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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:
Complicated
“Are you like the girls in the book too? Because I think I am.”
TW: Homophobia, violence, racism
I loved this book. It was well thought out and planed and it was very realistic, which I loved. I loved the beginning and the end had me hooked. But the only reason why this book is not one of my all time favourite is because it sort of dragged in the middle. But I loved the representation of Chinese American during the 50s and also being queer at the same time. How you were looked at and treated for just loving and being your true self.
I want more of this book and more of Lilys and Kaths love story.
TW: Homophobia, violence, racism
I loved this book. It was well thought out and planed and it was very realistic, which I loved. I loved the beginning and the end had me hooked. But the only reason why this book is not one of my all time favourite is because it sort of dragged in the middle. But I loved the representation of Chinese American during the 50s and also being queer at the same time. How you were looked at and treated for just loving and being your true self.
I want more of this book and more of Lilys and Kaths love story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Violence, War
Minor: Gore, Miscarriage
emotional
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence, Toxic friendship, War
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Blood, War
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not the easiest book to get into, and I didn't care much for the perspectives besides Lily's; I can see why they were added though.
This book builds up slowly and really started to get interesting halfway through. Lily and Kath were some wonderful characters to get to know; others, not so much.
Lily discovering her queerness felt very true to my own experience, I was happy with the authenticity and portrayal of her and Kath and all the other wonderful people at the Telegraph Club.
I don't really read a lot of historical fiction - but having read three in a row - I'm really getting into the genre.
Turns out that I like learning about things that actually took place, throughout the viewpoint of a fictional person.
The ending was very tense but also slightly hopeful towards the future. I'm so done with bad endings for lesbian/queer couples, so this one by all means wasn't as 'bury your gays' as most, and probably quite a realistic take on a relationship off that point in time.
All and all I think it's a wonderful book, but it's by no means a lighthearted novel.
This book builds up slowly and really started to get interesting halfway through. Lily and Kath were some wonderful characters to get to know; others, not so much.
Lily discovering her queerness felt very true to my own experience, I was happy with the authenticity and portrayal of her and Kath and all the other wonderful people at the Telegraph Club.
I don't really read a lot of historical fiction - but having read three in a row - I'm really getting into the genre.
Turns out that I like learning about things that actually took place, throughout the viewpoint of a fictional person.
The ending was very tense but also slightly hopeful towards the future. I'm so done with bad endings for lesbian/queer couples, so this one by all means wasn't as 'bury your gays' as most, and probably quite a realistic take on a relationship off that point in time.
All and all I think it's a wonderful book, but it's by no means a lighthearted novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual content, Trafficking, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Deportation
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, War
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-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
Really loved most of it! I didn't think the ending itself was bad, but I did find it a lot more boring than the rest of the book since the character just seems lost. Wish Lily could have had more independent development there, but it was nice that she grew to understand her relationship with Kath. I want her to better understand her own identity for herself too though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, War
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
Emotional, deep, and full of confusion, love and terror in a time where existing was challenging for the leads. Malinda Lo's prose is both straight forward and yet evocative and she draws Chinatown in 1954 through the eyes of Lily, a confused, romantic teenager who simply wants to love and be loved. And to go to space.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Complicated
I adore this book a lot. SO well researched!! I adore the characters alot, ironically especially Lily's family :) And it was so interesting to read about the historical setting and the life of Chinese Americans in that time period as well. It genuinely felt so real and honest. Very glad I was able to read this story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Deportation
Moderate: Addiction, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, War
emotional
medium-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
I loved this book. It’s smart and complex and sad but also really loving. The growing relationship between Lily and Kath was really beautiful as they are both finding themselves.
The whole point of this book is finding refuge and safety: safety to be Chinese American during the 50s, a girl who loves STEM, and to be part of the queer community. And I love the ways that Lo created this safety, and also challenged the safety through friends, family, laws, etc. parts of this were scary and I wasn’t sure how it would end.
The whole point of this book is finding refuge and safety: safety to be Chinese American during the 50s, a girl who loves STEM, and to be part of the queer community. And I love the ways that Lo created this safety, and also challenged the safety through friends, family, laws, etc. parts of this were scary and I wasn’t sure how it would end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence