A Scatter of Light

By: Malinda Lo

Narrated by: Annie Q

“Full of yearning, ponderances about art and what it means to be an artist, and self-revelation, A Scatter of Light has a simmering intensity that makes it hard to put down."—NPR

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

Last Night at the Telegraph Club author Malinda Lo returns to the Bay Area with another masterful queer coming-of-age story, this time set against the backdrop of the first major Supreme Court decisions legalizing gay marriage.

Aria Tang West was looking forward to a summer on Martha’s Vineyard with her best friends—one last round of sand and sun before college. But after a graduation party goes wrong, Aria’s parents exile her to California to stay with her grandmother, artist Joan West. Aria expects boredom, but what she finds is Steph Nichols, her grandmother’s gardener. Soon, Aria is second-guessing who she is and what she wants to be, and a summer that once seemed lost becomes unforgettable—for Aria, her family, and the working-class queer community Steph introduces her to. It’s the kind of summer that changes a life forever.

And almost sixty years after the end of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, A Scatter of Light also offers a glimpse into Lily and Kath’s lives since 1955.

Great book

Loved it! Wish this was a series. Definitely love the author on to the next

I LOVED this book!

This book was wonderful! Getting an update from Lily and Kath made my heart so full. I especially loved how it explored what modern queer life can look like. As a 21-year-old, I really connected with the way characters like Mel, Roxy, Steph, and Lisa moved through the world, their choices, friendships, and flaws felt relatable and real.

Spoilers Ahead!
What struck me most was Aria and Steph’s relationship, viewed from a more mature, outside perspective. From the start, it felt off, imbalanced, even wrong, but the writing makes you understand why it meant so much to Aria in the moment. By the end, Steph’s honesty hits hard: she did use Aria, and she thought she could get away without consequences. It’s messy, but it’s also deeply human.

I loved that the story didn’t settle for the easy “happily-ever-after” ending. With Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Malinda Lo gave us that kind of romantic payoff, so I was expecting something similar here. Instead, this book offered something I found even more satisfying: closure. Aria grows into herself, recognizes the people who shaped her journey. Her grandmother, Joan, and yes, even Steph, and ultimately comes full circle. It’s not about romance lasting forever; it’s about identity, self-discovery, and gratitude for the connections that guided her along the way.

Love Letter to SF

I was born, raised and came of age/came out in SF and this novel felt like home to me.

A journey to find oneself

The story foucs on a young teen navigating lasts days of high school and preparing for college. It's touches on choice and consequences for those action, family, friends and the differences between love and just. Most importantly we got to see want happened to Lilly and Kat from The night at the Telegraph club. we'll worth reading

A Great Sequel to my favorite Sapphic Novel

I love that we go to hear about Lily and Kath. I love that this story was very relatable especially for me because a few years ago my Great Grandmother Joan had a stroke and died soon after. I do also understand why they did the ending the way they did, this isn’t the story of someone’s long time relationship, it’s the story of their first relationship that might lead to something else later on. Unlike Lily and Kath, our main character is still trying to find herself even if it means she has to face both a death in the family and her first break up. This story shows how much the writer has improved,