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betweentheshelves'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
It's the summer after high school graduation, and Aria is sent to her grandmother's house for the summer after a boy publishes photos of her with her shirt off. It's there Aria meets Steph, her grandmother's gardener. Steph, who introduces Aria to the queer world of art and music. Who might make Aria realize she's not straight.
This book is set in 2013, after the legalization of gay marriage in the United States. Lo brilliantly adds little details about this throughout the book, showing the reader how the news affected the LGBTQ+ community in different ways.
Aria's journey in this book is messy. It's emotional. It's relatable. However, while this book is billed as YA, I think it might have a slightly older target audience. Twenty-somethings might see themselves more in this book, because of the time period its set in.
Like all of Malinda Lo's book, there's an emotional tenderness in this book as Aria is trying to discover herself. It's not a fast moving book, but a book focused on the ways that she is changing, the ways that she is coming into herself. It is honestly so beautifully written.
My only complaint, really, is that this is being promoted as a companion to [book:Last Night at the Telegraph Club|35224992], and while there is a connection, it's very small. I almost wished that aspect could have been explored a little more, because I think it would have just pushed this book over the edge, up to five stars for me.
Nevertheless, this is still an emotional, coming into your identity story and I'd highly recommend it!
This book is set in 2013, after the legalization of gay marriage in the United States. Lo brilliantly adds little details about this throughout the book, showing the reader how the news affected the LGBTQ+ community in different ways.
Aria's journey in this book is messy. It's emotional. It's relatable. However, while this book is billed as YA, I think it might have a slightly older target audience. Twenty-somethings might see themselves more in this book, because of the time period its set in.
Like all of Malinda Lo's book, there's an emotional tenderness in this book as Aria is trying to discover herself. It's not a fast moving book, but a book focused on the ways that she is changing, the ways that she is coming into herself. It is honestly so beautifully written.
My only complaint, really, is that this is being promoted as a companion to [book:Last Night at the Telegraph Club|35224992], and while there is a connection, it's very small. I almost wished that aspect could have been explored a little more, because I think it would have just pushed this book over the edge, up to five stars for me.
Nevertheless, this is still an emotional, coming into your identity story and I'd highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
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
onebook_more'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? It's complicated
4.0
“I felt a thrill as if a mask I’d put on had suddenly become my own face”
[This review is based on an ARC I received from work].
A Scatter of Light is advertised as a companion to one of my favourite novels I’ve read this year, Last Night at the Telegraph Club. The story centres around 18-year-old Aria, who is sent to spend the summer with her Grandmother after a troubling incident at the end of her senior year. Aria develops a friendship with her Grandmother’s gardener, Steph, and finds herself immersed in a new community of queer artists. As the two grow closer, lines blur, leaving Aria with complex questions about her identity. This novel weaves together coming-of-age romance, queerness and complex family dynamics to make a narrative that is often relatable and satisfying.
I had huge expectations for A Scatter of Light because of my love for LNatTC and in many ways, it did hold up. This story was a little less engaging but this is largely based on the fact that the more modern timeline was unlikely to be able to compete with the charm and novelty of a queer love story set in 1960s San Francisco. The writing is frequently poetic and expressive and often comforting, I am a huge fan of Malinda Lo’s prose. The cast of characters is interesting, likeable and diverse but towards the end, Aria becomes a somewhat irritating protagonist as she is quite one-track-minded (though this felt completely accurate for the mind of an 18-year-old with her first real crush). Romance becomes an intense focus in the latter part of the book and will likely be a hit for people who are a fan of slow-burn romances with a hint of *spice*. At times the story was a little slow but as soon as I began to feel like it was plodding along, it would pick up with an unexpected turn. I found myself wishing for more connections to LNatTC but when they did arise they were extremely satisfying. Overall I feel as if my expectations with a little too high but this book has many redeeming qualities and is sweet and charming in its own right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment and Homophobia
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