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eve_reads 's review for:

4.75
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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: Complicated

⁕ This book is written from the perspective of the female gaze and it shows! It is so soft and lovely, even in hand with the darker portions of the novel. 

⁕ Lo's work has layers upon layers. I do not hold all the same identities as her main characters (so I cannot speak to accuracy or shared experiences), but she breathed such life into Lily and every portion of her existence as an young, gay, Asian American woman and science enthusiast during the red scare.

⁕ The pacing of this book was a little wonky at the back end. It dragged for a while and then suddenly dumped a HUGE plot twist in the last 50 pages or so.