Anja Gmeinwieser's debut novel 'We Queens' begins and ends with violence—a shot fired in the Piemont Alps and a confrontation at the EU's external border with Turkey. It follows the inner journey of the protagonist, a 37-year-old woman, as she grapples with a sense of dislocation and emptiness in her life. Living in a seemingly adequate existence with her boyfriend, her sister, and her boss, she feels that something is fundamentally wrong. Despite her attempts to convince herself that she is content, she recognizes the growing disarray of her world.

Faced with a four-week sick leave, she takes a drastic step by disconnecting from technology and retreating to the solitude of the mountains. Here, she confronts her inner turmoil while preparing meals on a camping stove, symbolizing her struggle for basic survival amidst her emotional chaos. The unexpected encounter with a woman wielding a gun forces her to confront reality in stark terms, contrasting with her previous perceptions of life and triggering a reevaluation of her choices and relationships.

Through the lens of their self-exploration, Gmeinwieser's characters illustrate a broader reflection on contemporary women's experiences, the grappling with personal and societal expectations, and the ongoing search for identity in a chaotic world. The story ultimately invites readers to ponder the delicate balance between personal turmoil and external conflicts, emphasizing that the struggles of finding one’s place in the world are universal, transcending borders and individual circumstances.