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uss_mary_shelley's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, and Grief
haileyhardcover's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Aria spends the summer before starting college discovering who she really is and who she wants to be.
I was so excited for this book. I read Last Night at the Telegraph Club earlier this year and was absolutely blown away by Lo’s writing, the history, and the characters she created. As a companion novel to Telegraph, I expected the same magical experience with A Scatter of Light. Sadly, I didn’t feel it.
The two main characters, Aria & Steph, felt so overly dramatic - especially considering they are older than the characters in Telegraph. I physically cringed multiple times at some of the things they said/ did. I didn’t find either of them very likable, and I couldn’t root for them.
Part of what made Telegraph so magical was the history. A Scatter of Light is also set in the past, but a much more recent past - 2013, right when Prop 8 was overturned, making gay marriage legal in California. This is mentioned a few times in the book, but I wish more attention had been given to everything going on at the time, rather than focusing so heavily (almost entirely) on the “relationship” between Aria and Steph.
There is also one scene in which Steph implies that she is struggling with her gender, but it is completely brushed over and never explored. It felt like a last-minute throw in for some additional diversity as there was no other trans/non-binary/gender queer rep in the book.
The best part of the book was the (very brief) glimpse we get into the lives of Lily and Kath (the main characters from Telegraph) in 2013. No spoilers, but I was glad to see where they had ended up, nearly 60 years later.
Maybe my expectations were too high, but overall I was just really disappointed with this book. Telegraph has a permanent home on my shelves, but A Scatter of Light is probably going to be one of those getting unhauled at the end of the year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic
erin_362's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this for the most part except I’m not a fan of cheating storylines and since that’s basically the second half of this book it kind of knocked it down a few stars; I think the part that got me most excited was when we saw how Lily and Kath from Last Night at the Telegraph Club ended up (and they weren’t even the main focus of the book so 🤷♀️ ).
Otherwise I think this was a nice book and I liked the family discussions as well as the conversations Joan and Aria had about art
Otherwise I think this was a nice book and I liked the family discussions as well as the conversations Joan and Aria had about art
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
leweylibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely adored this book and may have even liked it more than I liked Last Night at the Telegraph Club which is saying something because I loved that book. I appreciate that this book wasn't a straight up sequel of that one but it still incorporates it and you get to see a glimpse of Lily and Kath's lives so many years later.
I feel like a lot about Aria's character resonated with me, not sure what that said about me exactly lol, but I do enjoyed reading her POV as she went through this tumultuous summer before college. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but that's part of growing up and starting to figure out who you really are. They're are quite a few possible triggers in this book, so be sure to check those. There's also one scene that's quite spicy for a YA book 🔥
I feel like a lot about Aria's character resonated with me, not sure what that said about me exactly lol, but I do enjoyed reading her POV as she went through this tumultuous summer before college. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but that's part of growing up and starting to figure out who you really are. They're are quite a few possible triggers in this book, so be sure to check those. There's also one scene that's quite spicy for a YA book 🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
deifoley's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, and Medical trauma
melliedm's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-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
5.0
It's settled: I absolutely adore Malinda Lo.
A Scatter of Light follows Aria, a young woman in her year between high school and college, spending it with her grandmother instead of her friends because lewd photos taken without her consent were leaked by a boy. Yeah. I know. But stick with me. At her grandmother's in California, Aria meets the gardener taking care of the old property, a butch named Steph, who not only gives Aria a support network in California, but who (along with her queer friend group) act as a gateway for Aria to discover herself outside of the definitions placed on her by the society she came from.
Scatter of Light is a beautiful, poignant coming of age and coming out more than a romance (though Aria does explore a romance). It's got mistakes, grief, confusion—hope. Aria's coming out experience resonated with me so clearly, making this a ride to the stratosphere and back. I cannot recommend it enough. I was a puddle of tears by the end (some sad, some happy) I cannot wait to see what Lo does next.
A Scatter of Light follows Aria, a young woman in her year between high school and college, spending it with her grandmother instead of her friends because lewd photos taken without her consent were leaked by a boy. Yeah. I know. But stick with me. At her grandmother's in California, Aria meets the gardener taking care of the old property, a butch named Steph, who not only gives Aria a support network in California, but who (along with her queer friend group) act as a gateway for Aria to discover herself outside of the definitions placed on her by the society she came from.
Scatter of Light is a beautiful, poignant coming of age and coming out more than a romance (though Aria does explore a romance). It's got mistakes, grief, confusion—hope. Aria's coming out experience resonated with me so clearly, making this a ride to the stratosphere and back. I cannot recommend it enough. I was a puddle of tears by the end (some sad, some happy) I cannot wait to see what Lo does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexism, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
lizziaha's review against another edition
4.0
I love the way that Malinda Lo writes queer women, especially butches. And the way Lo integrates queer community into this work is wonderful, especially the messy queer rep. That being said, personally I didn’t vibe with the infidelity plot line. But Lo’s attention to detail in describing food and art seems unique and beautiful in its own right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
tangleroot_eli's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
I thought I knew what kind of book this was. Then the last few chapters punched me in the feels. A much less predictable book than I expected, which I love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, and Classism
mpbookreviews's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Medical content
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
sarahsbookstacks's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
I am weeping wtf
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Abandonment