The Queue by Alexandra Heminsley: A Book Review

My book reviews are usually based on rom-coms or thrillers. So, you'll be pleased to read that I have read a different book genre for this review! These past few weeks, I've been reading a contemporary book called *The Queue by Alexandra Heminsley. It's based on a real-life event, the death of the Queen and the queue everybody joined in London to pay their respects to the late monarch lying in state.

Let's set the scene:

Suzie, Tim and Abbie are three complete strangers who decide to join the 10-mile-long queue to pay their respects to the Queen. They're all in line together and spend the entire queue with each other and getting to know one another. 

Suzie is 69 and has been keeping a secret for most of her life. She's missing her husband, Colin, who passed away. She'd give anything to have him by her side today, but she's hoping that the long walk ahead will be the start of her new chapter in life. But what is Suzie's big secret?

Tim is 42 and is joining the queue out of a sense of duty. He's joined the queue on behalf of his Mum, who can't be there, and she adored the Queen. Tim has always put facts before feelings, trying to fit in but always sticking out. Could this queue be a chance to change that?

Abbie is 19, a desperately hungover university student who is studying fashion for her degree. Her flatmates encourage her to join the queue with them, but as they both drop out, Abbie is left to stay in the queue on her own. Her big move to London hasn't gone to plan; in a big city, she feels lonelier than ever. She feels closer to her queue family than her real one. How will Abbie see life when she leaves the queue?

What I liked about The Queue

I loved the premise of the book. I remember watching the news a lot when the Queen died. I remember seeing all those thousands of people joining the queue towards Westminster to pay their respects. Even David Beckham joined the 13-hour-long queue. I loved that this book was different to what I normally read. 

A gentle and uplifting story, it was great to see each character's personal progress as they continued to queue for hours on end. The book is incredibly immersive as it describes the route and landmarks along the queue route wonderfully.

My favourite character has to be Howie, an Australian who joins the queue and befriends Tim, he's such a sweetheart!

What I disliked about The Queue

Each chapter is from the character's perspective. We learn more about their personal lives away from the queue, which is great! However, I wish there could have been more interaction in the present day, as well as talking about their individual pasts. The book focuses heavily on Suzie's story, which is fine, as her story is the most heartbreaking. However, I would have liked Tim and Abbie's stories to be delved into more throughout the book.

My favourite moment of the book

I loved how close the trio became and how their friendship blossomed throughout.

Would I recommend The Queue by Alexandra Heminsley?

If you're looking for a feel-good read, this book is for you! You could see that this experience brought new meaning to the trio's lives, and their perspective on life has changed. 

It's a lovely, heartwarming take on a life event that completely dominated the news for weeks. I can imagine and understand how it would change your way of looking at life. One thing I would love to see is a sequel to this book, maybe a book discussing what happened in their lives after leaving the queue and if they kept in touch. 

This is a really simple yet joyful read which I would happily recommend to anyone!

I'd love to know your thoughts on this review!

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