Scan barcode
A review by readbypiper
A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I really loved Last Night at the Telegraph Club, so I had high hopes for this. And while I did enjoy seeing an update on Kath and Lily, the rest of the book fell flat to me.
Aria, as a main character, was okay. She was sweet and had a unique enough personality. But she was also really nosy, which I didn’t like. She was always trying to butt in Steph and Lisa’s relationship. She also didn’t seem like a genuine friend beyond her romantic feelings for Steph. After her and Steph start “going out” she completely forgets that Mel and Lisa exist. The only time she even calls Mel is to try and get Steph back.
I really disliked Steph. She came off as really condescending at some points, and the way she talked about Lisa behind her back was so weird to me. She kept saying how much she loved Lisa, and how their history together was so important, but cheated on her the moment she got the chance. She should have just cut it off with Lisa as soon as she got feelings for Aria.
As for Lisa, I have mixed feelings. The jealousy at the very beginning of the book was strange, but it became justified as Aria and Steph got closer. I also think that the blow-up at the garden center was justified. I mean, how would you feel if your partner of almost four years was kissing some barely-adult girl who you’ve only know for a month?
I thought the side characters were so much more compelling. Mel seemed like a far better love interest, who Aria brushed off to be with Steph (who wasn’t single). But the heart wants what the heart wants blah blah…Tasha and Haley’s storyline was also way more interesting than anything happening in the actual plot. I even thought Roxy was so much more loveable than Aria.
One more nitpick, I found it weird that no one ever really questioned how old Aria was. Sure, she was 18 and could legally do whatever she wanted. But hanging out with a bunch twenty year olds after literally just graduating high school comes off a bit wrong. I found it strange that no one thought to consider if she might have been underage, especially because she didn’t drink and was immature most of the time. I’m not saying that the other girls were by any means predatory, but that they could have taken a little more responsibility.
Aria, as a main character, was okay. She was sweet and had a unique enough personality. But she was also really nosy, which I didn’t like. She was always trying to butt in Steph and Lisa’s relationship. She also didn’t seem like a genuine friend beyond her romantic feelings for Steph. After her and Steph start “going out” she completely forgets that Mel and Lisa exist. The only time she even calls Mel is to try and get Steph back.
I really disliked Steph. She came off as really condescending at some points, and the way she talked about Lisa behind her back was so weird to me. She kept saying how much she loved Lisa, and how their history together was so important, but cheated on her the moment she got the chance. She should have just cut it off with Lisa as soon as she got feelings for Aria.
As for Lisa, I have mixed feelings. The jealousy at the very beginning of the book was strange, but it became justified as Aria and Steph got closer. I also think that the blow-up at the garden center was justified. I mean, how would you feel if your partner of almost four years was kissing some barely-adult girl who you’ve only know for a month?
I thought the side characters were so much more compelling. Mel seemed like a far better love interest, who Aria brushed off to be with Steph (who wasn’t single). But the heart wants what the heart wants blah blah…Tasha and Haley’s storyline was also way more interesting than anything happening in the actual plot. I even thought Roxy was so much more loveable than Aria.
One more nitpick, I found it weird that no one ever really questioned how old Aria was. Sure, she was 18 and could legally do whatever she wanted. But hanging out with a bunch twenty year olds after literally just graduating high school comes off a bit wrong. I found it strange that no one thought to consider if she might have been underage, especially because she didn’t drink and was immature most of the time. I’m not saying that the other girls were by any means predatory, but that they could have taken a little more responsibility.