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A review by loveforwords
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
Being a mood reader, I usually prefer standalones because they don't require a long commitment. Now I'm actually disappointed I won't get to read more about Lily and Kath and the girls at the Telegraph Club.
I loved the whole book so much, and the author's note at the end (a summary of her research in writing the book) made the whole story more complete and interesting (note that I very usually loathe anything non-fiction).
(I've never liked a YA historical fiction; if not at all, at least not that much.)
Characters
ASJKFHSDLLKSAJD
Plot, Pacing, and Mood
Is there a plot? I don't know, and I don't care to determine it. The characters did most of it for me, the main love relationship was just so purE and real, and I never lost interest in the events, so we're good to endorse.
The pacing was good, the story got shaken when I didn't really expect it to, and we did get to suffer a little (I was an AO3 angst reader in my time, so this is always a plus).
If there's one grudge I hold to this book is not tying up some (minimal) subplots.
Setting and Writing
I've read some reviews that say Malinda Lo's writing is not enjoyable, but I have an entirely different opinion. I felt like I was touring San Francisco in the 1950s. The author did a lot of research (which she explains about it in her final note) but there wasn't any info dump and everything felt natural.
Also, trust me, you want to read this book just for the food mentions and descriptions.
If You Liked It, You Might Like
- The Girls at the Kingfisher Club
Why? It also revolves around secret/illegal nightlife. (Disclaimer: The plot and cultures aren't the same, and it's not an f/f book.)
I loved the whole book so much, and the author's note at the end (a summary of her research in writing the book) made the whole story more complete and interesting (note that I very usually loathe anything non-fiction).
(I've never liked a YA historical fiction; if not at all, at least not that much.)
Characters
ASJKFHSDLLKSAJD
Plot, Pacing, and Mood
Is there a plot? I don't know, and I don't care to determine it. The characters did most of it for me, the main love relationship was just so purE and real, and I never lost interest in the events, so we're good to endorse.
The pacing was good, the story got shaken when I didn't really expect it to, and we did get to suffer a little (I was an AO3 angst reader in my time, so this is always a plus).
If there's one grudge I hold to this book is not tying up some (minimal) subplots.
Setting and Writing
I've read some reviews that say Malinda Lo's writing is not enjoyable, but I have an entirely different opinion. I felt like I was touring San Francisco in the 1950s. The author did a lot of research (which she explains about it in her final note) but there wasn't any info dump and everything felt natural.
Also, trust me, you want to read this book just for the food mentions and descriptions.
If You Liked It, You Might Like
- The Girls at the Kingfisher Club
Why? It also revolves around secret/illegal nightlife. (Disclaimer: The plot and cultures aren't the same, and it's not an f/f book.)