids in the first place. She’s sort of seeing someone, but it’s not that serious (according to him), and her mom, grandma, and aunt Maggie all mean well, but they keep asking when she’s going to settle down.
Surrounded by loyal friends who seem to fall in love with their person and get pregnant at the drop of a hat, Queenie feels they just don’t get her. After a series of confusing “situationships” that prove more trouble than they’re worth, an old flame that she’s now second-guessing why she ended it with, and her beloved grandfather’s failing health, Queenie feels as though time is running out in all the parts in her life. And she’s going to do what she thinks is best to get back on track, no matter how inadvisable.
Bigger. Not better. Older. Not wiser. The beloved and flawed Queenie Jenkins is scared, she is frustrated, she is confused…but…she is working on it.
Audible Audio
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Candice Carty-Williams
28 books4,628 followersCandice Carty-Williams was born in 1989, the result of an affair between a Jamaican cab driver who barely speaks and a Jamaican-Indian dyslexic receptionist who speaks more than anyone else in the world. She studied Media at Sussex because her sixth form teachers said that she wasn’t clever enough to do English, but she showed them all by first working at the Guardian Guide and then moving into publishing at 23.
Carty-Williams has worked on marketing literary fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels ever since; her first highlight was interviewing David Cronenberg and telling him that if she were a white man she’d like to look like him. In response he called her a ‘delightful person’. In 2016, she created and launched the Guardian and 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize, a prize that aims to find, champion and celebrate black, Asian and minority ethnic writers. She also contributes regularly to Refinery29 and i-D.
Carty-Williams has worked on marketing literary fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels ever since; her first highlight was interviewing David Cronenberg and telling him that if she were a white man she’d like to look like him. In response he called her a ‘delightful person’. In 2016, she created and launched the Guardian and 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize, a prize that aims to find, champion and celebrate black, Asian and minority ethnic writers. She also contributes regularly to Refinery29 and i-D.
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September 3, 2026go queenie go! you're doing amazing sweetie
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
Review of advance copy
THERE’S NEVER A BORING DAY WITH QUEENIE
In Queenie is working on it Queenie Jenkins faces new chaos. A complicated situationship and past love. A wakeup call about her fertility. Workplace complexities and the struggles of housing in South London. Queenie is older and messier and trying to work it all out.
My little self-destructive Queenie is back and more OTT than before.
As I started the book and was reading, I had to keep taking plenty of pregnant pauses because I wanted to slap the stupidity out of sis!
My girl is now 33 and I am not saying she should know it all, but she should damn well know better! I thought great this girl is going to give me 400 pages of her absolute delulu shenanigans and I don’t know how much I’ll be able to stomach it.
But like the first book, you can’t help but love and sympathize with our overthinker girlypop and you just keep the pages turning with your fingers crossed that she is going to communicate effectively and stop hiding and running from her truth.
This book is
➽ Raw,
➽ Honest,
➽ Messy
➽ Chaotic
I feel we all have a friend like Queenie or maybe some of us can admit we are a bit (or a lot) like Queenie. Either way I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and to Ms. Carty-Williams i am not opposed to reading more about Queenie in her 40s, 50s and so forth. 😉
If you want a emotional but also laugh out loud honest contemporary book filled with friendships, love, adulthood, fertility and unresolved traumas then its imperative you pick up QUEENIE
In Queenie is working on it Queenie Jenkins faces new chaos. A complicated situationship and past love. A wakeup call about her fertility. Workplace complexities and the struggles of housing in South London. Queenie is older and messier and trying to work it all out.
My little self-destructive Queenie is back and more OTT than before.
As I started the book and was reading, I had to keep taking plenty of pregnant pauses because I wanted to slap the stupidity out of sis!
My girl is now 33 and I am not saying she should know it all, but she should damn well know better! I thought great this girl is going to give me 400 pages of her absolute delulu shenanigans and I don’t know how much I’ll be able to stomach it.
But like the first book, you can’t help but love and sympathize with our overthinker girlypop and you just keep the pages turning with your fingers crossed that she is going to communicate effectively and stop hiding and running from her truth.
This book is
➽ Raw,
➽ Honest,
➽ Messy
➽ Chaotic
I feel we all have a friend like Queenie or maybe some of us can admit we are a bit (or a lot) like Queenie. Either way I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and to Ms. Carty-Williams i am not opposed to reading more about Queenie in her 40s, 50s and so forth. 😉
If you want a emotional but also laugh out loud honest contemporary book filled with friendships, love, adulthood, fertility and unresolved traumas then its imperative you pick up QUEENIE
September 10, 2026
I have been waiting for a sequel for 6 LONG YEARS! 😭
The big question is can such a highly anticipated sequel ever live up to the original? And the answer is: A BIG FAT YES! 🙌🏽
I can’t tell you how happy I am to return to Queenie’s life. I’ve read the first book countless times, and know the story back to front, and I can safely say that ‘Queenie is working on it’ delivers ALL the same vibes. Candice Carty-Williams brings us another razor-sharp, hilarious, and poignant story that perfectly depicts the realities of a modern day woman 💖
I laughed, I cried, and was totally captivated by the Queen herself - Queenie Jenkins - as she confronts her biggest challenges yet. Queenie Jenkins is working on it…
Queenie, now 33, and as self-destructive as ever, but she is a character you can't help rooting for...She is SO relatable and, as always, made me feel so SEEN!
Like the first book, she is trying to hold it all together. Work, love life, friendships, and her crazy family. But the older, not necessarily wiser, Queenie, has new challenges to deal with: a racing biological clock, workplace issues, rising house market prices, and of course, trying to keep it together after her heart has been smashed to smithereens. This story is raw, messy, slightly chaotic, and I was here for ALL of it.
I am such a big fan of Candice’s writing style. The narrative flows so effortlessly, as if you were having a conversation with a good friend. Every scene and interaction feels so honest and realistic. Emotion floods every page. You can literally FEEL the love, heartache, joy, and anxiety. But what I love most about Candice’s writing is she makes you feel like you don’t have to have it all together, and let’s face it: few of us do. There is something so comforting about being reminded of this simple fact.
Furthermore, I love that we get to see the world from Queenie’s POV. Her inner dialogue gives us a deeper understanding of the turmoil and growth she experiences with her mental health struggles. She is definitely still represented as a flawed character, but this book focuses more on her path to healing and figuring things out, leaving us on more stable ground (hopefully 🤞🏼).
“Never forget: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” 🌅
It was so soothing and heartwarming being back with Queenie’s friendship group; Kyazike in particular. I think everyone could do with a friend like her. She played a big role in the first book so I was glad to see her back in action. I love that as well as bringing so much joy and fun to Queenie’s life, she also holds her accountable and stops her from backsliding into destructive thought patterns. And I have to say, I am so here for the group chat 💬🤭
There’s no doubt Queenie has a fantastic support system. On top of her amazing friends, her family play a huge role in her daily life and they are so very entertaining. I absolutely adore reading the scenes of them all together, I can feel the love and warmth radiating from them. Also, it was incredibly heartwarming to see Queenie and her mum’s relationship mended - if you’ve read the first book, you’ll know it was rocky, to say the very least, but over the years they have come to a place of understanding. Grandma still remains a favourite of mine. That woman speaks the truth.
Fertility problems are a big topic in this book and I admire Candice for taking on such an important, and difficult subject. Many woman struggle with all kinds of fertility problems, Queenie included. I won’t spoil the storyline, but I liked the focus on Black women's journeys from fertility testing to IVF, and the impact this has on people. Candice wrote about these obstacles in such a realistic way, I genuinely felt the reality of it.
Overall, I had such a good time being immersed in Queenie’s world again. It was so much fun but also really emotional. It isn’t easy to make me laugh out loud whilst still covering topics such as unresolved trauma, but Candice does so with ease. I really hope we get another dose of Queenie in the near future 🙏🏼
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
The big question is can such a highly anticipated sequel ever live up to the original? And the answer is: A BIG FAT YES! 🙌🏽
I can’t tell you how happy I am to return to Queenie’s life. I’ve read the first book countless times, and know the story back to front, and I can safely say that ‘Queenie is working on it’ delivers ALL the same vibes. Candice Carty-Williams brings us another razor-sharp, hilarious, and poignant story that perfectly depicts the realities of a modern day woman 💖
I laughed, I cried, and was totally captivated by the Queen herself - Queenie Jenkins - as she confronts her biggest challenges yet. Queenie Jenkins is working on it…
Queenie, now 33, and as self-destructive as ever, but she is a character you can't help rooting for...She is SO relatable and, as always, made me feel so SEEN!
Like the first book, she is trying to hold it all together. Work, love life, friendships, and her crazy family. But the older, not necessarily wiser, Queenie, has new challenges to deal with: a racing biological clock, workplace issues, rising house market prices, and of course, trying to keep it together after her heart has been smashed to smithereens. This story is raw, messy, slightly chaotic, and I was here for ALL of it.
I am such a big fan of Candice’s writing style. The narrative flows so effortlessly, as if you were having a conversation with a good friend. Every scene and interaction feels so honest and realistic. Emotion floods every page. You can literally FEEL the love, heartache, joy, and anxiety. But what I love most about Candice’s writing is she makes you feel like you don’t have to have it all together, and let’s face it: few of us do. There is something so comforting about being reminded of this simple fact.
Furthermore, I love that we get to see the world from Queenie’s POV. Her inner dialogue gives us a deeper understanding of the turmoil and growth she experiences with her mental health struggles. She is definitely still represented as a flawed character, but this book focuses more on her path to healing and figuring things out, leaving us on more stable ground (hopefully 🤞🏼).
“Never forget: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” 🌅
It was so soothing and heartwarming being back with Queenie’s friendship group; Kyazike in particular. I think everyone could do with a friend like her. She played a big role in the first book so I was glad to see her back in action. I love that as well as bringing so much joy and fun to Queenie’s life, she also holds her accountable and stops her from backsliding into destructive thought patterns. And I have to say, I am so here for the group chat 💬🤭
There’s no doubt Queenie has a fantastic support system. On top of her amazing friends, her family play a huge role in her daily life and they are so very entertaining. I absolutely adore reading the scenes of them all together, I can feel the love and warmth radiating from them. Also, it was incredibly heartwarming to see Queenie and her mum’s relationship mended - if you’ve read the first book, you’ll know it was rocky, to say the very least, but over the years they have come to a place of understanding. Grandma still remains a favourite of mine. That woman speaks the truth.
Fertility problems are a big topic in this book and I admire Candice for taking on such an important, and difficult subject. Many woman struggle with all kinds of fertility problems, Queenie included. I won’t spoil the storyline, but I liked the focus on Black women's journeys from fertility testing to IVF, and the impact this has on people. Candice wrote about these obstacles in such a realistic way, I genuinely felt the reality of it.
Overall, I had such a good time being immersed in Queenie’s world again. It was so much fun but also really emotional. It isn’t easy to make me laugh out loud whilst still covering topics such as unresolved trauma, but Candice does so with ease. I really hope we get another dose of Queenie in the near future 🙏🏼
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
July 27, 2026
Samantha Jones once said “if you were 25 that would be adorable, but at 32 that’s just stupid” and I’m sorry but Queenie really needs to hear that
August 3, 2026
I was so excited when I saw there was a sequel to Queenie — a novel that shaped my taste in books forever and got me into reading stories about multi-faceted, complex, imperfect but loveable and relatable women. I remember the first book completely positively and loved Queenie as a character and woman.
Now, seven full years later, Queenie is a caricature of her former self. I love the premise and how she’s still the complex, imperfect but relatable woman but… she just isn’t? She’s just fucking stupid. Maybe I just remember Queenie the first book as much better than it was but I can’t believe this sequel is such a downgrade. It feels like Carty-Williams is infantilising her own protagonist.
Queenie has always made questionable decisions, that’s her thing, but they were understandable. In this part, like I said, she’s just stupid and one-dimensional.
The blurb alone has more complexity than the actual 400 page story: Queenie is “suddenly confronted with a racing biological clock when she doesn’t even know if she wants kids” — but all we ever hear in the novel is that she wants kids. She admits at the end that she’s never thought about the actual raising of kids and more about just having them, but she still wants kids. No complexity there.
And we keep being told that Queenie is a feminist and yet she still thinks she’s worthless as a woman and human if she can’t naturally have kids even by the end of the novel. She lets men treat her worse than shit in so so so many ways. She’s a woman in her thirties who wants kids and doesn’t know what ovulation is? Bro. She keeps calling herself a feminist and then proceeds to do and think nothing feminist.
The writing itself was rubbish. It reads like a first draft, if that.
The ending was… idk. The most cliché you could have possible gone? It wasn’t even a ‘girl who’s going to be okay’ cliché that’s still enjoyable, it was just annoying.
Was very excited at first, ended up disappointed and aggravated.
Now, seven full years later, Queenie is a caricature of her former self. I love the premise and how she’s still the complex, imperfect but relatable woman but… she just isn’t? She’s just fucking stupid. Maybe I just remember Queenie the first book as much better than it was but I can’t believe this sequel is such a downgrade. It feels like Carty-Williams is infantilising her own protagonist.
Queenie has always made questionable decisions, that’s her thing, but they were understandable. In this part, like I said, she’s just stupid and one-dimensional.
The blurb alone has more complexity than the actual 400 page story: Queenie is “suddenly confronted with a racing biological clock when she doesn’t even know if she wants kids” — but all we ever hear in the novel is that she wants kids. She admits at the end that she’s never thought about the actual raising of kids and more about just having them, but she still wants kids. No complexity there.
And we keep being told that Queenie is a feminist and yet she still thinks she’s worthless as a woman and human if she can’t naturally have kids even by the end of the novel. She lets men treat her worse than shit in so so so many ways. She’s a woman in her thirties who wants kids and doesn’t know what ovulation is? Bro. She keeps calling herself a feminist and then proceeds to do and think nothing feminist.
The writing itself was rubbish. It reads like a first draft, if that.
The ending was… idk. The most cliché you could have possible gone? It wasn’t even a ‘girl who’s going to be okay’ cliché that’s still enjoyable, it was just annoying.
Was very excited at first, ended up disappointed and aggravated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2026
“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”
A veryyyy highly anticipated sequel!! 🤩
Queenie was the book that got me back into reading in 2020 and made me feel seen, so I was beyond happy when I heard Queenie was coming back!
Queenie is 33 now and still the self-destructive character you lowkey can’t help rooting for… but girlllll, she is a HOT mess 😂
She’s still trying to juggle it all — work, friendships, her love life, family — while also questioning her journey into motherhood. And of course, this sends her into a spiral because she’s working on it… or is she? 👀 Because that plan to potentially trap a baby daddy??? 😭😭
I just love Candice’s writing. It’s so easy to read and all the interactions feel so realistic, especially the dynamics between friends and family. Every emotion comes through — you can feel the humour, joy, frustration and everything in between.
It was so comforting to be back with Queenie and Kyazike and to witness their friendship again!❤️
I do kindaaaa wish Queenie had shown a little more growth, though, because the way she handled certain situations had me like GIRL, COME ON.
There’s only so much we can do for you!!
I also really liked the exploration of Black women’s journeys to conception through Queenie — from fertility testing to IVF — and how the book touches on the complexities and emotions that come with it.
It was just really nice to be back in Queenie’s world. Chaotic, messy and frustrating as ever 😂
A veryyyy highly anticipated sequel!! 🤩
Queenie was the book that got me back into reading in 2020 and made me feel seen, so I was beyond happy when I heard Queenie was coming back!
Queenie is 33 now and still the self-destructive character you lowkey can’t help rooting for… but girlllll, she is a HOT mess 😂
She’s still trying to juggle it all — work, friendships, her love life, family — while also questioning her journey into motherhood. And of course, this sends her into a spiral because she’s working on it… or is she? 👀 Because that plan to potentially trap a baby daddy??? 😭😭
I just love Candice’s writing. It’s so easy to read and all the interactions feel so realistic, especially the dynamics between friends and family. Every emotion comes through — you can feel the humour, joy, frustration and everything in between.
It was so comforting to be back with Queenie and Kyazike and to witness their friendship again!❤️
I do kindaaaa wish Queenie had shown a little more growth, though, because the way she handled certain situations had me like GIRL, COME ON.
There’s only so much we can do for you!!
I also really liked the exploration of Black women’s journeys to conception through Queenie — from fertility testing to IVF — and how the book touches on the complexities and emotions that come with it.
It was just really nice to be back in Queenie’s world. Chaotic, messy and frustrating as ever 😂
September 17, 2026
What a treat to follow Queenie on her journey. Highly recommend if you loved the first book.
Full review coming soon.
Full review coming soon.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Queenie is back! Covering some very current issues, Queenie has grown up somewhat in both her personal and work life, both intertwined with each other. Where the first book was laugh out loud in many places, this book is more emotional. Great read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.
September 22, 2026
3.5!
I have definitely made a mistake by not reading the first book Queenie first before starting this one, which follows a much older Queenie as she navigates relationships, fertility, career. Queenie's internal struggles are relatable and feel very real. Professionally, she is a successful Black woman; she has the influence and status and professional success that makes her feel secure. But Queenie carries a lot of internal uncertainty when it comes to family, marriage and children. Her family, particularly her mother, can't stop asking her when she'll settle down... but Queenie doesn't know as her romantic life is chaotic and somewhat in crisis. She doesn't actually know if she actually wants kids but she goes to the doctor who tells her that her reproductive window is closing. Queenie is only 33, how dare the doctor!! So Queenie begins her infertility journey and it's a trip!
I need to go back and read the first book to adequately comment on Queens character. So will I will cycle back to this review after I get through book 1.
I have definitely made a mistake by not reading the first book Queenie first before starting this one, which follows a much older Queenie as she navigates relationships, fertility, career. Queenie's internal struggles are relatable and feel very real. Professionally, she is a successful Black woman; she has the influence and status and professional success that makes her feel secure. But Queenie carries a lot of internal uncertainty when it comes to family, marriage and children. Her family, particularly her mother, can't stop asking her when she'll settle down... but Queenie doesn't know as her romantic life is chaotic and somewhat in crisis. She doesn't actually know if she actually wants kids but she goes to the doctor who tells her that her reproductive window is closing. Queenie is only 33, how dare the doctor!! So Queenie begins her infertility journey and it's a trip!
I need to go back and read the first book to adequately comment on Queens character. So will I will cycle back to this review after I get through book 1.
July 5, 2026
I’m actually not sure what to say in this review.
I enjoyed it.
There was something very emotive for me about the book opening in a gynae office, but I was reminded of how much the first Queenie novel landed exactly when I needed it in my life, and I hoped for serendipity.
What I’ve learned in recent years is how vital it is as Black women to see our stories (repeatedly), and to know that we are not anomalies. I am not Queenie, but as a single black woman, second gen Caribbean, in my mid-thirties navigating life, love, aching, longing, and my gynaecological health against an anti-black health system and what can feel like a disastrous social and economic landscape for people who look like us (I’m literally too tired to sugar coat), I took a huge amount of value from a story that puts that reality (and its very human, very personal impact) on full display.
However, I couldn’t find light in it. Not right now, just weeks after leaving hospital. Too raw. The ending is beautiful, I enjoyed the narrative arc, I adored the depiction of family (which sparked a beautiful discussion with my mum that I will probably always cherish), and I don’t actually think the purpose of the book is to be a big social commentary (or maybe it is?!), but we consume things as we are and not necessarily as they are. Much as I value this novel and I’m so glad it’s out there, I need some easier (and much less close to home) reading.
I think I’d like to come back and read this next year.
(Sidenote: I was SO excited to read this book. I loved Queenie and I loved People Person and I was full of anticipation and excitement about this novel. It did not disappoint me. It just met me at a weird time).
(Another very random sidenote: finishing the book just after midnight on Monday morning so should I use this as an opportunity to watch the World Cup game I had no intention of watching?!)
I enjoyed it.
There was something very emotive for me about the book opening in a gynae office, but I was reminded of how much the first Queenie novel landed exactly when I needed it in my life, and I hoped for serendipity.
What I’ve learned in recent years is how vital it is as Black women to see our stories (repeatedly), and to know that we are not anomalies. I am not Queenie, but as a single black woman, second gen Caribbean, in my mid-thirties navigating life, love, aching, longing, and my gynaecological health against an anti-black health system and what can feel like a disastrous social and economic landscape for people who look like us (I’m literally too tired to sugar coat), I took a huge amount of value from a story that puts that reality (and its very human, very personal impact) on full display.
However, I couldn’t find light in it. Not right now, just weeks after leaving hospital. Too raw. The ending is beautiful, I enjoyed the narrative arc, I adored the depiction of family (which sparked a beautiful discussion with my mum that I will probably always cherish), and I don’t actually think the purpose of the book is to be a big social commentary (or maybe it is?!), but we consume things as we are and not necessarily as they are. Much as I value this novel and I’m so glad it’s out there, I need some easier (and much less close to home) reading.
I think I’d like to come back and read this next year.
(Sidenote: I was SO excited to read this book. I loved Queenie and I loved People Person and I was full of anticipation and excitement about this novel. It did not disappoint me. It just met me at a weird time).
(Another very random sidenote: finishing the book just after midnight on Monday morning so should I use this as an opportunity to watch the World Cup game I had no intention of watching?!)
July 14, 2026
4.5 stars
Thank you to @gallerybooks and @scoutspressbooks for the gifted copy!
Do you ever have an attachment to a character so much that you would protect them at all costs?
Such is the case with my girl, Queenie.
In this new book, Queenie is now in her 30s and on a path of healing, which we love for her. She’s still flawed (aren’t we all) and she’s still trying to figure things out, and I love her all the more for it.
Here’s what stood out to me:
✨ Queenie’s stream of consciousness—at times, my girl’s inner dialogue was all over the place, but I really liked how it contributed to a deeper understanding of Queenie’s turmoil and her growth on her path to embracing her mental health struggles.
✨ Queenie’s friend group—specifically Kyazike. I think we all could stand to have a friend like her. Not only is she hilarious, but her love of Queenie means that she will support her and hold her accountable when needed.
✨ Queenie’s family dynamics—if you’ve read the first one, you know Queenie’s relationship with her mom was not the best, so it was heartwarming to see them mend that relationship. Additionally, her cousin is one of my favorite characters next to Kyazike. Also real and supportive while not being afraid to check Queenie when needed.
✨Queenie’s struggles with her fertility—no spoilers, but I do appreciate the commentary around the many obstacles Black women face when dealing with their doctors who are dismissive about their fertility issues. While I didn’t agree with some of Queenie’s “solutions,” (don’t worry, Kyazike puts her in her place) I do understand how hearing not so great news about potential pregnancy can cause someone to spiral out and think the worst.
This is a much more grown up story than the first, but equally entertaining! If you like to revisit characters who are just trying to figure things out, this is for you!
Thank you to @gallerybooks and @scoutspressbooks for the gifted copy!
Do you ever have an attachment to a character so much that you would protect them at all costs?
Such is the case with my girl, Queenie.
In this new book, Queenie is now in her 30s and on a path of healing, which we love for her. She’s still flawed (aren’t we all) and she’s still trying to figure things out, and I love her all the more for it.
Here’s what stood out to me:
✨ Queenie’s stream of consciousness—at times, my girl’s inner dialogue was all over the place, but I really liked how it contributed to a deeper understanding of Queenie’s turmoil and her growth on her path to embracing her mental health struggles.
✨ Queenie’s friend group—specifically Kyazike. I think we all could stand to have a friend like her. Not only is she hilarious, but her love of Queenie means that she will support her and hold her accountable when needed.
✨ Queenie’s family dynamics—if you’ve read the first one, you know Queenie’s relationship with her mom was not the best, so it was heartwarming to see them mend that relationship. Additionally, her cousin is one of my favorite characters next to Kyazike. Also real and supportive while not being afraid to check Queenie when needed.
✨Queenie’s struggles with her fertility—no spoilers, but I do appreciate the commentary around the many obstacles Black women face when dealing with their doctors who are dismissive about their fertility issues. While I didn’t agree with some of Queenie’s “solutions,” (don’t worry, Kyazike puts her in her place) I do understand how hearing not so great news about potential pregnancy can cause someone to spiral out and think the worst.
This is a much more grown up story than the first, but equally entertaining! If you like to revisit characters who are just trying to figure things out, this is for you!
July 29, 2026
I have a great affection for Queenie and the many chaotic happenings and growth. Carty-Williams captures the moment and mood of early 30s London. Is this my adult Jacqueline Wilson equivalent?
August 6, 2026
Confusing and mismatched, this book brings Queenie back in a much better place, having healed from past romantic traumas and found a safer space at work. It offers a realistic picture of the dynamics within a three-generation Caribbean family settled in south London, while remaining genuinely funny and realistic in its depiction of the daily microaggressions Black women face in both their professional and personal lives.
Unfortunately, the plot completely derails into a bonkers obsession with becoming a single mother. It is a bizarre storyline, made even stranger by her friends enthusiastically supporting the idea. In what world would a Black professional woman living in London actively try to fall pregnant with a stranger's baby? The narrative leans into a tired patriarchal assumption that an overriding biological drive compels all women to mother at all costs, regardless of common sense. Even within the book's own context, it makes no sense. Honestly, without that glaring plotline, this would have been such a feel-good, funny read.
Unfortunately, the plot completely derails into a bonkers obsession with becoming a single mother. It is a bizarre storyline, made even stranger by her friends enthusiastically supporting the idea. In what world would a Black professional woman living in London actively try to fall pregnant with a stranger's baby? The narrative leans into a tired patriarchal assumption that an overriding biological drive compels all women to mother at all costs, regardless of common sense. Even within the book's own context, it makes no sense. Honestly, without that glaring plotline, this would have been such a feel-good, funny read.
July 4, 2026
I love queenie jenkins so much!!! Wish I was her or failing that which she was my bestie!!! Hope there is a part 3 coming because I am INVESTED!!!
September 13, 2026
Honestly, Queenie is one of the most relatable characters I have ever read about, in terms of being a Black woman navigating life, family dynamics, friendships, relationships, and mental health. It's safe to say: we need more characters like her!
Even though Queenie is going through very difficult things, which was also heavy to bear witness to, reading about this character made me so happy! The author created an insanely raw person in Queenie, who literally feels like a real human being. While I sometimes did not agree with her decisions and self-destructive behavior, I could still find understanding for her.
The messiness of Queenie's life is depicted in a way that shows that the process of learning from mistakes might not always look the same for everyone. There was no sugar-coating about the consequences of Queenie's choices, which I appreciated so much.
I was rooting for this inspiring, funny, and sometimes slightly dramatic woman up until the very last line of the novel.
@Candice Carty-Williams, please write another book because I could not get enough of Queenie <3
Even though Queenie is going through very difficult things, which was also heavy to bear witness to, reading about this character made me so happy! The author created an insanely raw person in Queenie, who literally feels like a real human being. While I sometimes did not agree with her decisions and self-destructive behavior, I could still find understanding for her.
The messiness of Queenie's life is depicted in a way that shows that the process of learning from mistakes might not always look the same for everyone. There was no sugar-coating about the consequences of Queenie's choices, which I appreciated so much.
I was rooting for this inspiring, funny, and sometimes slightly dramatic woman up until the very last line of the novel.
@Candice Carty-Williams, please write another book because I could not get enough of Queenie <3
September 14, 2026
This book was incredibly frustrating and it felt too long. I appreciate a complex female character and I loved hearing about it all in the first book. Here, although older and now in her 30s, it feels like she has regressed. I'm not sure what therapist she is seeing but it really isn't doing the job. The whole story line about the fertility was incredibly frustrating to listen to - why would you base the entire plot point about fertility from having one half hearted assessment at a private fertility appointment??? This then forms the entire plot of the book?? The weight loss arc also just felt weird - i'm not sure how much it added to plot?
Honestly shoutout to Shvorne Marks who was truly an excellent narrator otherwise I would have given up.
Honestly shoutout to Shvorne Marks who was truly an excellent narrator otherwise I would have given up.
July 14, 2026
much better than the first one. we thank god
August 23, 2026
Queenie is not really working on anything, disappointing to see the lack of character progression and development how many years later with only a glimmer of hope on the last page. I felt it was perpetuating stereotypes of black women and women’s perceptions around motherhood.
September 21, 2026
I admit I have an undeniable queenie bias.
I loved the first book and was skeptical of a second but it was so good, Queenie is now 33 (same ages as me eek!) and going through the trials and tribulations associated.
Read as part of my three books at once but binge read the last half and didn’t want to fall asleep so just kept reading, an absolute treat!
I loved the first book and was skeptical of a second but it was so good, Queenie is now 33 (same ages as me eek!) and going through the trials and tribulations associated.
Read as part of my three books at once but binge read the last half and didn’t want to fall asleep so just kept reading, an absolute treat!
August 3, 2026
Good for her
September 14, 2026
Yup, she’s back at it again.
September 2, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
August 25, 2026
Just as brilliant as the first book!! Listened to this on audio and it was 👌👌👌👌
September 5, 2026
Rounded up from 2.5 to 3.
I wanted more for Queenie, I felt sad that so much of her hadn’t really changed since the previous book. I also just sadly felt like this was 100000 ideas that were dumped on a page without too much going into each one.
I wanted more for Queenie, I felt sad that so much of her hadn’t really changed since the previous book. I also just sadly felt like this was 100000 ideas that were dumped on a page without too much going into each one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2026
I don’t think the sequel was as good as “Queenie”. I liked parts of it and found myself a bit bored during some bits of it. I was pleased that Queenie got her happy ending but somehow felt like it had just dropped into her lap, despite the fact she hadn’t really done the work on herself to be less of… a nightmare.
August 26, 2026
Sad to say I found this book disappointing, though I loved the characters and the writing style. It didn't go deep enough into the themes for me, and the ending felt too tidy.
August 11, 2026
The Queenie books make me happy; I feel like I really know these characters. At so many points it took all my willpower to pace myself and enjoy each sentence as I was just desperate to read what would happen next! This is a thoughtful sequel and even though I could predict what was coming at times, it was never anything less than exhilarating.
March 10, 2026
Oof, I can’t believe the first Queenie book is 6 years old! This felt like a brilliant follow-up, written with exactly the same charm and cultural importance of Queenie and her community. I love her family ties and the dramas with her friends and colleagues as well as the email/text exchanges we’re party to. The whole sideline storyline about her work event/project felt a little bit too BIG and as though it had been squashed in to the rest of the story - I don’t know if maybe the book being a bit longer would have given this storyline more room to breathe? I really enjoyed it as a whole though!
September 9, 2026
I loved the first book, but this one unfortunately just didn't hit the same. I am a big fan of CCW's books, the way she tackles the subject of daily casual racism that still occurs around us is an important education even if it might seem shocking. I related a lot to Queenie's struggles to find her feet post breakup in the first book, especially the flat hunting in London on a tight budget (v relatable millennial content lol).
Queenie is Working on It picks up the story several years after Queenie. For a while I was confused about how much time had passed, and a lot of the "action" from those missing years was told rather than shown. I would have liked to read the story of her romance with ***** (redacted so no spoilers!), how her friendship with Cass changed, how she finally left her awful job and got one where she was actually respected, how Queenie built a relationship with her mum again etc. It almost felt like there was a whole book I missed. (I checked, there was not).
A running theme throughout this book is Queenie's struggles with infertility challenges whilst it seems everyone around her rides the fertility train! I didn't feel like this theme fit with Queenie's character, and that the theme - which CCW is clearly passionate about - was somehow written to fit into Queenie's story. Another key theme in this story is weight-gain and weight-loss. We get very vivid descriptions indicating that weight-gain might have been a problem for Queenie (told through relatable hints at clothes no longer fitting, being in denial about them shrinking in the wash - we have all been there - loved it!, and the almost subconscious comfort eating etc) but in comparison I felt the weight-loss journey was not given as much detail. This seemed important to Queenie's story, and yet it was mostly skimmed over.
That being said there were many elements to the story I thoroughly enjoyed, especially regarding how Queenie's friendships grew, and Diana was an absolute legend. Loved how she went from being slightly annoying child cousin to actual cool friend cousin. Darcy at her hen party showing up for all the Queenie love really made me smile. And Queenie's mum! Queenie opening up to her friends and family when times were tough rather than bottling it up was great to see, but I also felt as so many years had passed since the first book surely this would be easier by now?
Overall I enjoyed the read but the story felt flat, as per above comments. A shame because the first book is one of my absolute favourites.
Queenie is Working on It picks up the story several years after Queenie. For a while I was confused about how much time had passed, and a lot of the "action" from those missing years was told rather than shown. I would have liked to read the story of her romance with ***** (redacted so no spoilers!), how her friendship with Cass changed, how she finally left her awful job and got one where she was actually respected, how Queenie built a relationship with her mum again etc. It almost felt like there was a whole book I missed. (I checked, there was not).
A running theme throughout this book is Queenie's struggles with infertility challenges whilst it seems everyone around her rides the fertility train! I didn't feel like this theme fit with Queenie's character, and that the theme - which CCW is clearly passionate about - was somehow written to fit into Queenie's story. Another key theme in this story is weight-gain and weight-loss. We get very vivid descriptions indicating that weight-gain might have been a problem for Queenie (told through relatable hints at clothes no longer fitting, being in denial about them shrinking in the wash - we have all been there - loved it!, and the almost subconscious comfort eating etc) but in comparison I felt the weight-loss journey was not given as much detail. This seemed important to Queenie's story, and yet it was mostly skimmed over.
That being said there were many elements to the story I thoroughly enjoyed, especially regarding how Queenie's friendships grew, and Diana was an absolute legend. Loved how she went from being slightly annoying child cousin to actual cool friend cousin. Darcy at her hen party showing up for all the Queenie love really made me smile. And Queenie's mum! Queenie opening up to her friends and family when times were tough rather than bottling it up was great to see, but I also felt as so many years had passed since the first book surely this would be easier by now?
Overall I enjoyed the read but the story felt flat, as per above comments. A shame because the first book is one of my absolute favourites.
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