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esh_maki'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? It's complicated
4.75
A beautiful coming of age story about a half Chinese, bisexual girl figuring out who she is and dealing with all of the problems life throws at you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, and Death
Minor: Medical content, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Terminal illness
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.kappafrog's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Big disappointment after how much I liked Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Boring characters, pretty predictable plot, and the infidelity made the main character very unsympathetic. I only kept reading for the promised update on Lily and Kath but it was very anticlimactic and felt shoehorned in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Sexual content
Moderate: Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Medical content, Sexism, Death, Dementia, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Incest
alouette's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
for someone who adored Last Night at the Telegraph Club, i was surprised how much i did not like this book. in fact, between the unaddressed cheating and the blandness of the main character, i actively disliked it!
the story is very straightforward, and there is a distinct lack of memorable moments. the characters are set into stereotypes for most of the novel and there's really no exploration of them once they break out of that right at the end. aside from realizing she's queer, Aria didn't develop at all- she doesn't have to face any consequences from the dumb decisions she makes and she doesn't seem to have any interests.
about the cheating, because it was a big thing that completely threw me for a loop and tainted the book for me: i don't mind cheating as a plot point. but the fact that neither character acknowledges it or makes a move for it to become a normal relationship instead of cheating REALLY got on my nerves. lisa is made to be so obviously antagonistic that it feels like a parody instead of the emotional coming of age book it's advertised as being. never have i rolled my eyes at a relationship so hard! in the end it was kind of cute that Aria's first love was just the beginning of so much else in her life, but when it came at the cost of glossing over all her other relationships- especially to her grandmother, who got about 1 meainingful conversation with her- it doesn't really raise the rating.
also this did not have nearly enough of kath and lily for a book advertised as a companion to Last Night at the Telegraph Club! they get one newspaper snippet and one photograph and that's it!
the story is very straightforward, and there is a distinct lack of memorable moments. the characters are set into stereotypes for most of the novel and there's really no exploration of them once they break out of that right at the end. aside from realizing she's queer, Aria didn't develop at all- she doesn't have to face any consequences from the dumb decisions she makes and she doesn't seem to have any interests.
about the cheating, because it was a big thing that completely threw me for a loop and tainted the book for me: i don't mind cheating as a plot point. but the fact that neither character acknowledges it or makes a move for it to become a normal relationship instead of cheating REALLY got on my nerves. lisa is made to be so obviously antagonistic that it feels like a parody instead of the emotional coming of age book it's advertised as being. never have i rolled my eyes at a relationship so hard! in the end it was kind of cute that Aria's first love was just the beginning of so much else in her life, but when it came at the cost of glossing over all her other relationships- especially to her grandmother, who got about 1 meainingful conversation with her- it doesn't really raise the rating.
also this did not have nearly enough of kath and lily for a book advertised as a companion to Last Night at the Telegraph Club! they get one newspaper snippet and one photograph and that's it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Sexual content, Infidelity, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
ivana007's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
A personal and dare I say, perfect read. Perfect because this book is definitely a writer’s book. The pacing is not for everyone as it’s sometimes slowed by details that don’t further the plot BUT they add texture and vibrancy to Aria, Joan, and Steph’s worlds. A full circle moment for anyone who has read Last Night at the Telegraph and a real nostalgic time-capsule for sapphics who grew up (and came out) in the early-mid 2010s. Time itself is a character throughout the text which adds both grounding elements and surrealist layers to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Minor: Death
katebrownreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual content
racheloddment's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
delz'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
5.0
A very mature, beautifully written coming of age story. After a scandalous incident just before high school graduation, Aria is shunned by her “friends,” And instead of summer on Martha’s Vineyard she is shipped off to her grandmother in California. Aria is very angry at first, but her grandma, Joan is a very cool, artist, who believes Aria deserves her freedom. Aria meets Joan’s gardener, Steph and her summer takes a drastic detour.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Lesbophobia and Medical content
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Wow I cried so much at the end of this.
A Scatter of Light follows Aria Tang West as she is sent out to live with her grandmother for a summer. Aria expects to be bored the whole summer, but then she meets Steph, her grandmother’s gardener. Steph brings Aria into her friend circle (which happens to be a bunch of lesbians) and shows Aria the queer scenes in Cali. Aria then begins to question her sexuality, especially when she can’t get Steph off her mind.
This book is a journey of questioning. Coming into who you are. Figuring who you are after loss. Navigating toxic friendships and forging new stronger bonds. I loved everything about this book. It had it all for me. The last 20% or so had me sobbing the whole way through. This one has small cameos of characters from LNATTC, but it’s not a full on sequel. Aria’s story is her own and it’s one I’m so happy I’ve read.
Wow I cried so much at the end of this.
A Scatter of Light follows Aria Tang West as she is sent out to live with her grandmother for a summer. Aria expects to be bored the whole summer, but then she meets Steph, her grandmother’s gardener. Steph brings Aria into her friend circle (which happens to be a bunch of lesbians) and shows Aria the queer scenes in Cali. Aria then begins to question her sexuality, especially when she can’t get Steph off her mind.
This book is a journey of questioning. Coming into who you are. Figuring who you are after loss. Navigating toxic friendships and forging new stronger bonds. I loved everything about this book. It had it all for me. The last 20% or so had me sobbing the whole way through. This one has small cameos of characters from LNATTC, but it’s not a full on sequel. Aria’s story is her own and it’s one I’m so happy I’ve read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Infidelity, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Medical content
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Outing, Lesbophobia, Dysphoria, Bullying, and Toxic friendship
kayladaila's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Medical content, Abandonment, Dementia, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol