Queenie

Queenie Jenkins is a twenty-five-year-old British-Jamaican woman living in South London whose life begins to unravel after a difficult breakup with her white boyfriend, Tom. As she navigates a forced break from her journalism job, she spirals into a series of self-destructive sexual encounters and toxic workplace dynamics. The narrative tracks her struggles with generational trauma, the fetishization of Black bodies, and the specific alienation of moving through white institutional spaces. Facing an increasingly fractured mental state, Queenie eventually seeks professional therapy to confront her family history and the complexities of her dual identity.

Readers interested in the intersection of racial politics and modern womanhood will find a blunt portrayal of the microaggressions Black women face in Western dating and professional spheres. The book attracts those seeking a realistic look at how systemic structural racism affects individual psychological health. A reader finishes this book with a clear understanding of the necessity of mental health support for marginalized people and the reality of navigating contemporary society when your background and appearance are constantly scrutinized by those around you.

Inward-looking; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?