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kari0208's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment
carlyoc's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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? Yes
4.0
Aria's plans to spend the summer after senior year in Martha's vineyard are ruined when nudes photos of her are leaked online by a boy she hooked up with at a party. Her parents decide to send her to spend the whole summer with her grandmother in California instead.
The situation isn't all bad. Aria loves her grandmother, who she addresses by her first name, Joan. Joan is an artist and Aria begins experimenting in painting while also assisting Joan with a project to turn her late grandfather's scientific notes into an art piece. Aria plans to become a planetary scientist like her grandfather.
There's also Joan's alluring gender queer gardener Steph, who sets off Aria's own queer awakening.
The novel explores coming to terms with your own sexuality as a young adult, grief, Aria's complicated relationship with her distant opera singer mother, the intersection of art and practical concerns, and the impact of the legalization of gay marriage in 2015 on the queer community.
The situation isn't all bad. Aria loves her grandmother, who she addresses by her first name, Joan. Joan is an artist and Aria begins experimenting in painting while also assisting Joan with a project to turn her late grandfather's scientific notes into an art piece. Aria plans to become a planetary scientist like her grandfather.
There's also Joan's alluring gender queer gardener Steph, who sets off Aria's own queer awakening.
The novel explores coming to terms with your own sexuality as a young adult, grief, Aria's complicated relationship with her distant opera singer mother, the intersection of art and practical concerns, and the impact of the legalization of gay marriage in 2015 on the queer community.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Grief
Infidelity is a major plot point. The protagonist is not cheated on but rather carries on a relationship with someone who has a committed monogamous.partner.maddiereadswords's review
4.5
So here's the thing: this book is really heavy and messy and there's very little about it that was actively pleasant to read, but it was so beautifully written and so palpably real that I kind of can't help but love it anyway. I think it also helps that most of this book is set in 2013 and while I'm a little younger than Aria, the descriptions of some of the outfits and the songs and the atmosphere of it really took me back to that era of finding myself as a teenager in the early 2010s. Maybe Aria's not really an aspirational protagonist, and maybe some of her choices (and those of the adults around her!!) aren't always the best, but it felt so raw and real that I fell like it's going to stick with me for a while. (Also there's really not much of Lily and Kath in here, but what is there is so sweet and it did have me a little emotional, I can't lie.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
saucy_bookdragon's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Sapphics who would adore Chappell Roan have life-altering problematic situationships. What else is there to say besides it slaps?
Also I have to disagree with everyone who rated this low because the relationship had cheating, this isn't a romance there's a reason it ends with them separated. This is about a situationship where Aria discovers her queerness through someone older (already questionable), but it ultimately fails and I for one find that a lot more raw and relatable (not all of us end up with our first queer crush/situationship nor should we) and applaud Malinda Lo for it. Also she was not a homewrecker because Steph lied to her about being poly.
Also I have to disagree with everyone who rated this low because the relationship had cheating, this isn't a romance there's a reason it ends with them separated. This is about a situationship where Aria discovers her queerness through someone older (already questionable), but it ultimately fails and I for one find that a lot more raw and relatable (not all of us end up with our first queer crush/situationship nor should we) and applaud Malinda Lo for it. Also she was not a homewrecker because Steph lied to her about being poly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia
camillagrace's review
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
paperquilt's review
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Lesbophobia
avisreadsandreads's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use and Dementia
nerdy_reader_9571's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is definitely a messy coming of age story. Like others, I didn’t love the cheating storyline, but it was an interesting story overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
redheadorganist's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
milenagallo's review
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
4.0
I really enjoyed most elements of this book but I hate that it included a cheating troupe! These always feel so unnecessary and really just makes me frustrated with the authors which is a bummer because I do love Malinda Lo! Overall this was a great depiction of someone coming to terms with their sexuality and I liked the found family troupes that were included, the connection that Aria formed with her grandmother, and the tie ins to art and astrology! I also loved that it included a tie in to Last Night at the Telegraph club!
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief