Reviews

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

cryinginpublic's review against another edition

emotional sad 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

4.75

melodys_library's review against another edition

2.0

The author put a lot of care, research, and personal history into this coming-of-age story of a Chinese-American lesbian growing up in a time and place that doesn’t allow both identities to coexist. She explores lesbian culture and Chinese-American culture, and the cultural anxiety surrounding it, and the sense of conformity and social repression prevalent in 1950’s America.

While I appreciated how the storylines converged at the end, this was a suuuuper sloooow burn for me. I mean SLOOOOW. It started to pick up pace way late in the game.

I was really disappointed during the first 2/3 of the book, and nearly moved on for good. I’m glad I hung on, and it breaks my heart to do this because it discusses such important topics, but I feel like I have to give it a less than favorable rating because it felt like a chore to read the first 250 pages.

goldlampleaning's review against another edition

informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

morgane3471's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

2.75

I wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t. The flashbacks really cut the story for me. I would recommend it just wasn’t for me 

graveyardpansy's review against another edition

5.0

screaming and crying

waitaminuteash's review against another edition

3.0

I was drawn in by the beautiful cover, but as much as I wanted to love the book it fell flat. It felt like nothing was happening for 90% of the book. I think it would have been good to hear from Kath's perspective at least once.

dembury's review against another edition

5.0

A rich, immersive, and achingly heartfelt novel that is superbly written and highly transportive. “Last Night at the Telegraph Club” is to be savored; there is so much depth and detail to it, and the characters and their stories just LEAP off the page and into life. I adored every moment of Lily’s story and will absolutely be rereading and recommending this book to others!

alyxbrett's review against another edition

challenging emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

tjmcharg's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jennyclay's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0