A review by displacedcactus
A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo

emotional 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
A Scatter of Light is a coming of age story which feels simultaneously like a historical and contemporary story. Aside from bookending chapters in 2008 and 2023, the book is set in 2013 in the Bay Area. While this is within the lifetime of pretty much anyone who is going to read the book today, thus feeling contemporary, the story takes place during a historically important period when California's Prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional, allowing gay Californians to finally wed.

Against this backdrop, main character Aria is coming to terms with her own sexuality, crushing hard on her grandmother's gardener, navigating a falling out between her two best friends, and trying not to think too much about the nude photos that a boy posted of her before high school graduation.

When reading this book, it will be important to keep in mind that while a summer crush is at the heart of the story, it is not a Romance Novel, and thus may not necessarily follow the conventions of the romance genre. Set your expectations accordingly.

Readers of Last Night at the Telegraph Club will be happy to know that while this is not a direct sequel, you will eventually get an update on Lily and Kathy.
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