Reviews with content warning for Medical content - A Scatter of Light

This is the fourth book by Lo I’ve read. I’m not sure what it is exactly about her writing that keeps me coming back - perhaps I know she can deliver a story and characters that feel real. At any rate, I enjoyed Last Night… and was curious about what a follow up could be like. For awhile I was reading to find the connection, but I quickly became invested in the story. Aria’s snafu felt relatable, in that 18-year-old way. Who wouldn’t want an artsy grandma with a little house on the California coast to spend the summer at? How the hell would you make friends in that situation? Oh. I see. How will this play out? How is this related to Lily? And then I couldn’t turn away. I definitely have a lot of questions but I respect leaving some stuff out. A sweet coming out story with bits of family issues mixed in.

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pipsqueaky's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense slow-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

I didn’t like this book as much as its predecessor, Last Night at the Telegraph Club - mainly because I couldn’t sympathize with or relate as much to the protagonist. She’s quite immature and selfish, and I don’t think she grows & changes very much by the end of the book.

She claims to be in love with Steph, but she doesn’t actually care about what Steph is going through in her current relationship, or have any respect for Steph’s actual feelings? She just wants Steph to drop everything else in her life and make out with her all the time. That’s not love, that’s an uninformed crush, and it was annoying to read.

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dusktreader's review against another edition

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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.

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mangofraiche's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious sad slow-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

4.25

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paperquilt's review against another edition

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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

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psitstorrie's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

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nrchambers's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a rollercoaster. I started liking Steph (or Stef? I listened to the audiobook so not sure how it's spelled) and finding the MC, Ari, annoying. By the end, Ari was the most compelling, relatable character and Steph just made me mad.

The relationship between Joan and Ari was wonderous, and I wish the book had looked more at the complex generational interplay between Ari, her mom, and her paternal grandmother. There was such depth hinted at not only in their personal relationships but their lives as artists.

And more science. We got hints of Ari's brilliant mind but the way the epilogue played out, it felt very rushed.

Might add more once I've sat and reflected a bit.

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novella42's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.75

I know part of my frustration with this book is that I didn't notice it's not a romance novel, like Last Night at the Telegraph Club. I went into it expecting something else, and so I spent a lot of time angry and confused, and didn't see what it was trying to do until the very end.

There were some beautiful lines. I think I most appreciated her relationship with her grandmother, a wonderful character who definitely stole the show for me.

I may try to revise this review after I get some distance from it.

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