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swiftlyjo's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
I've read many a coming out-stories like this but a well-written one will just always hit. This is classic, but it is well-captured and it reminded me so strongly of the first person I was in love with and how that felt. Just wholesome queer sweetness ❤️
My only wish really is that this book could have delved more into Aria making art, because it feels like it was supposed to mean so much but I never really got it and I wish they'd spent more time on that.
My only wish really is that this book could have delved more into Aria making art, because it feels like it was supposed to mean so much but I never really got it and I wish they'd spent more time on that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, and Death
mooswandern's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
My feelings about this book are extremely complicated and I simultaneously hated and loved it. 🥲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Biphobia, and Homophobia
pey333's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content and Homophobia
almachr's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Homophobia
sarah984's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I started out really liking this book and I loved the ending, but there are so many inexplicable writing decisions made in the middle that it wound up disappointing me. The parts about Aria learning to appreciate the perspectives of the adults in her life, going to the dyke march and the music festival, and trying to make art were really compelling but the romance was just... it was bad. The LI is older and already has a girlfriend and it's impossible to see what she could possibly see in this bland 18 year old that would make her act out like that. Aria is also like... there is a scene where she finds out a relative might be dying and all she can think about is cheating with this woman again. Also imo the sex scenes were way too graphic - yeah I'm an adult and I read adult books but also I do not want to know what is going where in YA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death
Minor: Dementia, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Cancer, Drug use, Transphobia, Bullying, and Classism
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
I enjoyed this book by Malinda Lo, however I don't quite love it as much as Last Night at the Telegraph Club. (I am giving this book 4.5 stars so if that tells anything about how much I enjoyed it)
This is a queer coming of age novel that follows teenage Aria during the years that gay marriage is legalized. Fantastic read, just didn't have the magic of the other book for me.
This is also touted as being a "companion novel" to Last Night at the Telegraph Club. In my opinion this is not really true, we get a brief mention of the characters but they never *actually* appear on page. They are somewhat distant cousins once removed and Aria reads a newspaper article about them and her Mom talks about meeting Lily and her girlfriend at a birthday party. That is all you get, I was really disappointed especially considering how much it was a companion novel, the characters never even interact which is odd because they have similar career aspirations.
Malinda Lo has a beautiful way of writing, whenever I read anything by her I always feel drawn into the pages. If she is talking about sandy beaches I feel the heat on my face, and the sand in between my toes. If she talks about brush strokes on a canvas, the stiff fabric feels as real to me as the thick paint that glides across it.
I also love the cover, it so perfectly encapsulates the feeling of the book and the title. The way it draws your eye across the page and is full of colors, the symbolism is very well done.
If I had to nitpick I wish the toxic relationship between Steph and Lisa was addressed more. It is quite obvious as the book goes on that Lisa is very controlling and toxic (no justification for the infidelity...but still) Also the relationship between Aria and her Mother is left very much unresolved. (Even at the end she isn't at her art show) Which really is sad, but I guess that is also the harsh reality of life. (We don't always get happy endings)
A must read for sure.
And the ending, while bittersweet, I don't think it could have ended any other way. BUT there were several threads and unanswered questions I had about several characters that felt very open ended and just left me with more questions. (Not always a bad occurrence, but still. I want to know who is engaged to who etc)
This is a queer coming of age novel that follows teenage Aria during the years that gay marriage is legalized. Fantastic read, just didn't have the magic of the other book for me.
This is also touted as being a "companion novel" to Last Night at the Telegraph Club. In my opinion this is not really true, we get a brief mention of the characters but they never *actually* appear on page.
Malinda Lo has a beautiful way of writing, whenever I read anything by her I always feel drawn into the pages. If she is talking about sandy beaches I feel the heat on my face, and the sand in between my toes. If she talks about brush strokes on a canvas, the stiff fabric feels as real to me as the thick paint that glides across it.
I also love the cover, it so perfectly encapsulates the feeling of the book and the title. The way it draws your eye across the page and is full of colors, the symbolism is very well done.
If I had to nitpick I wish the toxic relationship between
A must read for sure.
And the ending, while bittersweet, I don't think it could have ended any other way. BUT there were several threads and unanswered questions I had about several characters that felt very open ended and just left me with more questions. (Not always a bad occurrence, but still. I want to know who is engaged to who etc)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Bullying, and Homophobia
siobhanward's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
This was cute but I just didn't love it as much as Last Night at the Telegraph Club . When reviewing, I'm definitely trying to separate my thoughts on the two books, as it's so hard to compare the two.
Anyway, this was a solid book. I definitely found Aria annoying at times and I think that was part of the reason I didn't love the book. It also felt like the plot just whipped along at times without giving explanations or real time to digest what was going on. The book was great though and really fun. Looking forward to more form Lo!
Anyway, this was a solid book. I definitely found Aria annoying at times and I think that was part of the reason I didn't love the book. It also felt like the plot just whipped along at times without giving explanations or real time to digest what was going on. The book was great though and really fun. Looking forward to more form Lo!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Homophobia
jennmaries98's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Homophobia
lucypoppleton6's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I want to start off by saying that this book is not close to Last Night at the Telegraph Club. It is marketed as a companion, but it only briefly touches on Kath and Lily’s story.
The book tells the story of 18 year-old Aria Tang West in the summer between high school and college. It is definitely a coming of age story as she explores her sexuality (it’s not clear if she’s bi or lesbian). But what holds this book back is the fact that she is involved in an affair. Both Aria and Steph (her grandmother’s gardener) know that Steph is dating someone else, yet they choose to cheat even without Steph breaking up with her girlfriend first. It’s messy, and not in a good way.
The better relationships in the story are between Aria and her family and high school friends. I loved her relationship with her grandmother through art and with her friend Tasha as they come out to each other.
Also, the historical aspect of the book could be explored better. The book barely mentions the legalization of gay marriage or homophobia at all. It seems like it is just thrown in the description as a premise without being addressed in the book.
The book tells the story of 18 year-old Aria Tang West in the summer between high school and college. It is definitely a coming of age story as she explores her sexuality (it’s not clear if she’s bi or lesbian). But what holds this book back is the fact that she is involved in an affair. Both Aria and Steph (her grandmother’s gardener) know that Steph is dating someone else, yet they choose to cheat even without Steph breaking up with her girlfriend first. It’s messy, and not in a good way.
The better relationships in the story are between Aria and her family and high school friends. I loved her relationship with her grandmother through art and with her friend Tasha as they come out to each other.
Also, the historical aspect of the book could be explored better. The book barely mentions the legalization of gay marriage or homophobia at all. It seems like it is just thrown in the description as a premise without being addressed in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Homophobia, Alcohol, Rape, and Toxic friendship
There are a couple of sex scenes between Aria and Steph, along with memories of times Aria had sex with boys.bookishsapphicshay's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Infidelity
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual content, Racism, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Classism, and Misogyny
Minor: Cancer