I think I might be genuinely too old for this type of YA. You know, the kind where it’s all about feeling not quite right in your skin, and then figuring out why, and then trying to decide what to do about it, and where you hope your life to lead you, and how to go about the obstacles that stand in your way (which often involve your parents). I love that these books exist, especially the diverse, queer ones. I wish they existed within my reach when I was the protagonists’ age. Looking back at those times, and then at these books, I can definitely relate in that “yeah, been there” way. But at this point, to remain truly invested, I really need something else to be happening around all the coming of age to stay focused and invested. 

In this book, there wasn’t much in the way of something else. I definitely enjoyed learning more about queer history and Chinese American culture and the surrounding politics. The parts based around the titular club were fun and immersive, although the girls’ first trip to the club took place way later in the book than I expected and it generally played a smaller part than the cover, title, and blurb all led me to believe. The writing flowed really well. Lily is a compelling, fully realized protagonist, Kath is a less richly written but nonetheless lovable love interest, and there are a lot of poignant moments that really touched me. And all of that was just really, really steeped in that specific coming of age arc, which is absolutely not a bad thing! Focused stories like this are great objectively, for the right audience. It’s just that I’m not really it.

In terms of weaknesses, it might be strange to say so of a 400+ pages book, but I wish it was longer. Over the first 75% or so I got used to the slow, stead, thorough storytelling, and when the pacing suddenly sped up in the last section, it took me aback a bit. I feel like the end of the last chapter and the epilogue could easily be expanded in a separate multi-chapter part. It was strange to see those final crucial steps of Lily’s arc so condensed, and it contrasted with the flow of the rest of the book a lot. Despite that, the very ending brought a smile to my face, and I generally liked how the story wrapped up. I would just prefer it if it was less rushed.