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skudiklier'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
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content and Transphobia
andromeda_1998'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? Yes
5.0
Characters
The list of characters is really diverse and I loved it. I cannot speak for the Asian rep but I loved the sapphic love. I could really find myself in the panic that surrounds a baby gay and I wish with whole my heart that Lily’s story would have been easier. I felt a lot for her and she deserved better.
Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding is done in a very fun way. The story is played oud in the real world and it shows. If you google the locations you are able to find them and I love this!
Story
This is one of those books that is very important but before you read this please check the triggerwarnings!
Writing
The writing was beautifully done and gripped me. I had to finish this book!
Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Outing, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Adult/minor relationship, and Forced institutionalization
dmbooks'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
Moderate: Police brutality, Homophobia, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and War
quinn24'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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Xenophobia, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Biphobia
Minor: Alcohol and Transphobia
kylajaynebooks'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
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Outing, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Homophobia
hannahmayhere'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Biphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, and Forced institutionalization
questingnotcoasting'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: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Police brutality, and Racial slurs
Minor: Transphobia
lilifane'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
4.0
It's a queer coming of age story from the perspective of Lily Hu, a Chinese American girl in 1950s San Francisco. The books not only shows the life of Chinese people in the US at that time but also what it meant to be queer, and in Lily's case what it meant to be both. Lily has been a good Chinese daughter all her life until she discovers her fascination for the male impersonator Tommy Andrews and the queer night club, the "Telegraph Club". Through her classmate Kath she gets the chance to explore this new fascination but she has to keep it a secret from everyone else in her life.
I absolutely loved Lily's and Kath's story, it developed so slowly and delicately and shyly and was just so nice to follow. A warning though, you spend so much time in Lily's head with her thoughts and feelings, that the last quarter of the book or so is just painfully emotional. I cried non stop while reading because of the all the things that were happening.
What I didn't enjoy much was Lily's Chinese friends group, they were the worst. And although I like the idea of inserting a few chapters from different points of view to show more of Lily's family, these chapters were kind of boring and weren't relevant to the main story at all. I wish they had helped me to understand the family members and their relationship with Lily a bit more. (Aunt Judy's chapters were going in that direction but I wish there was still more.)
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
snowhitereads'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
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, and Xenophobia