Scan barcode
zackarinareads's review against another edition
- 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
- What did you think about the book? How did it make you feel? I’ve been meaning to read this book for so long and finally got around to it in late February. I am always interested in lesbian history and I liked that this was a big part of the book. The characters all felt like a real part of their surrounding world and time. The timelines that were included in the book helped with my understanding. I also liked that other people from Lily’s family had little chapters to detail their personal journeys.
- Was there any moment that stood out as your favorite or felt most impactful? I’m always a fan of the first kiss but in this book I also liked the slow build-up to the characters’ relationship. The first time Lily saw the newspaper ad for Tommy’s show was also iconic with all the mixed and unexplainable emotions and feeling of recognition she experienced.
- Share your favorite quote! Why do you like it? ” “What’s what supposed to be like?” Lily slumped back against the sofa, feeling boneless and muddled. “Falling in love, I guess.” “You’ll know,” Claire said. “It’s unmistakable.” (How she could recognize Kath at the other end of a crowded Galileo hallway by the way she walked.) “It’s like . . . well, it’s like falling,” Lana said. “Falling, or floating, or sinking.” (Every time they kissed.) “You won’t know which way is up.” “It’s like having a fever.” (The way the world seemed to narrow down to the tips of Kath’s fingers.) “It’s like being drunk—drunk for days.”” I love the interjections to show what the conversation is making her think about.
- Is there anything specific you’d like to discuss during the meeting? I’d love to discuss the butch representation in the book. Overall, I don’t know if remember everything quite well enough to have a good discussion, though.
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Deportation, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol and War
reike's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Homophobia
Moderate: Xenophobia, War, Racism, and Miscarriage
Minor: Misogyny
amoonymess's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Outing, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Racial slurs, Deportation, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Misogyny
imoglien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Racial slurs
livreittoashley's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Outing
Minor: War, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, and Alcohol
carrot2025's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Deportation, Racism, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
This book handles so many of these important themes in an amazing way. As much as we have made progress in this world it's really important to keep telling these stories of the truth of the past. The author chosing to use period accurate words for minorities is just amazing. It really puts you into these characters feelings and what it was like to live during this time.paula357's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Outing, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Racism
ko_rax's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I must say, out of personal preference, that I liked the second half much more than the first.
The first half of the novel allows for the reader to explore family backgrounds and to accustom not only to the underlying racism, but also to the harsh homophobic tone of the 50s. Since my personal reality strays away from Lily's just far enough to forget the amount of privilege I enjoy (queer-friendly surroundings devoid of youthful peer pressure), I had a hard time staying focused whenever Lily described her day-to-day among peers at and outside of high school. However, the insights on Chinese culture in an immigrant family were pleasant. I really liked how well (racial) belonging was depicted.
Rather fond of fast-paced stories, it is no wonder then, that I enjoyed the quicker developments in the second half following Lily's
Careful to those who have rather traumatic experiences with
Graphic: Alcohol, Racial slurs, Racism, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Miscarriage and War
mariethelibrarian's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
literary_waffle's review against another edition
- 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
• Having a main character who is exploring her sexualit and sexual expression as well as a love interest who is a masculine presenting lesbian and other character who are also butches and femmes is very powerful
• The author knew who her target audience was and the effort and research put into this books about Chinese and queer history is something to be appreciated
Did not like
• The flashbacks, even thought I understand why they are necessary (I get it it gives me information about relationship dynamics and the history of Lily's family) I felt like, as a reader, they were just kinda boring and I was always hoping to get through them so I could get to the interesting story
• It has a lot of triggers, especially for someone queer or who is a minority
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Abandonment, and Deportation
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Xenophobia, and Outing