Queen Elizabeth II dies and the country goes into mourning. People begin to queue to pay their last respects, and before long the queue itself becomes an historic event, snaking over 10 miles through London.

The story focuses on three very different people. They all join the queue for different reasons – to be a part of history and a truly London experience; a shared experience that honours people in their own lives as well as the Queen.

As the queue progresses, the strangers, while not becoming friends, certainly begin to open up and share truths about their lives. The moment of national reflection becomes deeply personal and brings them altogether in unexpected ways.

Abbie is abandoned by her rich, but inconsiderate, housemates who are hungover and thoughtless. She is finding life in the city lonely, but doesn’t want to admit it is not living up to expectations. Tim joins the queue as a tribute to his mother. He lives a quiet and respectable life, but has never really opened up about his sexuality. And then there is Suzie, who has a secret that she has kept for many years, even from those she loved.

All three characters experience a sense of loneliness and disappointment. Being in the queue gives them a sense of community and the courage to face their fears.

I’m not sure that the friendships that were formed in the queue will last beyond the book. I’d like to think that Tim and Howie do get to know each other more. And that all three of the main characters find the connections they are looking for in life.

A beautifully written, heart warming novel, that is recommended for anyone.

Three strangers who meet in the queue to pay their respects to the late queen may not seem like the obvious choice or starting point for a novel - but it works!

I think I enjoyed this book, but, I’m not sure. I know that’s a strange thing to say but it left me feeling a bit sad and empty. We join three strangers, each one at different stages in their lives, as they queue to pay their respects to our late queen as she is lying in state.
I started off really keen at the thought of really diving into these three people’s back stories and lives but it was mainly focused on one of them and we just got snippets about the other two. I would have loved to more about them. The story was definitely trying to tell us to live our lives to the fullest and not hide behind our shame or dampen our true down. I just felt it was lacking something I can’t put my finger on.

As someone who felt it was important to pay my respects and joined the queue to do so, this story really resonated with me. I loved the intertwining of stories. This was heartwarming and a joy to read!

The author has managed to weave such warmth into the pages of the book. Truly stunning.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

This is such a great story about what really happened last year when we lost the Queen and how the whole of the UK wanted to pay the respects. It was a great story to read and loved this writing style.

I absolutely loved this warm and emotive page turner. I loved the characters and their individual stories. I loved the concept of the queue where they meet for the first time. It was a brilliant, feel good read and I was sad when the journey ended.

The most beautiful, heartfelt story based on an event that many of us did not expect to witness in our lifetimes. Absolutely captivating.

A beautiful story of three people who meet in the queue to pay respects to the Queen. It was a story of love, regret, insecurities, friendship and hope for the future. I absolutely loved this book and so want the characters to stay in touch. I think a follow up to where they go next would be lovely but at the same time it ended perfectly.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

This was a gentle read, it was nice to see the friendships develop, it was emotional and humorous, not too taxing on the brain

What a joyous and wonderfully warm book this was. The novel was inspired by the queue for The Queen over the course of ten miles we spend time with three strangers, Suzie, Mike and Abbie. these three aren't the kind of people you'd expect to find together and by the end of their long and winding journey none of them are the same as when they joined the queue. Beautifully magical.

A clever idea to set a novel where four strangers meet in the queue to pay respects to the Queen. I'll say right away, even though I'm not a big monarchist (or any kind of one) that is is respectful and gets the tone right.

We meet older woman Suzie, born on Coronation Day, who wishes her Colin could be there with her, Mike, in his early 40s, who has never fitted in and has never explored his gay identity, and 19-year-old Abbie, whose big move to London has not gone as well as she'd hoped, her college coursemates / housemates posh and thoughtless. It ends up being these three plus one more who bond, the housemates soon drifting off, and although we meet some other queuers, it's these people's hopes and dreams, failures and secrets we learn about.

It's really nicely done, not preachy or too obvious - of course there are themes of it being best to talk about things and that what seems on the surface like a good thing often isn't, but there are subtler themes, too, about colonialism and Clause 28 that are woven in. I also liked the way the public art works along the walk are discussed in quite a lot of detail. By the end you hope the queuers will stay in touch and cherish the photo they have of each other.

this is the story of 3 strangers who come together in ‘the queue’ it’s tells the story of their lives leading up to why they going the queue, it’s was quite a slow book and didn’t grab me but it’ is a lovely heartwarming take on the queue that dominated the news following the queens death

Was looking forward to this but it is too distracting to see the ‘this is file is for promotional purposes and review by the recipient of this email only and may not be copied’ This appears in the middle of sentences and what appears to be a new chapter but isen.t a new chapter,a few rimes is acceptable just but not the whole way through

Queues are boring, aren't they? Well, I wasn't sure what I'd be getting when I started this book based on experiences in the queue to pay final respects to the Queen. We meet Abbie, desperately trying to fit into London university life; Suzie who has had a life of regrets and sadness; Tim who can't fit in because of his uniqueness and sexuality and Howie from Australia, a bouncy puppy of a man happy in his own skin. They find themselves in the same section of 'the queue' and spend the next 12 hours in each other's company.

The result is interesting, heartwarming and fun. In saying farewell to a woman they have 'known' all their lives and who put service and duty first and foremost, we see how their lives are changed in some little ways and its an experience they will remember forever.

A good read, I liked the London setting so the reader actually felt a sense of place as well as all the minutaie of the queuers' lives. Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An impressive feat to get this book written, edited and published within a year of the actual events of 2022 and a fun read with some great characters that really felt alive.
I think the book captures the feeling of the Queen's funeral and laying in state wonderfully.

I enjoyed this book, it was realistic and I felt the book was very well written with the comments about the people waiting with them, especially the celebrities. The characterisation was excellent, I'll definitely be recommending this book to others.

This is quite a slow moving story in which not very much happens but it still grips you. The Queue grabbed the world’s attention last year after the death of the queen and this story brought back memories of those days when the news was full of how long the queue was and how many hours they would have to wait.
Four complete strangers who have nothing in common come together as they join the queue to view the lying in state. As they slowly move along the route, they share their food and experiences and gradually, very unlikely friendships are forged. The story mainly focuses on 69 year old Suzie who is still missing her husband and regretting the secret that she kept from him throughout their marriage. We also come to know Tim who has joined the queue for his mother as he knows that she would love to be able to be there, and Abbie, a student who is finding that life in London is far lonelier than she ever expected. The fourth member of the group is Howie who I wished that we could have learned more about as his personality really appealed to me.
I loved the gradual way that the four of them opened up to each other and began to get to know each other as well as gaining a better understanding of themselves. I also really enjoyed the details of the path taken by the queue and the landmarks such as the monkeys along the river path which made the story seem very real.
This was a heart-warming story and I thoroughly recommend it for anyone who enjoys stories about random groups of people coming together.
Huge thanks to Net Galley and the publishers, Orion Publishing Group, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An uplifting and heartwarming story about being true to yourself and finding love, friendship, and community.

The Queue by Alexandra Heminsley is a poignant and heart-warming novel that takes readers on a transformative journey with three strangers whose lives intertwine during a life-changing day. Suzie, Mike, and Abbie find themselves in the same queue, each with their own motivations and desires.

Heminsley expertly develops the characters, capturing their vulnerabilities, hopes, and fears. As they walk along the Thames, united by their shared experience, their lives become intertwined in unexpected ways. The author skilfully explores themes of loss, longing, and the search for connection.

The prose is evocative, painting a vivid picture of the bustling city of London and the emotions of the characters. Heminsley's storytelling is compelling, drawing readers into the lives of Suzie, Mike, and Abbie, and keeping them invested in their journeys of self-discovery.

The Queue is a beautiful and touching novel that showcases the power of human connection and the potential for transformation in the most unexpected circumstances. Heminsley's writing is heartfelt and moving, reminding us that even in the midst of loneliness and uncertainty, there is always the possibility of finding solace and companionship.