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caffeinatedknots's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
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
4.5
I just wish we had more of an ending. It feels like a cliffhanger almost. I know because it’s set in the 1950s that the ending is the way it is though. Loved this book. Such a good representation of so many under represented communities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racial slurs
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Outing, and Bullying
Minor: Child abuse
parkyparkpark's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Child abuse
roefrancis_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.25
For my first book of 2022, this book was amazing
Shirley is…. I hate her let’s just say ( if Shirley hadn’t started dating Calvin, half of this book wouldn’t have happened and everyone would have been fine!!! )
I love the build up to the romance and the telegraph club itself, the more it was brought up, the more homely it became and I love that. And characters like Lana, Claire, Paula and Tommy (who I now have mixed opinions for) make the place so well rounded and realistic.
Grace…oh my lord YOU DONT FREAKING SLAP YOUR KID FOR BEING GAY!!! also I’m just saying, I’m convinced Judy is a closeted bisexual woman, she gives off the energy several times in the book.
I’m so excited to hopefully read any more of Lo’s writing because she is brilliant :)
Shirley is…. I hate her let’s just say (
I love the build up to the romance and the telegraph club itself, the more it was brought up, the more homely it became and I love that. And characters like Lana, Claire, Paula and Tommy (who I now have mixed opinions for) make the place so well rounded and realistic.
Grace…
I’m so excited to hopefully read any more of Lo’s writing because she is brilliant :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
talonsontypewriters'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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Misogyny, Outing, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicide, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
Deportation and other immigration troubles, particularly relating to the post-WWII Red Scare. Setting-typical dated language. Mentions of teacher-student relationships in a film; brief suggestive advances on a teenager by an adult. Non-graphic sex between two seventeen-year-olds and short descriptions of sex scenes in pulp novels. Police raid on a gay bar. Underage drinking and smoking. Scene where a parent slaps a child. One scene featuring an air raid drill at school and discussion of atomic bombs.caitlinreadss's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book certainly put me through every emotion possible. One minute I was over the moon with happiness for Lily and Kath, the next I was so worried and then I was crying.
Brilliant and heartbreaking.
Last night at the telegraph club has very loveable characters and an extremely sweet lesbian (secret) romance. It has characters with historically accurate mindsets - which I magically hoped that they wouldn’t be because I was hanging on to the possibility that there would be the happiest ending for Lily and Kath. But despite this disappointment I set myself up for, the book was incredible to read and it really made me feel so much for these girls.
Brilliant and heartbreaking.
Last night at the telegraph club has very loveable characters and an extremely sweet lesbian (secret) romance. It has characters with historically accurate mindsets - which I magically hoped that they wouldn’t be because I was hanging on to the possibility that there would be the happiest ending for Lily and Kath. But despite this disappointment I set myself up for, the book was incredible to read and it really made me feel so much for these girls.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Outing, and Sexism
Moderate: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, and Toxic friendship
ufollowbooks's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
This is an incredible story. The details, from Chinatown to references to real historical figures, are fascinating. The romance between the girls is heart-wrenching, and the ending brings out full-blown tears. Needless to say, the style itself is absolutely beautiful, to my taste. Yes, there's a slow start and the book takes a long time to "rock out", but the end is all the more stunning. After all, that's exactly how it is in reality! A monotonous and repetitive everyday life and then BOOM!
I'd also like to point out that this book makes me much more angry at the way the queer community is represented by the hetero media. Here, here is our shared trauma, here are our fears, here is The History - and it all boils down to a male gay friend helping to pick out outfits... Somehow, it doesn't seem so all-encompassing and powerful when you live it. So - thank you, Melinda Lo.
By the way, there's a huge amount of references to literature on the subject at the end, so I what I'll be reading more. And Lo's other books have already been added to Read Later!
I absolutely recommend this book. Be prepared for a slow start - you just have to get through it so you have everything you could want from the book afterwards. And have tissues and valerian ready for that "afterwards" :)
I'd also like to point out that this book makes me much more angry at the way the queer community is represented by the hetero media. Here, here is our shared trauma, here are our fears, here is The History - and it all boils down to a male gay friend helping to pick out outfits... Somehow, it doesn't seem so all-encompassing and powerful when you live it. So - thank you, Melinda Lo.
By the way, there's a huge amount of references to literature on the subject at the end, so I what I'll be reading more. And Lo's other books have already been added to Read Later!
I absolutely recommend this book. Be prepared for a slow start - you just have to get through it so you have everything you could want from the book afterwards. And have tissues and valerian ready for that "afterwards" :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Outing, Sexism, Toxic friendship, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Infertility, and Miscarriage
bitterseason's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Racial slurs
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual harassment
samschub214's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Child abuse, and War
moneyispizza's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
“She’s having a hard time right now because you’re not what she expected. But we’re never what our parents expected. They have to learn that lesson.”
Set in the 1950s, this is the story of Lily, a Chinese American, coming to terms with her sexuality in San Francisco. She meets her first love, Kath, in math class. This is a story about love, rejection, fear, homophobia, and finally self-acceptance.
I really enjoyed Lo’s writing style throughout this book. I do think the middle portion of this novel was slow-moving. But, the last 10 (or so) chapters had me on the edge of my seat. Overall, a well-written book that is incredibly impactful. Would absolutely recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
sarah984's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a coming-of-age novel about a young Chinese American lesbian in 1950s San Francisco. There is a romance, but the book is much more focused on themes of belonging, self-discovery and community. The main character is at a sort of crossroads where it is dangerous to be herself: her family sees it as a risk to be a lesbian not just because of 1950s homophobia but because homosexuality is associated with communism and as Chinese Americans they are already automatically tarred with that brush; when she's in gay spaces she tends to be the only Asian and is treated like a sideshow attraction even by people who are kind to her.
The ways that Lily discovered that there were people like her who could lead full lives really rang true to me (Lily realizing women could kiss each other from reading pulps at the drug store is also an interesting tie in to Malinda Lo’s own work considering that she was writing mainstream LGBT YA in the pretty sparse early 2000s market) and despite the traumatic things that happen overall the book has an optimistic tone that I liked.
The ways that Lily discovered that there were people like her who could lead full lives really rang true to me (Lily realizing women could kiss each other from reading pulps at the drug store is also an interesting tie in to Malinda Lo’s own work considering that she was writing mainstream LGBT YA in the pretty sparse early 2000s market) and despite the traumatic things that happen overall the book has an optimistic tone that I liked.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, and Violence
Adult/minor relationships are speculated on by some characters and appear in a sensational newspaper article, but there are no relationships like that on the page.