A review by bethsreading
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

Following Lily’s realisation of her own queerness was both a hopeful yet heartbreaking journey. As a Chinese American in the 1950s, we see how intensely Lily’s queerness shifts her world from everything she is expected to be, to everything she is told not to be. Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a story of self discovery, queer love, and the complexity of family bonds. 

Malindo Lo does such a fantastic job of depicting how liberating accepting one’s queerness can be, but also being realistic about what is at stake for Lily. It was heartbreaking to read Lily’s love for her family and culture, while also knowing that if she wants to live as herself, she will most likely be cut off from everything she knows and cares for. 

The romance was beautiful and well developed. I also loved how both girls had big dreams that they were willing to fight for. 

The one thing that I think wasn’t perfect was the flashbacks to her parent’s/Aunt’s pasts. I liked the extra layer of understanding they they offered but I felt them to be a little underdeveloped overall. 

This is a fantastic and beautiful story of queer love and self acceptance that I wholeheartedly recommend.
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