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kappafrog's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Big disappointment after how much I liked Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Boring characters, pretty predictable plot, and the infidelity made the main character very unsympathetic. I only kept reading for the promised update on Lily and Kath but it was very anticlimactic and felt shoehorned in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Incest, Racism, and Religious bigotry
bookishsapphicshay's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Cancer
bkay1820's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Bullying
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's the summer after high school graduation, and Aria is sent to her grandmother's house for the summer after a boy publishes photos of her with her shirt off. It's there Aria meets Steph, her grandmother's gardener. Steph, who introduces Aria to the queer world of art and music. Who might make Aria realize she's not straight.
This book is set in 2013, after the legalization of gay marriage in the United States. Lo brilliantly adds little details about this throughout the book, showing the reader how the news affected the LGBTQ+ community in different ways.
Aria's journey in this book is messy. It's emotional. It's relatable. However, while this book is billed as YA, I think it might have a slightly older target audience. Twenty-somethings might see themselves more in this book, because of the time period its set in.
Like all of Malinda Lo's book, there's an emotional tenderness in this book as Aria is trying to discover herself. It's not a fast moving book, but a book focused on the ways that she is changing, the ways that she is coming into herself. It is honestly so beautifully written.
My only complaint, really, is that this is being promoted as a companion to [book:Last Night at the Telegraph Club|35224992], and while there is a connection, it's very small. I almost wished that aspect could have been explored a little more, because I think it would have just pushed this book over the edge, up to five stars for me.
Nevertheless, this is still an emotional, coming into your identity story and I'd highly recommend it!
This book is set in 2013, after the legalization of gay marriage in the United States. Lo brilliantly adds little details about this throughout the book, showing the reader how the news affected the LGBTQ+ community in different ways.
Aria's journey in this book is messy. It's emotional. It's relatable. However, while this book is billed as YA, I think it might have a slightly older target audience. Twenty-somethings might see themselves more in this book, because of the time period its set in.
Like all of Malinda Lo's book, there's an emotional tenderness in this book as Aria is trying to discover herself. It's not a fast moving book, but a book focused on the ways that she is changing, the ways that she is coming into herself. It is honestly so beautifully written.
My only complaint, really, is that this is being promoted as a companion to [book:Last Night at the Telegraph Club|35224992], and while there is a connection, it's very small. I almost wished that aspect could have been explored a little more, because I think it would have just pushed this book over the edge, up to five stars for me.
Nevertheless, this is still an emotional, coming into your identity story and I'd highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Homophobia, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Wow I cried so much at the end of this.
A Scatter of Light follows Aria Tang West as she is sent out to live with her grandmother for a summer. Aria expects to be bored the whole summer, but then she meets Steph, her grandmother’s gardener. Steph brings Aria into her friend circle (which happens to be a bunch of lesbians) and shows Aria the queer scenes in Cali. Aria then begins to question her sexuality, especially when she can’t get Steph off her mind.
This book is a journey of questioning. Coming into who you are. Figuring who you are after loss. Navigating toxic friendships and forging new stronger bonds. I loved everything about this book. It had it all for me. The last 20% or so had me sobbing the whole way through. This one has small cameos of characters from LNATTC, but it’s not a full on sequel. Aria’s story is her own and it’s one I’m so happy I’ve read.
Wow I cried so much at the end of this.
A Scatter of Light follows Aria Tang West as she is sent out to live with her grandmother for a summer. Aria expects to be bored the whole summer, but then she meets Steph, her grandmother’s gardener. Steph brings Aria into her friend circle (which happens to be a bunch of lesbians) and shows Aria the queer scenes in Cali. Aria then begins to question her sexuality, especially when she can’t get Steph off her mind.
This book is a journey of questioning. Coming into who you are. Figuring who you are after loss. Navigating toxic friendships and forging new stronger bonds. I loved everything about this book. It had it all for me. The last 20% or so had me sobbing the whole way through. This one has small cameos of characters from LNATTC, but it’s not a full on sequel. Aria’s story is her own and it’s one I’m so happy I’ve read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Medical content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
librariangeorgia's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I absolutely adored LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB that I just /had/ to read this one. And the fact that it’s linked to that book made it so much more exciting!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - like I’m struggling to put into words how much I loved it. I wanted to take my time with it so that it wouldn’t be over too soon but also speed through it to find out what happens.
Now, tell me why I got so invested in the characters that I actually started welling up at /that/ moment. I felt like I was going through all the emotions that Aria was going through!
I just loved the Lily and Kath mention!! I was waiting for them to crop up!
I highly recommend this book, and LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB if you’ve not read that one either!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Grief
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Thank you to Netgalley and Coronet for a copy of this book for review.
This is companion novel to Lo's historical romance, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, but they're still completely stand-alones.
It's 2013 and Aria Tang West was looking forward to spending one last summer at Martha's Vineyard with her friends before going off to university. However after comprising photos of her end up online, she's uninvited. Instead she has to spend the summer with her grandmother, Joan West in California. Joan's house is full of reminders of Aria's beloved Grandfather who died 5 years ago.
She unexpectedly finds herself drawn to her grandmother's gardener, Steph. Steph however isn't available as she has a girlfriend, Lisa.
This coming of age book tackles a lot issues such as cyber bullying, slut shaming, grief, sexuality and self discovery but it feels organic, never forced. This book is at the older end of YA.
An overall enjoyable read but I felt some of the plots weren't well developed or wrapped up.
This is companion novel to Lo's historical romance, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, but they're still completely stand-alones.
It's 2013 and Aria Tang West was looking forward to spending one last summer at Martha's Vineyard with her friends before going off to university. However after comprising photos of her end up online, she's uninvited. Instead she has to spend the summer with her grandmother, Joan West in California. Joan's house is full of reminders of Aria's beloved Grandfather who died 5 years ago.
She unexpectedly finds herself drawn to her grandmother's gardener, Steph. Steph however isn't available as she has a girlfriend, Lisa.
This coming of age book tackles a lot issues such as cyber bullying, slut shaming, grief, sexuality and self discovery but it feels organic, never forced. This book is at the older end of YA.
An overall enjoyable read but I felt some of the plots weren't well developed or wrapped up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia