Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Last night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

71 reviews

bwoo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and Deportation

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and War

zeitfensterr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

I adore this book a lot. SO well researched!! I adore the characters alot, ironically especially Lily's family :) And it was so interesting to read about the historical setting and the life of Chinese Americans in that time period as well. It genuinely felt so real and honest. Very glad I was able to read this story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Deportation

Moderate: Addiction, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, and War

suzyvee's review against another edition

hopeful sad tense 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? No

4.25

I thought this started off a little slowly, but by about halfway through, the pace picked up. This story was important to tell, as it provides insight to a topic that isn’t widely known. 

The storytelling focus on the relationship dynamics between Lily and Kath, as well as Lily’s relationships with her family and Chinese friends, was very well done. It showed how conflicted and frustrated Lily was with her feelings toward Kath and how her parents’ and family’s opinion of her changed. 

This was obviously very well-researched and meaningful to the author. I appreciated this story being written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

mostlykenny's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

This book was amazing !! If you’re into historical fiction and into queer discovery then I’d recommend this !! Also I’d recommend to read the Authors Note because it gives out some inspiring and informative information and history about what is like to be queer, Asian America, and most especially lesbian in the 1950s plus nineteen century. Please read this book. It is outstanding and  beautiful. 5 stars.  ⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Moderate: Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Miscarriage

I was so happy that Kath and Lily found each other at the end in the Epilogue !! I’m so happy for them :)

ottercorg's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.5

It always feels strange for me to call a book that wrenches my heart "a delight" but that's what this was. From beginning to end, I delighted in getting to know Lily through the pages and see her grow into herself, no matter the cost. Young love, finding one's identity, taking risks, figuring out who your friends are - it's something we all have to go through, but the circumstances make it all the more difficult for our main character.

I truly love Lo's writing style, especially the callbacks to earlier moments via parentheses between text. It's a simple detail that I just ate up. I admire Lo for her commitment to research in writing this book, and then for sharing her findings after her story ended. I think I'll definitely find myself reading more of her books in the future.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Deportation

tey_lynn's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Miscarriage, and Deportation

charliebites's review against another edition

emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, War, and Deportation

Minor: Drug use, Sexism, Transphobia, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment

kajoreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Police brutality, Alcohol, War, and Deportation

Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

adalinemccormick's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative tense 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Deportation

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality

paula357's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

I enjoyed the second half of the book so much more than the first, when the story finally picked up its speed. personally, I would have liked the book to be a little bit more hopeful, which is a common experience with queer books for me. still, I grew to love the characters throughout the book and would have loved to read more about their happiness (even though the tragedy is a central part of the story)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol