The Girls in Queens

DEBUT Set before the #MeToo movement, this debut novel explores how young women of color navigate issues of sexual abuse and dating violence within their community. As teenagers in the mid-1990s, Brisma and her childhood friend Kelly are inseparable. They live in Woodside, Queens, a neighborhood with a rich and diverse array of cultures that’s also dominated by Mets fandom. During high school, several incidents set the stage for ongoing challenges to their friendship as well as their own understanding of unhealthy, even unsafe, relationships with men. In particular, their experiences with talented baseball player Brian and serious accusations about his dating history drive a significant wedge between the two friends. The story is told in a nonlinear fashion, which does not necessarily add value to the storytelling; recognizing timeline changes can be difficult. The novel’s pacing is also too slow, especially in the first half. Nevertheless, Torres excels at describing Brisma’s complicated and emotional path toward a believable, albeit painful acceptance of the truth about both Brian and Kelly.