Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

238 reviews

alica2's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

I really liked the historical setting, but I felt kind of underwhelmed by the characters. Lily and Kath's relationship was cute, but after the beginning section I didn't really get a good feel of Kath's character besides her wanting to be a pilot. I felt like there was a lot of stuff included that didn't really go anywhere or was only offhandedly mentioned later, like I thought there would be more tension around Lily's fake ID given how concerned she was about getting it, or that the Red Scare might impact her family/friends more directly, or that her attendance at the youth picnic early on might have more drastic consequences later.

I liked the interlude sections where we got POVs into Lily's parents and aunt, but these also didn't really seem to add much to the story since I never saw those parts of their character peek through in Lily's perspective. The ending also felt way too rushed for me, and I know every queer story doesn't have to have a happy ending but it just felt really unsatisfying and abrupt.

With that said though, I still loved the atmosphere and could feel the love and research that went into it. It was nice to be back in San Francisco, and especially to see a part of its history that I haven't really been exposed to. I think this would have been a perfect book for me when I was younger, and probably would have helped me figure things out sooner LOLOL.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol

vael's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Toxic friendship, Deportation, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Sexual content, Outing, Classism, Police brutality, Misogyny, War, Racism, and Racial slurs

ahopper7's review

challenging emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol and Homophobia

ajay913's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Gaslighting, Bullying, Alcohol, and Racial slurs

Minor: Police brutality, Xenophobia, War, Misogyny, Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

adalinemccormick's review

adventurous emotional informative 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Homophobia

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Deportation

Minor: Police brutality, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Forced institutionalization

camillagrace's review

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Racial slurs and War

kaylokay_'s review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Outing, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Racism, Body shaming, Deportation, and Sexism

Moderate: Bullying, Infertility, and War

skye_era_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I learned a lot about Chinese-American culture (specifically in the 1940s and 50s). I also learned a lot about lesbians and the queer community during that time. I love that

Lily and Kath end up back together after being separated for a year.

Please read the author’s note at the end of the book, as it helps explain the author’s research for this book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Outing, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Homophobia

zackarinareads's review against another edition

emotional informative 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? Yes

4.5

Here are some thoughts I wrote down for the Heartstopper Discord Book Club (April2024):
 

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Deportation, and Racism

Minor: Alcohol and War

amoonymess's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Outing, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Racial slurs, Deportation, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Misogyny