Scan barcode
dusktreader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This captures the feeling of longing and coming out and first queer love so perfectly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Medical content, and Abandonment
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
calicat42's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book reminds me so much of “Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.” As a young girl, I could relate to Margaret, and I grew up with her. Now, as a young woman who can relate in an unbelievable number of ways to Aria, I’ve grown (and healed) a bit more with her.
It’s a beautiful companion novel to “Last Night at the Telegraph Club”, with another incredible narrator who allows you to experience the journey of finding oneself through complicated family dynamics, high school, and relationships. I wish I could read it again for the first time!
It’s a beautiful companion novel to “Last Night at the Telegraph Club”, with another incredible narrator who allows you to experience the journey of finding oneself through complicated family dynamics, high school, and relationships. I wish I could read it again for the first time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
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
esh_maki'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? It's complicated
4.75
A beautiful coming of age story about a half Chinese, bisexual girl figuring out who she is and dealing with all of the problems life throws at you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Abandonment
verysillygoose'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
jupitermond's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Grief
Moderate: Death and Abandonment
lowkeymarie'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
I was expecting this to be a YA romance after reading the previous book by this author (loosely connected to this book), Last Night at the Telegraph Club, but this is more of a queer coming-of-age story. That was fine by me, but just know that going in.
Malinda Lo's writing is a bit sparse and plain in a way that doesn't totally appeal to me, and I think that was more obvious in the contemporary(ish) setting of this book. But where I think this book really shines is the characters and relationships. The familial relationships are complicated and tense, with a real sense of history behind them. And the romance has that kind of painful intensity that hurts so good, ugh.
I was worried about how this one would wrap up, but I think it ends on a perfectly bittersweet note.
CW: death, grief, infidelity, slut shaming, abandonment
Malinda Lo's writing is a bit sparse and plain in a way that doesn't totally appeal to me, and I think that was more obvious in the contemporary(ish) setting of this book. But where I think this book really shines is the characters and relationships. The familial relationships are complicated and tense, with a real sense of history behind them. And the romance has that kind of painful intensity that hurts so good, ugh.
I was worried about how this one would wrap up, but I think it ends on a perfectly bittersweet note.
CW: death, grief, infidelity, slut shaming, abandonment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
kessy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
melaniereadsbooks's review
reflective
- 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
Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an arc of this book!
A Scatter of Light follows Aria as she unwillingly spends the summer near San Francisco with her grandmother after an ex-hookup leaked nonconsensual pictures of her to her graduating class. Aria meets her grandmother's gardener, Steph, and becomes curious about the queer culture and friends Steph is a part of. Aria discovers herself through her art and her past-grandfather's astronomy notes throughout the summer.
I loved every inch of this book. It is such a raw story and I felt like I got to know Aria so well throughout it. It is so odd to me to classify this as historical fiction when it was set in 2008! That does not feel like that long ago. And yet...I was in 8th grade then! Wow.
I loved learning about some queer artists and the lesbian scene in San Francisco at the time, as well as all the beautiful character development throughout. I don't love infidelity as a plot point in books but the way this was written was really great and didn't bother me the way that trope usually does.
This book is beautifully written and the cover is gorgeous!
A Scatter of Light follows Aria as she unwillingly spends the summer near San Francisco with her grandmother after an ex-hookup leaked nonconsensual pictures of her to her graduating class. Aria meets her grandmother's gardener, Steph, and becomes curious about the queer culture and friends Steph is a part of. Aria discovers herself through her art and her past-grandfather's astronomy notes throughout the summer.
I loved every inch of this book. It is such a raw story and I felt like I got to know Aria so well throughout it. It is so odd to me to classify this as historical fiction when it was set in 2008! That does not feel like that long ago. And yet...I was in 8th grade then! Wow.
I loved learning about some queer artists and the lesbian scene in San Francisco at the time, as well as all the beautiful character development throughout. I don't love infidelity as a plot point in books but the way this was written was really great and didn't bother me the way that trope usually does.
This book is beautifully written and the cover is gorgeous!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Abandonment