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maess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol
the_true_monroe's review against another edition
- 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
Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a coming of age novel surrounding a Chinese American child of an immigrant, living in 1950s San Francisco, who realizes she is attracted to women and that there are many others like her. With McCarthyism brings both The Red Scare and the Lavender Scare to a time where racist and homophobic sentiments were already through the roof. Lily and her family and friend’s experiences portray very multifaceted and underrepresented stories in a way that readers can easily follow and become connected to the characters.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Medical content, Sexual harassment, War, and Deportation
gilnean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, War, and Classism
charlx_otte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Physical abuse and Toxic friendship
The homophobia/lesbophobia is very period-typical and the physical abuse is the mother slapping the child, so do tread lightly with this book, stay safe out there <3nightworldlove's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Outing
admunro20's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse and Deportation
smithreads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Hate crime, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and War
swaggyfrog's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Alcohol, War, and Deportation
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Outing, and Classism
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol and Deportation
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Sexual harassment
emfass's review against another edition
- 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
I also ended up loving the interludes where Lo added chapters from the point of view of Lily's parents and aunt, to give voice to the many ways immigration, racism, and living a life spanning multiple cultures affects people.
I deeply appreciate the way Malinda Lo incorporated so much research as well as inspiration from her own family to create such a realistic, respectful view into San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950s. I also loved reading her Author's Note at the end, which gave historical context to so much of the story.
I listened to this on audio and narrator Emily Woo Zeller was wonderful.
This is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2023.
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Police brutality, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Deportation
Minor: Body horror, Miscarriage, and Forced institutionalization