You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
This was an absolutely beautiful book and it was so well-written. It perfectly captures the LGBTQ+ ideas and makes it feel so real
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Police brutality
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
I don’t give a lot of 5 star ratings. But I am obsessed with this book. It’s brilliant. The time in San Francisco when gay clubs were being closed. Communism rumors were everywhere with McCarthyism. The Chinese were under suspicion and they’re living in Chinatown. All of that setting the stage for a young girl coming of age and realizing she’s a lesbian. The feelings were so authentic and felt so real to me. The racism of the time. The wonder of finding people like you. The tug to feel authentic vs. being shunned by your family and your community. I just loved every page. Definitely one of my favorites this year!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Deportation
emotional
informative
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:
N/A
This book is an absolute masterpiece.
Following Lily, a young Asian American who is traversing figuring out her sexuality, the red scare, family, friends and much more during the 1950’s. Lo did a wonderful job writing Kath as well. You really feel for both of these characters.
I loved seeing young people during this time and the under ground queer clubs that they had to go to since homosexuality was so outlawed back then. It was also beyond heart breaking to see how Chinese Americans and immigrants were treated during the time communism was in the rise. Lo did her research on the history of the time period. Also after the epilogue you get to hear her story as well.
This book is a must read for everyone.
Cw
Xenophobia
Homophobia
Bullying
Toxic friendship
Violence
Immigration
Following Lily, a young Asian American who is traversing figuring out her sexuality, the red scare, family, friends and much more during the 1950’s. Lo did a wonderful job writing Kath as well. You really feel for both of these characters.
I loved seeing young people during this time and the under ground queer clubs that they had to go to since homosexuality was so outlawed back then. It was also beyond heart breaking to see how Chinese Americans and immigrants were treated during the time communism was in the rise. Lo did her research on the history of the time period. Also after the epilogue you get to hear her story as well.
This book is a must read for everyone.
Cw
Xenophobia
Homophobia
Bullying
Toxic friendship
Violence
Immigration
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Violence
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Lesbophobia
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
A beautiful, artfully created story about love, homosexuality, race and the oppressive forces at play in 1950's San Francisco. It is well-written with evocative imagery and a plot that keeps you hooked until the end. Thank you, Malinda Lo, for releasing this wonderful piece of fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Lesbophobia, Outing
Moderate: Xenophobia, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Miscarriage, Violence
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Wow how YA has improved since my days. The complex issues and history that have been woven into this story are amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing
Moderate: Hate crime, Miscarriage, Violence, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War
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:
Complicated
I was a bit nervous to give this one a try but I ended up really enjoying it. The book was obviously well researched based on the author's end notes which I found really interesting to read through and I really enjoyed the story itself. I do wish though that the book had been longer or more fast paced to explore more of the romance and give a slightly longer and more detailed conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
obsessed with this book! the setting truly comes alive and everything feels so real and it made me cry in an airport
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All in all, I really liked this book and its setting. The main character's emotional journey touched me and resonated with me, and I loved this story's celebration of butchness. However, there were some things that held me back from fully enjoying this book. The frequent use of racial terms that were common back then but considered derogatory now (when not used as a self-identifier) was really jarring. Also, for a book that centered a young queer Asian-American girl/woman, I was somewhat disappointed in the story's dichotomy of "queer white people" and "homophobic/queer-antagonistic Asian(-Americans)". In a story about finding yourself and community, I was frustrated by Lily only getting to know queerness as (predominantly) white, coupled with constant racist Othering. I would have loved for her to connect with other queer Asian-diasporic people and other non-white queer people - but despite there being passing mentions of other BIPoC at the queer club, we don't get any interactions with them, never mind Lily getting to know them better.
I also wished the plotline about her father's papers, the communist group and anti-(East)Asian sentiments/discrimination had been more present.
All in all an enjoyable read, but I think I'm at a point where I don't want to read stories about queer BIPoC with white love interests anymore.
I also wished the plotline about her father's papers, the communist group and anti-(East)Asian sentiments/discrimination had been more present.
All in all an enjoyable read, but I think I'm at a point where I don't want to read stories about queer BIPoC with white love interests anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Miscarriage, Violence, War