Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo

29 reviews

space_pancake's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Medical content and Toxic friendship

erins_bookshelf_'s review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

I enjoyed this for the most part except

I’m not a fan of cheating storylines and since that’s basically the second half of this book it kind of knocked it down a few stars; I think the part that got me most excited was when we saw how Lily and Kath from Last Night at the Telegraph Club ended up (and they weren’t even the main focus of the book so 🤷‍♀️ ).

 
Otherwise I think this was a nice book and I liked the family discussions as well as the conversations Joan and Aria had about art

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Homophobia and Toxic relationship

ofpagesandparagraphs's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment

Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death, and Sexual content

leweylibrary's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

I absolutely adored this book and may have even liked it more than I liked Last Night at the Telegraph Club which is saying something because I loved that book. I appreciate that this book wasn't a straight up sequel of that one but it still incorporates it and you get to see a glimpse of Lily and Kath's lives so many years later. 

I feel like a lot about Aria's character resonated with me, not sure what that said about me exactly lol, but I do enjoyed reading her POV as she went through this tumultuous summer before college. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but that's part of growing up and starting to figure out who you really are. They're are quite a few possible triggers in this book, so be sure to check those. There's also one scene that's quite spicy for a YA book 🔥

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Grief, Classism, Bullying, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Medical content, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol

calicat42's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book reminds me so much of “Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.” As a young girl, I could relate to Margaret, and I grew up with her. Now, as a young woman who can relate in an unbelievable number of ways to Aria, I’ve grown (and healed) a bit more with her. 

It’s a beautiful companion novel to “Last Night at the Telegraph Club”, with another incredible narrator who allows you to experience the journey of finding oneself through complicated family dynamics, high school, and relationships. I wish I could read it again for the first time! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Grief, Death, Abandonment, Bullying, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

averyprettyboy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Infidelity

Minor: Grief, Cancer, and Death

lizziaha's review against another edition

4.0

I love the way that Malinda Lo writes queer women, especially butches. And the way Lo integrates queer community into this work is wonderful, especially the messy queer rep. That being said, personally I didn’t vibe with the infidelity plot line. But Lo’s attention to detail in describing food and art seems unique and beautiful in its own right. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Death

Minor: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

I thought I knew what kind of book this was. Then the last few chapters punched me in the feels. A much less predictable book than I expected, which I love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol and Infidelity

Moderate: Racism, Classism, Body shaming, Sexual content, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Homophobia, and Death

emfass's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, and Bullying

Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, Medical content, Dementia, Death of parent, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Before the beginning of the book (thought she recounts it in detail), main character has topless photos taken of her without her consent, and the boy who took them puts them online and everyone she knows sees them. Her mother also shames her for this.

_addiii03's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Toxic relationship