I think I often take for granted how accepting most people are today, and how relatively easy (at least where I am) it is to find a support network. This book made me more grateful and aware of these things that I had perhaps noticed before but not really payed attention to. I understood theoretically what it was like to be a gay woman in the 1950s, but this book gave me the emotional side of it and what it was really like compared to now. One side effect is that it made me more sensitive to those offhanded homophobic comments and jokes a lot of people still make, I was just like “seriously? After everything? Cmon people, it’s the 21st century!” 

Also, I liked how the author also gave us the perspective of Lily’s parents and aunt (which isn’t advertised on the back of the book or in the synopsis), who were first generation immigrants. The trauma they experienced from war, immigration and discrimination is very clearly depicted. It also gives some insight into those side characters’ behavior later on, and helps the reader empathize. 

Malinda Lo does contrast so well, comparing the “two sides” of Lily’s life with vivid descriptions. She also really makes your heart ache for Lily. Some scenes made me want to just give her a big hug and tell her that it would be alright. This book also made me want to visit San Francisco again and see some of the places mentioned. Overall, a beautifully written historical fiction with a glowing setting. I adored it. 

Side note: for anyone curious to learn more about books like Strange Season, I recommend Jessica Kellgren-Fozard’s video (https://youtu.be/pTkLvTdR2ek ) on lesbian pulp fiction that I coincidentally watched a few weeks ago and gave me some interesting context for this book. She also has a series of videos and shorts titled Queer History 101 that talk about things like legislation against cross dressing, which is also mentioned in the author’s note of this book.