Queenie Is Working on It

Queenie

by Candice Carty-Williams, Henriette Zeltner-Shane (Translator)

Queenie Jenkins, die charmant-chaotische Hauptfigur aus Candice Carty-Williams' gefeiertem Bestseller, ist zurück, und zwar entschlossener und liebenswerter denn je!

Queenie ist Schwarz, hat jamaikanische Wurzeln und lebt in Südlondon. Sie ist Journalistin beim The Good Sis-Magazin und hat seit einem Jahr Spaß mit Vin, auch wenn er noch immer kein Label auf ihre Quasi-Beziehung kleben will. Nur scheint die Zeit in jeder Hinsicht gegen sie zu laufen, ob es um ihre Fruchtbarkeit geht, eine gesettelte Beziehung oder die Gesundheit ihres Großvaters. Queenie ist verwirrt, frustriert, verängstigt ... aber sie arbeitet dran.

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Audiobook

540 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

Candice 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.

Reviews

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Katharina Christenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!!

[Vix S · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

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?!)

[Arwen Orr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow up book to Queenie

I laughed, I cried, I was thoroughly engaged and read it within a couple of days. Insightful and emotionally intelligent. Just sad I’ve finished it.

[bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember loving "Queenie" but this follow-up lacks the charm of the first book. The comparisons to "Bridget Jones's Diary" feel extra appropriate here, which is to say, the fatphobia and lack of communication was on full display in a way that felt really exhausting. Queenie goes on a weight loss journey in an attempt to qualify for medical care, but the book never pushes back on that despite the fact that Queenie gets that advice researching a piece about how the medical industry treats Black women, and fatphobia is famously rooted in anti-Black racism and misogynoir. She just accepts that she must lose weight, magically and rapidly does so, and tries to trick readers into thinking she is on a journey of self-love in the process. Exercising and eating healthfully are obviously positive changes that might result in weight loss, but she complains about "only" losing 1.5 stone in two months, which is over 20 pounds!!!! That's over TEN POUNDS A MONTH. That's crazy.

The writing also felt a little clunky in this book. It was very inner monologue/dialogue-heavy, and it felt distracting when the author tried to break it up (like, pausing a stream of conversation with someone reaching for their water bottle or adjusting their hair or whatever). Some parts of the story felt like they took way to long to finally come to a head and then get resolved while others felt like they didn't get enough time on the page. I would have loved to see more of Queenie working on her work projects, for example, and about half as many ruminations over a past relationship we barely see on page. Finally, most side characters felt like one-dimensional caricatures. They all had exactly one, possibly two, attributes that told readers exactly how to feel about them. They felt a little silly, especially when compared to the complex character that is Queenie Jenkins.

All in all, this was a shocking disappointment since I have loved the previous two novels published by this writer. I still look forward to her next release, and will hope for a better experience. I'm giving this an extra star because of a line from Queenie's therapist that really struck me (and since you shouldn't quote from ARCs, I'll paraphrase a bit)--rehearsing for misery and/or preparing for sadness won't make it hurt less if your worst fears come true. Oof. Such a good reminder for us anxiety-ridden girlies.

I read a digital ARC from NetGalley and Gallery Books.

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the ARC of Queenie Is Working on It by Candice Carty-Williams in exchange for an honest review. It took me a couple of times reading Queenie for me to get it, but I read through the sequel just fine. This time, Queenie is thirty-three years old and eight years removed from the events of Queenie. I was excited about this premise because I'm around the same age as Queenie, and where I am in life now versus when I was twenty-five is vastly different.

I was curious to see where Candice Carty-Williams was going with Queenie's story after the success of the miniseries. I enjoyed this so much! I was still frustrated by Queenie's main character syndrome, but there is so much about this book that I really enjoyed. For starters, Queenie decides that she wants to have a baby because her biological clock is ticking. She has not been able to hold down a solid relationship; on top of that, the topics of medical racism and fatphobia are prominent here. Queenie is an editor on a pro-Black/POC website called "The Good Sis" and is experiencing moderate success before her old job tries to hijack her talent and siphon off her ideas. She is still friends with Kyazike, Darcy, and Cassandra from the first book, and in this one, I appreciate that Kyazike has more characterization that isn't just the co-signing Black friend. Queenie is convinced to create a chart of men she's had sexual relations with in recent years to find possible prospects to have a child with, but she still has a weird relationship with a guy named Frank, who happens to be Kyazike's cousin.

I didn't find Queenie annoying in this book as I did in the first. I went into this expecting British humor, and I had so much fun with it. I loved the scenes of Queenie and her Jamaican family. I found this to be lighter than the other, and the self-awareness definitely helped. That's not to say that there weren't conflicts in this. There certainly were some issues I had with this, but I enjoy the characters so much that it felt like dealing with a friend. I flew through this book; it was like an episode of Insecure if it were set in London.

[JoJo Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an unbiased review.

“Queenie Is Working On It” by Candice Carty-Williams

Queenie and I have a special bond…

She’s a special kinda character - the one you love to hate and are undoubtedly amused and intrigued by. She finally got it right, but whew the journey we went on to get there. As always a West Indian family, and its shenanigans, makes for amazing supporting characters. I loved the evolution of her friendships, and the reality of figuratively (and occasionally literally) hitting your bottom and needing a reset. We can all relate but few get to execute how Queenie does. Interested to see if/where the author will take this forward….theres more room for more growth, in Queenie, her relationship and the entire cast.

[Karen Farrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought. It was, for me, a little slow at the start and just seemed to be a rant about Queenie’s job or descriptive paragraphs of het sex life.

I loved the narrative the author gave each character and you could imagine all of them vividly and they could be your own family.

The story did tackle some serious issues such as infertility and mental health but they were done very sympathetically. Also a large part of the book was about the inequalities surrounding black people both in infertility and industry and did make me think a lot

All in a good and very funny read

[Tunrayo Lumpkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an ARC from NetGalley.

I remember reading the first Queenie book! TBH it felt like it was holding up a mirror to me and WHEW CHILE🥴😂 I ain’t like what I was seeing, like Queenie girl, WE WERE HOT MESSES TOGETHER😂😂😂 I did enjoy reading this book, I especially loved learned more about Queenie’s family. Queenie still pisses me off but I loved that throughout the book, you could tell that she is clearly working on it! Overalls rating would be 3.5 ⭐️

[Amanda Negro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

Queenie is back and she’s on top of things… until she isn’t. I loved the return of these characters along with new ones. Everyone in this book is so human and Candice Carty-Williams writes them beautifully again. Queenie is 33 now and her struggles are different this time around. But her heart is good and her support system loves her. This book was like catching up with an old friend… highly recommend.

[Tilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand it was nice to check back in with Queenie, but also I'm not sure how much more I got out of a second book. She's still very anxious, which is very believable, but not always the most fun to read... However, I liked that she has made progress since the first book. Does read sometimes like a messy millennial memoir, where you think why are you having such unenjoyable sex with these tedious men? Sigh. So a mixed bag but if you enjoyed the first, I'd say it's worth it.

[Merovingiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the first book and it felt important. The second is still entertaining, except when we get into Queenie’s endless self-involved inner monologues. However, characterisation is just lazy in this one. The only reason Queenie feels in any way sympathetic or successful is because the author sets her against caricatures and idiots. So, a bit entertaining, a bit boring, a bit annoying. Finished it out of respect for the first book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was lovely to be back in the company of Queenie. Life has not really panned out as expected, what men and a career being more complicated than they should be. Queenie is still a mix of loveable and infuriating, I was unsure as to whether she needed a hug or some strong words. Either way the book is an enjoyable read.

[Dysha Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. I had read Queenie when it first came out and although I found her to be insufferable, I decided to give the sequel a chance since she had aged since then. She is still insufferable and difficult to connect with. The writing was cool but I just don’t like this character or any of the supporting characters.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good to have Queenie back in my life and see what she’s been up to after all of these years. I loved this book. Just what I needed and if you are a fan of Queenie you will love it too.

She will always be a legend in my eyes. 💚👑

[Heather]

This was one of my favorite giveaway wins.
I love Queenie!
She sure did work on it in this book. She was real, she was broken, she was unsure and confused, but mostly, she never gives up. Love her journey and really, really, really hope for a third installment one day 😊

[Michele Knopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes funny, sometimes serious. Queenie is working on it. You will definitely like this book.

[Shivaughni · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the book title suggests, Queenie is still working on it. She’s still slightly annoying but you can see her growth compared to the first book.

[BookOfCinz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the time of this book but it really just remains you that while Queenie is a flawed character she really is working on being better.

[Juliette Huntingdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queenie is back! So funny. Lewisham mentioned

[Amanda Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Queenie, so I was excited to spend more time with Queenie Jenkins in Candice Carty-Williams' long-awaited sequel. Now in her thirties, Queenie appears to have done a lot of work on herself. She's built a successful career, completed years of therapy, and seems far more self-aware than the woman readers first met. Unfortunately, old habits die hard.

What made Queenie so compelling was watching a young woman struggle through trauma and eventually realize she needed help. In Queenie Is Working on It, Queenie has the tools to make better choices, which made some of her decisions far more frustrating to watch. While her struggles remain realistic and emotionally resonant, I found myself losing patience with her repeated self-sabotage and tendency to make everything revolve around her own problems.

That said, Carty-Williams remains an engaging writer, and Queenie's family and friendships continue to be highlights of the story. I still care deeply about this character and wanted her to succeed. I just didn't find this journey nearly as satisfying as the first book. Readers who loved Queenie will likely still want to catch up with her, but be prepared for a heroine who remains every bit as flawed as ever.

You can read my full literary analysis on my website at: https://writeontheworld.com/2026/06/2...

An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really love the character of Queenie, which is why I feel a bit bad about this rating. Like I'm insulting Queenie herself. She is a funny, klutzy and lovable character and even now, seven years after the first book, I just want her to find happiness.

But I did not love this book. I do not think this was a worthy sequel to Queenie. The story just lacked some pizazz; I felt like it was floundering, unsure where to go next. It genuinely seemed like the author wanted to continue Queen's story but had no idea how it should go.

Queenie is in her thirties now, but she seems to be in almost exactly the same place we found her at the beginning of the first book. Another strange choice is how a relationship that was obviously very meaningful to Queenie happened all off page. We are told about its impact, but didn't get to see it happen so I never fully appreciated the weight of it.

A big part of this book is Queenie's research on fertility, and especially how Black women are treated in fertility clinics. She ends up going on a fat loss journey to qualify for NHS IVF, bemoaning the fact she has lost 1.5 stone in 2 months (28 pounds— way above recommended healthy weight loss) making this far more Bridget Jones’s Diary-esque than the first book ever was.

In many ways, this felt like going back in time; regressing. Queenie is still stuck in 2019, and I can't say she experienced much growth over the course of this book. I'm starting to think this author may be a one-hit wonder for me.