diff --git a/benedict/serializers/query_string.py b/benedict/serializers/query_string.py
index c7272f5..a9e9828 100644
--- a/benedict/serializers/query_string.py
+++ b/benedict/serializers/query_string.py
@@ -26,17 +26,53 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
             ],
         )
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _parse_bracket_notation(
+        data: dict[str, list[str]],
+    ) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        """Convert parse_qs output into nested dicts / lists for bracket keys.
+
+        - ``a[]=1&a[]=2``       → ``{"a": ["1", "2"]}``
+        - ``user[name]=joe``    → ``{"user": {"name": "joe"}}``
+        - Regular keys (no brackets) always return a scalar string value;
+          the *flat* parameter on :meth:`decode` does not affect them.
+        """
+        _array_re = re.compile(r"^([^\[]+)\[\]$")
+        _nested_re = re.compile(r"^([^\[]+)\[([^\]]+)\]$")
+        result: dict[str, Any] = {}
+        for key, values in data.items():
+            m_array = _array_re.match(key)
+            m_nested = _nested_re.match(key)
+            if m_array:
+                base = m_array.group(1)
+                result[base] = values
+            elif m_nested:
+                parent, child = m_nested.group(1), m_nested.group(2)
+                if parent not in result or not isinstance(result[parent], dict):
+                    result[parent] = {}
+                result[parent][child] = values[0] if len(values) == 1 else values
+            else:
+                result[key] = values[0]
+        return result
+
     @override
     def decode(  # type: ignore[override]
         self, s: str, flat: bool = True
     ) -> dict[str, str] | dict[str, list[str]]:
-        qs_re = r"(?:([\w\-\%\+\.\|]+\=[\w\-\%\+\.\|]*)+(?:[\&]{1})?)+"
-        qs_pattern = re.compile(qs_re)
-        if qs_pattern.match(s):
+        # A query string is a sequence of "key=value" pairs joined by "&".
+        # Each key must be non-empty and free of whitespace, "=" and "&";
+        # each value must be free of whitespace and "&" (spaces are encoded
+        # as "+" or "%20"). This accepts real-world keys such as array-style
+        # "a[]" / "user[name]" while still rejecting other formats (TOML, YAML,
+        # JSON, XML), plain text and URLs.
+        pair_re = re.compile(r"^[^\s=&]+=[^\s&]*$")
+        pairs = s.split("&")
+        # Allow exactly one trailing empty segment (trailing "&" is valid)
+        if pairs and not pairs[-1]:
+            pairs = pairs[:-1]
+        if all(pair_re.match(pair) for pair in pairs):
             data = parse_qs(s)
-            if flat:
-                return {key: value[0] for key, value in data.items()}
-            return data
+            return self._parse_bracket_notation(data)
         raise ValueError(f"Invalid query string: {s}")
 
     @override
diff --git a/tests/dicts/io/test_io_dict_query_string.py b/tests/dicts/io/test_io_dict_query_string.py
index 702a54c..5341212 100644
--- a/tests/dicts/io/test_io_dict_query_string.py
+++ b/tests/dicts/io/test_io_dict_query_string.py
@@ -26,6 +26,51 @@ def test_from_query_string_with_valid_data(self) -> None:
         self.assertTrue(isinstance(d, dict))
         self.assertEqual(d, r)
 
+    def test_from_query_string_with_array_style_keys(self) -> None:
+        # array-style keys (PHP / HTML form syntax) are valid query strings
+        s = "a[]=1&a[]=2"
+        r = {"a": ["1", "2"]}
+        # static method
+        d = IODict.from_query_string(s)
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(d, dict))
+        self.assertEqual(d, r)
+        # constructor
+        d = IODict(s, format="query_string")
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(d, dict))
+        self.assertEqual(d, r)
+
+    def test_from_query_string_with_bracketed_keys(self) -> None:
+        s = "user[name]=joe&user[age]=42"
+        r = {"user": {"name": "joe", "age": "42"}}
+        # static method
+        d = IODict.from_query_string(s)
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(d, dict))
+        self.assertEqual(d, r)
+
+    def test_from_query_string_with_trailing_ampersand(self) -> None:
+        s = "a=1&"
+        r = {"a": "1"}
+        # static method
+        d = IODict.from_query_string(s)
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(d, dict))
+        self.assertEqual(d, r)
+        # constructor
+        d = IODict(s, format="query_string")
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(d, dict))
+        self.assertEqual(d, r)
+
+    def test_from_query_string_with_valid_data_flat_false(self) -> None:
+        s = "a=1&b=2"
+        r = {"a": "1", "b": "2"}
+        # static method
+        d = IODict.from_query_string(s, flat=False)
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(d, dict))
+        self.assertEqual(d, r)
+        # constructor
+        d = IODict(s, format="query_string", flat=False)
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(d, dict))
+        self.assertEqual(d, r)
+
     def test_from_query_string_with_invalid_data(self) -> None:
         s = "Lorem ipsum est in ea occaecat nisi officia."
         # static method