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A review by thedearest
Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler
4.0
Originally posted on GalacticTidesx: http://galactictidesx.blogspot.ca/2015/06/book-review-under-lights-daylight-falls.html
I read Young Adult literature when I was too young to do so, and I still read it now that I've slowly aged out of the target demographic. And much like for SFF, I read it because I think that is incredibly important and can tackle some of the more serious issues. My grade twelve writer's craft teacher once remarked that the things she began writing when she was a teenager were the same things she wrote about now.
I cannot state enough the grace with which Under the Lights tackles its story. Under the Lights at the end of the day about love. It's about unrequited love. It's about loving your parents when they are visibly very flawed human beings. It's about the love that fuels relationships--filial, romantic and friendships--that grow and change with you as you're becoming an adult. Under the Lights is about the first love you'll ever have and the moment you've realized you've never quite loved anyone for real.
While I wasn't always a fan of Josh's part of the narrative because he's purposefully dickish in an irritatingly familiar way, I loved Vanessa's a lot. And at the end of the day even Josh grew on me with a little bit of perspective and some growing up on his part. I also loved the way the secondary characters, mostly returning cast from Behind the Scenes like Ally and Liam with some new faces, added some real depth to the story.
At the end of this, the fact that this is a love story for a queer woman of colour is so important. I read Vanessa Park as bisexual, though many may not agree because, well, subtext. But that itself is very clever in some ways but not confirming a label where none is really needed. I often say that I wish books had been around when I was younger, and Under the Lights is no different. The romance is right on the cover! There are no suggestive silhouettes or objects, just two young women kissing in a way I see in mainstream M/F romances in media and not enough for queer romances. Most especially during Pride and after a landmark SCOTUS ruling for marriage equality, my heart is so full.
Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler is out today. And I'm going to buy a copy because I need more of this.
Overall rating: 4/5
Full disclosure: I received this book as a review copy from Spencer Hill Contemporary through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read Young Adult literature when I was too young to do so, and I still read it now that I've slowly aged out of the target demographic. And much like for SFF, I read it because I think that is incredibly important and can tackle some of the more serious issues. My grade twelve writer's craft teacher once remarked that the things she began writing when she was a teenager were the same things she wrote about now.
I cannot state enough the grace with which Under the Lights tackles its story. Under the Lights at the end of the day about love. It's about unrequited love. It's about loving your parents when they are visibly very flawed human beings. It's about the love that fuels relationships--filial, romantic and friendships--that grow and change with you as you're becoming an adult. Under the Lights is about the first love you'll ever have and the moment you've realized you've never quite loved anyone for real.
While I wasn't always a fan of Josh's part of the narrative because he's purposefully dickish in an irritatingly familiar way, I loved Vanessa's a lot. And at the end of the day even Josh grew on me with a little bit of perspective and some growing up on his part. I also loved the way the secondary characters, mostly returning cast from Behind the Scenes like Ally and Liam with some new faces, added some real depth to the story.
At the end of this, the fact that this is a love story for a queer woman of colour is so important. I read Vanessa Park as bisexual, though many may not agree because, well, subtext. But that itself is very clever in some ways but not confirming a label where none is really needed. I often say that I wish books had been around when I was younger, and Under the Lights is no different. The romance is right on the cover! There are no suggestive silhouettes or objects, just two young women kissing in a way I see in mainstream M/F romances in media and not enough for queer romances. Most especially during Pride and after a landmark SCOTUS ruling for marriage equality, my heart is so full.
Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler is out today. And I'm going to buy a copy because I need more of this.
Overall rating: 4/5
Full disclosure: I received this book as a review copy from Spencer Hill Contemporary through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.