What do you think?
Rate this book
Picture Us In the Light
Danny Cheng has always known his parents have secrets. But when he discovers a taped-up box in his father's closet filled with old letters and a file on a powerful Silicon Valley family, he realizes there's much more to his family's past than he ever imagined.
Danny has been an artist for as long as he can remember and it seems his path is set, with a scholarship to RISD and his family's blessing to pursue the career he's always dreamed of. Still, contemplating a future without his best friend, Harry Wong, by his side makes Danny feel a panic he can barely put into words. Harry and Danny's lives are deeply intertwined and as they approach the one-year anniversary of a tragedy that shook their friend group to its core, Danny can't stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.
When Danny digs deeper into his parents' past, he uncovers a secret that disturbs the foundations of his family history and the carefully constructed façade his parents have maintained begins to crumble. With everything he loves in danger of being stripped away, Danny must face the ghosts of the past in order to build a future that belongs to him.
Danny has been an artist for as long as he can remember and it seems his path is set, with a scholarship to RISD and his family's blessing to pursue the career he's always dreamed of. Still, contemplating a future without his best friend, Harry Wong, by his side makes Danny feel a panic he can barely put into words. Harry and Danny's lives are deeply intertwined and as they approach the one-year anniversary of a tragedy that shook their friend group to its core, Danny can't stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.
When Danny digs deeper into his parents' past, he uncovers a secret that disturbs the foundations of his family history and the carefully constructed façade his parents have maintained begins to crumble. With everything he loves in danger of being stripped away, Danny must face the ghosts of the past in order to build a future that belongs to him.
353 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2018
207 people are currently reading
11791 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Loy Gilbert
5 books425 followersKelly Loy Gilbert is the author of CONVICTION and PICTURE US IN THE LIGHT (Disney-Hyperion, spring 2018). She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,230 reviews
November 25, 2018
This is the best young-adult book I have read since
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
, and I loved Picture Us in the Light even more than Ari and Dante. I cried for several minutes after reading the last page; I felt like my heart had been overrun by emotion in the best way. This is the book I wish I could give to my younger gay, Asian American self and the book I will promote with all of my heart until the day I die. Picture Us in the Light has everything I could ever want in a novel: queer representation, Asian American representation, complex characters full of love and suffering, nuanced portrayals of friendship, family, mental health, and so much more.
The story follows Danny Cheng, a high school senior who just got accepted with a full scholarship to RISD, the art college of his dreams. Life looks good for Danny after his acceptance, yet he finds it hard to impossible to imagine a life without his best friend Harry Wong by his side. Harry and Danny are closer than close, and their lives are brought even closer by a tragedy that rocked their high school a year ago. Now, Danny can't help but wonder if Harry really loves his girlfriend, Regina Chan. On top of all of this, Danny begins to learn the truth behind his parents' past. He experiences a series of realizations that will make him question everything he has ever known about his parents, his family's safety, and his own sense of belonging - to anyone, to himself.
Reading Picture Us in the Light felt like having my dream book delivered straight into my hands, followed by its characters taking residence in my heart and never leaving. The novel has an almost entirely Asian American cast, with three-dimensional portrayals that avoid stereotypes and felt painfully accurate to myself, my family, and my friends. The book has extremely nuanced representations of issues related to race and to mental health, such that it felt like Kelly Loy Gilbert always prioritized her characters' hearts and emotions over any type of plot twist just for the shock factor. Picture Us in the Light has a sensitive male protagonist who makes mistakes and yet is so lovable and human and uses art to understand the world and his trauma. If you want a simple gay love story, like a "do Danny and Harry get together in the end" kinda deal, you are not going to get that with Picture Us in the Light, because the novel is so much more than that. This passage in which Danny reflects on his parents serves as one of the many I took note of, due to its emotional honesty:
"My worst fear about my family was that maybe I would never be enough to make up for what they'd lost, that I wasn't supposed to be the one who'd lived, and that they'd wind up broken in a way I couldn't put back together. Maybe they'd break apart from each other entirely. I felt that possibility heavy on my chest every morning when I woke up. By then I could see a future where my family never stopped being a grayer, paler, more trembling version of ourselves, and by then I couldn't shake the possibility that maybe my fate, all our fates, had been sealed before I was even born when my sister died. It wasn't hard to see how our future could get swallowed by the past."
About 100 pages into the book, I already felt like it read like a combination of the poetic prose in Aristotle and Dante intertwined with the breathtaking characterization in Celeste Ng's novels Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere . Danny, Harry, Regina, Sandra, Danny's parents, etc. all felt so three-dimensional and vivid and real. Gilbert has an astonishing gift for using specific scenes and even the smallest phrases to complicate her characters and add detail to their lived experiences, such as how she wrote about Harry's privilege within the Asian community or the abuse and lostness Sandra felt underneath her anger and lashing out. Gilbert fully appreciates the sophistication of her audience; instead of giving us a simple gay love story, she gifts us with a novel about how we hurt and heal one another, the guilt that comes from unvoiced yet implicit expectations, the search for belonging and the fulfillment of longing, and much more. She packs so much emotional, heavy content into this story yet it never over-extends itself. Somehow, despite their suffering, these characters feel filled with lightness, as if Gilbert's deep care for them just shines through into the novel's pages. A passage toward the end of the book that I loved:
"The people who matter to you the most - you aren't always going to occupy the same space in their lives, I guess. Maybe that's what I always loved most about art, that it was a way of multiplying myself so I could feel like I was always a part of more than I really was... Maybe that still means something, however small. And maybe life is when you gather all the things you can hold on to and carry with you, and cross your fingers it'll be enough."
I started this review thinking to myself, "ok, how the f*ck can I convince as many of my wonderful Goodreads friends and followers to read this book as possible?" I wish I could concisely include everything Gilbert does right in Picture Us in the Light, because again, she just does so much right, especially with Asian American generational, community, and interpersonal dynamics. I hope she gives us a sequel from Regina's perspective, because there remains so much to unpack from this splendid side character. I will also admit my little gay heart did swoon a bit thanks to Danny and Harry's relationship. I'm not sure how to convince you all to read this book, so I'll just say thank you to Kelly Loy Gilbert, for creating a work of art that made me, as an Asian American man and a gay man, feel completely seen.
The story follows Danny Cheng, a high school senior who just got accepted with a full scholarship to RISD, the art college of his dreams. Life looks good for Danny after his acceptance, yet he finds it hard to impossible to imagine a life without his best friend Harry Wong by his side. Harry and Danny are closer than close, and their lives are brought even closer by a tragedy that rocked their high school a year ago. Now, Danny can't help but wonder if Harry really loves his girlfriend, Regina Chan. On top of all of this, Danny begins to learn the truth behind his parents' past. He experiences a series of realizations that will make him question everything he has ever known about his parents, his family's safety, and his own sense of belonging - to anyone, to himself.
Reading Picture Us in the Light felt like having my dream book delivered straight into my hands, followed by its characters taking residence in my heart and never leaving. The novel has an almost entirely Asian American cast, with three-dimensional portrayals that avoid stereotypes and felt painfully accurate to myself, my family, and my friends. The book has extremely nuanced representations of issues related to race and to mental health, such that it felt like Kelly Loy Gilbert always prioritized her characters' hearts and emotions over any type of plot twist just for the shock factor. Picture Us in the Light has a sensitive male protagonist who makes mistakes and yet is so lovable and human and uses art to understand the world and his trauma. If you want a simple gay love story, like a "do Danny and Harry get together in the end" kinda deal, you are not going to get that with Picture Us in the Light, because the novel is so much more than that. This passage in which Danny reflects on his parents serves as one of the many I took note of, due to its emotional honesty:
"My worst fear about my family was that maybe I would never be enough to make up for what they'd lost, that I wasn't supposed to be the one who'd lived, and that they'd wind up broken in a way I couldn't put back together. Maybe they'd break apart from each other entirely. I felt that possibility heavy on my chest every morning when I woke up. By then I could see a future where my family never stopped being a grayer, paler, more trembling version of ourselves, and by then I couldn't shake the possibility that maybe my fate, all our fates, had been sealed before I was even born when my sister died. It wasn't hard to see how our future could get swallowed by the past."
About 100 pages into the book, I already felt like it read like a combination of the poetic prose in Aristotle and Dante intertwined with the breathtaking characterization in Celeste Ng's novels Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere . Danny, Harry, Regina, Sandra, Danny's parents, etc. all felt so three-dimensional and vivid and real. Gilbert has an astonishing gift for using specific scenes and even the smallest phrases to complicate her characters and add detail to their lived experiences, such as how she wrote about Harry's privilege within the Asian community or the abuse and lostness Sandra felt underneath her anger and lashing out. Gilbert fully appreciates the sophistication of her audience; instead of giving us a simple gay love story, she gifts us with a novel about how we hurt and heal one another, the guilt that comes from unvoiced yet implicit expectations, the search for belonging and the fulfillment of longing, and much more. She packs so much emotional, heavy content into this story yet it never over-extends itself. Somehow, despite their suffering, these characters feel filled with lightness, as if Gilbert's deep care for them just shines through into the novel's pages. A passage toward the end of the book that I loved:
"The people who matter to you the most - you aren't always going to occupy the same space in their lives, I guess. Maybe that's what I always loved most about art, that it was a way of multiplying myself so I could feel like I was always a part of more than I really was... Maybe that still means something, however small. And maybe life is when you gather all the things you can hold on to and carry with you, and cross your fingers it'll be enough."
I started this review thinking to myself, "ok, how the f*ck can I convince as many of my wonderful Goodreads friends and followers to read this book as possible?" I wish I could concisely include everything Gilbert does right in Picture Us in the Light, because again, she just does so much right, especially with Asian American generational, community, and interpersonal dynamics. I hope she gives us a sequel from Regina's perspective, because there remains so much to unpack from this splendid side character. I will also admit my little gay heart did swoon a bit thanks to Danny and Harry's relationship. I'm not sure how to convince you all to read this book, so I'll just say thank you to Kelly Loy Gilbert, for creating a work of art that made me, as an Asian American man and a gay man, feel completely seen.
December 8, 2018
every once in a while, you come across a book where it feels as if your hands are simply not strong enough to hold the immense weight of it on their own. and so your heart steps in, saying, ‘dont worry. i will carry the heaviness of this story. i will take on that burden.’
and with every beat, every pulse, you begin to feel that pressure. because its the kind of weight that stays with you for a long time, a particular kind of density that makes a home inside your chest.
i can feel how my heart now carries the heaviness of this book. and oh, what a privilege that is.
because this story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best part of life is the people in it. its the relationship between a son and his parents that shows what it truly means to sacrifice for someone you love. its the mourning the loss of a dear friend that reminds us we cant take those close to us for granted. and its seeing a boys longing to become the best possible version of himself so that others can also see their true potential.
everyone has someone they care about - a friend, parent, co-worker, sibling, significant other, or child - so this is a story for every single person. a story that helps illuminate the importance of those in our lives, a story about how we can make those relationships more meaningful, and its a story that i will recommend until the end of my days.
with the hope that maybe, just maybe, others can carry this story in their hearts, as well.
↠ 5 stars
and with every beat, every pulse, you begin to feel that pressure. because its the kind of weight that stays with you for a long time, a particular kind of density that makes a home inside your chest.
i can feel how my heart now carries the heaviness of this book. and oh, what a privilege that is.
because this story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best part of life is the people in it. its the relationship between a son and his parents that shows what it truly means to sacrifice for someone you love. its the mourning the loss of a dear friend that reminds us we cant take those close to us for granted. and its seeing a boys longing to become the best possible version of himself so that others can also see their true potential.
"the people who matter to you the most - you arent always going to occupy the same space in their lives, i guess. maybe thats what i always loved most about art, that it was a way of multiplying myself so i could feel like i was always a part of more than i really was... maybe that still means something, however small. and maybe life is when you gather all the things you can hold on to and carry with you, and cross your fingers it will be enough."
everyone has someone they care about - a friend, parent, co-worker, sibling, significant other, or child - so this is a story for every single person. a story that helps illuminate the importance of those in our lives, a story about how we can make those relationships more meaningful, and its a story that i will recommend until the end of my days.
with the hope that maybe, just maybe, others can carry this story in their hearts, as well.
↠ 5 stars
August 5, 2018
I'm between 3.5 and 4 stars, rounded up because I'm a big softie.
Boy, there is a lot going on in this book! There was a period of time where I really wasn't sure what Kelly Loy Gilbert wanted the crux of the story to be, but in the end, this was a lovely, emotional book about the complexity of our relationships with family and friends, the destructive nature of secrets, and how self-acceptance can set your demons to rest.
Danny Cheng has dreamed of being an artist for as long as he can remember. For him, drawing is a way of expressing emotions, and conveying the way he feels about important people in his life. When he finds out that he's been accepted into the Rhode Island School of Design—his dream school—it's unclear who is more excited, him or his immigrant parents, who want Danny to achieve successes they never had the chance to.
"We all have those things, I think—those things we want too badly to speak about aloud for fear someone'll swoop in and tell us we're just dreaming, those things we hold close and fantasize about at night and swear to the world we don't care that much about."
As much as he's looking forward to RISD, he is equally anxious about life without his best friend, Harry. The two of them, along with Harry's girlfriend, Regina, are inextricably linked in so many ways, especially after Danny makes a crucial decisions with ramifications that ripple throughout the school. As the one-year anniversary of a school tragedy approaches, Danny is unsure of where he stands in his friendship with Regina and what the future of Regina and Harry's relationship will be, so he can understand what he means to Harry as well. All of it fills Danny with so much anxiety, he's incapable of expressing his feelings, and he's lost the ability to draw.
"The people who matter to you most—you aren't always going to occupy that same space in their lives, I guess. Maybe that's what I always loved most about art, that it was a way of multiplying myself so I could feel like I was always a part of more than I really was."
Meanwhile, Danny's parents seem to be coming apart at the seams. While they've always kept secrets from him, there is definitely something major they're hiding. First he finds a taped-up box of old letters and files about a powerful California family, and he doesn't understand how they could be connected to his parents. After his father loses his job for reasons Danny only suspects, his mother becomes utterly unhinged, and after taking dramatic steps, Danny learns that there is so much he doesn't know, or understand, about his parents.
What do we do when we aren't sure we can count on those we care about the most? Is it better to find out the truth and face disappointment, or bite the bullet and see what happens? How can we make people understand the decisions we make in a split second, even if some people might get hurt in the process? Picture Us in the Light strives to answer those questions, while taking us into the mind, heart, and psyche of a complex, flawed, but loving teenager.
Even though I didn't always understand their motivations, I loved the flaws and fragility of these characters. Gilbert did a great job at capturing the jumble of anxieties, moods, fears, and victories of the typical teenager, and then she adds another layer by incorporating the extra level of pressure that Asian parents often put on their children to succeed. Quite often you feel this book in your heart, and there is a lot of emotion to be felt here.
At times I wished that Gilbert could have focused the story on Danny and his friends without the added confusion of his parents' storyline. There was so much in this book that occurred because no one would tell anyone how they truly felt, express their fears or anxieties, or ask probing questions to understand what was going on. Imagine what it was like to constantly have the characters step back from divulging a secret, asking a question, or saying how they felt. While it made the conclusion perhaps a little sweeter, it took a while for things to move.
Despite my challenges, I still found this to be a beautiful, poignant story that I can't seem to get out of my head. I wouldn't mind a sequel, honestly, because I grew attached to Danny, his friends, and family, and would love to see where life takes them.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
Boy, there is a lot going on in this book! There was a period of time where I really wasn't sure what Kelly Loy Gilbert wanted the crux of the story to be, but in the end, this was a lovely, emotional book about the complexity of our relationships with family and friends, the destructive nature of secrets, and how self-acceptance can set your demons to rest.
Danny Cheng has dreamed of being an artist for as long as he can remember. For him, drawing is a way of expressing emotions, and conveying the way he feels about important people in his life. When he finds out that he's been accepted into the Rhode Island School of Design—his dream school—it's unclear who is more excited, him or his immigrant parents, who want Danny to achieve successes they never had the chance to.
"We all have those things, I think—those things we want too badly to speak about aloud for fear someone'll swoop in and tell us we're just dreaming, those things we hold close and fantasize about at night and swear to the world we don't care that much about."
As much as he's looking forward to RISD, he is equally anxious about life without his best friend, Harry. The two of them, along with Harry's girlfriend, Regina, are inextricably linked in so many ways, especially after Danny makes a crucial decisions with ramifications that ripple throughout the school. As the one-year anniversary of a school tragedy approaches, Danny is unsure of where he stands in his friendship with Regina and what the future of Regina and Harry's relationship will be, so he can understand what he means to Harry as well. All of it fills Danny with so much anxiety, he's incapable of expressing his feelings, and he's lost the ability to draw.
"The people who matter to you most—you aren't always going to occupy that same space in their lives, I guess. Maybe that's what I always loved most about art, that it was a way of multiplying myself so I could feel like I was always a part of more than I really was."
Meanwhile, Danny's parents seem to be coming apart at the seams. While they've always kept secrets from him, there is definitely something major they're hiding. First he finds a taped-up box of old letters and files about a powerful California family, and he doesn't understand how they could be connected to his parents. After his father loses his job for reasons Danny only suspects, his mother becomes utterly unhinged, and after taking dramatic steps, Danny learns that there is so much he doesn't know, or understand, about his parents.
What do we do when we aren't sure we can count on those we care about the most? Is it better to find out the truth and face disappointment, or bite the bullet and see what happens? How can we make people understand the decisions we make in a split second, even if some people might get hurt in the process? Picture Us in the Light strives to answer those questions, while taking us into the mind, heart, and psyche of a complex, flawed, but loving teenager.
Even though I didn't always understand their motivations, I loved the flaws and fragility of these characters. Gilbert did a great job at capturing the jumble of anxieties, moods, fears, and victories of the typical teenager, and then she adds another layer by incorporating the extra level of pressure that Asian parents often put on their children to succeed. Quite often you feel this book in your heart, and there is a lot of emotion to be felt here.
At times I wished that Gilbert could have focused the story on Danny and his friends without the added confusion of his parents' storyline. There was so much in this book that occurred because no one would tell anyone how they truly felt, express their fears or anxieties, or ask probing questions to understand what was going on. Imagine what it was like to constantly have the characters step back from divulging a secret, asking a question, or saying how they felt. While it made the conclusion perhaps a little sweeter, it took a while for things to move.
Despite my challenges, I still found this to be a beautiful, poignant story that I can't seem to get out of my head. I wouldn't mind a sequel, honestly, because I grew attached to Danny, his friends, and family, and would love to see where life takes them.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
May 19, 2022
update: I cried 👍🏼 much more than the first time 👍🏼 I hate this book 👍🏼
will I cry again over a book I cried over in 2019 or has 3 years of life made me heartless: an experiment
will I cry again over a book I cried over in 2019 or has 3 years of life made me heartless: an experiment
July 20, 2018
This beautifully written- sensitive - Young Adult novel - exploring very real confusing & painful themes - takes place right here in Silicon Valley- in the heart of the SF Bay Area.
Daniel, a high school student -talented artist was just accepted to his dream Art College on the other side of the country... so ready to bolt Cupertino- leave his SAT-studying-AP-4.8 GPA- Asian community. He’s one of these top students - Welcome to Cupertino!!!
...and the Chinese American- driven kids and their families. I should know I live near here.
Test scores from
public schools in Cupertino, California, are one the highest in the country.
There’s a lot going on in this story - This may be fiction - but there is so much gut wrenching reality to look at.
Parts made me angry as hell ...
Some family secrets are too unacceptable. They hurt children more than protect.
While ‘dad’ was depressed - for good reason - he also had a huge perpetration.
Through this story - I got a great look at how our children carry their parents burdens- when it’s not their job!!!!!!! Gut wrenching!
I looked back at my own childhood - desires to free myself and bolt from Oakland, Ca. white wall bare minimum apartment living.
I related to this line that Daniel says: ( I felt it every day as a child);
“It’s hard living with someone who’s never happy—a dark misk hover’s over everything that happens in a household and you feel guilty when you want to be happy yourself”.
I applaud the author!!! Powerful Young Adult book that parents could benefit from reading too!
Too much pressure today -
Definitely in Cupertino!!!!
Daniel, a high school student -talented artist was just accepted to his dream Art College on the other side of the country... so ready to bolt Cupertino- leave his SAT-studying-AP-4.8 GPA- Asian community. He’s one of these top students - Welcome to Cupertino!!!
...and the Chinese American- driven kids and their families. I should know I live near here.
Test scores from
public schools in Cupertino, California, are one the highest in the country.
There’s a lot going on in this story - This may be fiction - but there is so much gut wrenching reality to look at.
Parts made me angry as hell ...
Some family secrets are too unacceptable. They hurt children more than protect.
While ‘dad’ was depressed - for good reason - he also had a huge perpetration.
Through this story - I got a great look at how our children carry their parents burdens- when it’s not their job!!!!!!! Gut wrenching!
I looked back at my own childhood - desires to free myself and bolt from Oakland, Ca. white wall bare minimum apartment living.
I related to this line that Daniel says: ( I felt it every day as a child);
“It’s hard living with someone who’s never happy—a dark misk hover’s over everything that happens in a household and you feel guilty when you want to be happy yourself”.
I applaud the author!!! Powerful Young Adult book that parents could benefit from reading too!
Too much pressure today -
Definitely in Cupertino!!!!
November 7, 2021
My heart is shredded. SHREDDED. Wow. This is a slice in the life of Danny Cheng. Danny is an Asian-American high schooler and the son of Chinese immigrants. Halfway through the book I figured this was a nice 4 star read. Danny is facing a lot of challenges in his life revolving around his parents, his sister (who he never met), his friends, his school, and himself. There is a LOT going on in this book and in Danny’s life, including a couple of major family secrets that Danny cannot crack. To me though, his battles with himself are more fascinating than anything else. Who is he? What does he really mean to his parents? What will he do with his life? Is he capable of doing what he really wants to do? What are at the depth of his relationships with those he cares about? At times I saw no hope for Danny. That was heart-breaking as I really bonded with Danny.
Many reviewers found the story too mundane. Well, I can see how they might think that, at least during the first half of the book, but I actually enjoyed the totality of Danny’s journey. As I say, a nice 4-star read. Then the second half started. And finally, that last 20%. OMG. I am giving you nothing about the plot here for fear of spoiling your opportunity to go in cold like I did. It’s best that way. Just have your hankies ready as Danny takes some real hits. By the time I wobbled to the end, this poignant tale had easily risen to 5-star status.
The last chapter served as an epilogue—a most welcome epilogue. I do think there is room here for a sequel, and I would be first in line to grab that as I’d love to see where Danny’s life goes from here. I highly recommend this novel to everyone looking for a wonderful character study.
Special thanks go to my Goodreads friend Thomas who wrote a spectacular review of Picture Us in the Light, making it impossible for me not to download it and immediately make it #1 on the TBR.
Many reviewers found the story too mundane. Well, I can see how they might think that, at least during the first half of the book, but I actually enjoyed the totality of Danny’s journey. As I say, a nice 4-star read. Then the second half started. And finally, that last 20%. OMG. I am giving you nothing about the plot here for fear of spoiling your opportunity to go in cold like I did. It’s best that way. Just have your hankies ready as Danny takes some real hits. By the time I wobbled to the end, this poignant tale had easily risen to 5-star status.
The last chapter served as an epilogue—a most welcome epilogue. I do think there is room here for a sequel, and I would be first in line to grab that as I’d love to see where Danny’s life goes from here. I highly recommend this novel to everyone looking for a wonderful character study.
Special thanks go to my Goodreads friend Thomas who wrote a spectacular review of Picture Us in the Light, making it impossible for me not to download it and immediately make it #1 on the TBR.
Read
December 31, 2017Good God, how does a person write like this. Reading Kelly Loy Gilbert is like willing settling into a cloud of increasingly darkening doom and yet I will happily do it every single time. Also, I don't know why no one told me this book was gay but it is totally gay. I was a little "ehhhh?" about the fact that it never uses the word, but I think it's because Danny's more narrowly focused on the fact of being in love with his best friend than the fact of being gay and he never quite sees past it? (This is not a spoiler; he's open about it really early.) It's interesting to read this somewhat soon after THE DANGEROUS ART OF BLENDING IN and see how differently that's handled. (I mean, if I'm being speculative about it, it's because I think Danny's homoromantic demisexual, but he's clearly not a self-labeler.) Anyway, this book is incredibly intense and also really good and honestly my whole review was gonna just be "Holy crap" but then I saw that review basically already existed because of course it does.
April 11, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review
2 eyebrow raising stars
This is a real tough one because the content of the story tackles serious issues, such as, suicide, sexuality, and the pressure on young people to live up to their parent's expectations (especially when, like Danny, you are the only child of immigrants) something which I believe many people-young and old could certainly connect with but I felt it all very boring because something was missing in making me care. The majority of the story is really Danny's internal struggle and filling in the family back story which could have been really interesting if it hadn't been hijacked by the day to day life of a high school senior.
At 60%, I decided to bid the story adieu!
2 eyebrow raising stars
This is a real tough one because the content of the story tackles serious issues, such as, suicide, sexuality, and the pressure on young people to live up to their parent's expectations (especially when, like Danny, you are the only child of immigrants) something which I believe many people-young and old could certainly connect with but I felt it all very boring because something was missing in making me care. The majority of the story is really Danny's internal struggle and filling in the family back story which could have been really interesting if it hadn't been hijacked by the day to day life of a high school senior.
At 60%, I decided to bid the story adieu!
July 18, 2022
07/2022:
THIS. FUCKING. BOOK.
It holds up. Oh my god. I absolutely knew it would, but I didn't expect to get gut punched for a second time by it. I should have, though. I have actual chills.
This book is gut wrenching in both the best and worst way. It will tear you apart and then stitch you clumsily back together again with a ferocity you will never see coming. It is a heart-shattering story about family, guilt, grief, and love.
I once again finished in less than 24 hours. I want 100 more pages of this. No, 500. However, the story ended in a place that fit. I want more, but I do think that its current ending is perfect in a way that makes my heart ache and my eyes water. I came so close to outright weeping reading this; it is so painful, yet so, so beautiful. I have once again been caught off guard by the gorgeous writing. The relationship with the main character Danny and his parents, the one that undercurrents the entire book, is portrayed with a fierce realism that I think only Gilbert's amazing talent could accomplish.
And the relationship between Danny and his best friend, Harry...
...GAAAAH. This gave me major Normal People vibes and I absolutely lost it. If you know, you know.
Like I said in my past review, the love between Danny and Harry is subtle yet incredibly loud. Both of these facts exist simultaneously.
This has to be one of the best, most important YA books I have ever read. If you're going to read one more book this month, please, PLEASE let it be this.
Original review June 19, 2018:
This book exceeded every expectation that I had for it.
To set the scene; I was at the bookstore about to buy a different book, when my friend picked up this one. She read the blurb and thought that it sounded interesting, and since our Queen Becky Albertalli endorsed it, she figured that I should give it a shot. I was hesitant, as I'd never heard of this book and wanted to read another one more. My friend persisted, and wore me down by saying "read it and tell me what you think, so then I can read it if it's good". She reads, but is very slow at it, and I wanted her to be motivated to read more, so I caved.
I didn't read the book for maybe a month or so after buying it, as I had other things on my TBR. Finally I decided to put it on my June TBR, for no other reason than to get it out of the way and either recommend it to my friend or caution her against it. Yesterday at work I began reading.
Picture Us in the Light surprised me. I assumed that this would possess a stream-of-consciousness narrative, akin to many YA contemporary novels. Now these types of narratives aren't all bad, and can be enjoyable, but sometimes I find them to be a bit shallow. They work for humorous tales, but not incredibly heavy ones. Not only was the prose in this novel breath-taking (it sort of reminds me of the writing in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe ), but the content is very heavy.
TW for suicide, depression, adoption, anxiety,
I did not expect to be moved by this story, but boy was I. The MC, Danny Cheng, is a very thoughtful narrator. He comes to many conclusions throughout the novel that are heart-wrenching and honest. I love that about him.
This book is diverse, as most of the characters are from Asian descent. Furthermore, Danny is gay (pan? bi?), although the word is never spoken aloud. His love for his best friend Harry is very subtle yet loud at the same time, which made for a realistic story. The entire book, however, does not center around the love between the two boys. It deals mostly with the secrets that Danny's parents have been keeping for years, and how it affects him and his life as a whole. There is a sort of mystery to everything, and I was unable to put this book down due to my desire to know everything that has ever happened to Danny and his family. I literally finished this book in less than 24 hours. It was that good.
Nothing about Picture Us in the Light is shallow, or trivial. Not only is the content heavy, but it harbors an unfortunate realism. The things that happen in this novel can (and have) happen to anyone. I was impacted greatly by this read, and I thank the author for shining a light on such important issues.
The fact that there are only four quotes from this book on Goodreads is horrific. The writing in this book is so beautiful that every line should be documented. I guess my new personal mission is as follows:
- Add more quotes onto Goodreads
- Get everyone to read this book
- Bring awareness to and help others as best I can in situations akin to what this book describes
If you couldn't tell, I think that you should read this book. 5 stars, definitely.
I sit next to him, still touching him, without moving, and I think how strange it is that you can know someone so well and feel them threaded through your life in more ways than you can count and then still they build out these places inside themselves that they retreat to and you can't follow, can't even really see.
THIS. FUCKING. BOOK.
It holds up. Oh my god. I absolutely knew it would, but I didn't expect to get gut punched for a second time by it. I should have, though. I have actual chills.
This book is gut wrenching in both the best and worst way. It will tear you apart and then stitch you clumsily back together again with a ferocity you will never see coming. It is a heart-shattering story about family, guilt, grief, and love.
I once again finished in less than 24 hours. I want 100 more pages of this. No, 500. However, the story ended in a place that fit. I want more, but I do think that its current ending is perfect in a way that makes my heart ache and my eyes water. I came so close to outright weeping reading this; it is so painful, yet so, so beautiful. I have once again been caught off guard by the gorgeous writing. The relationship with the main character Danny and his parents, the one that undercurrents the entire book, is portrayed with a fierce realism that I think only Gilbert's amazing talent could accomplish.
And the relationship between Danny and his best friend, Harry...
I'm not a religious person, but what I have with Harry is the closest thing I have— when I'm with him is when the world is at its clearest for me.
...GAAAAH. This gave me major Normal People vibes and I absolutely lost it. If you know, you know.
Like I said in my past review, the love between Danny and Harry is subtle yet incredibly loud. Both of these facts exist simultaneously.
This has to be one of the best, most important YA books I have ever read. If you're going to read one more book this month, please, PLEASE let it be this.
Original review June 19, 2018:
This book exceeded every expectation that I had for it.
To set the scene; I was at the bookstore about to buy a different book, when my friend picked up this one. She read the blurb and thought that it sounded interesting, and since our Queen Becky Albertalli endorsed it, she figured that I should give it a shot. I was hesitant, as I'd never heard of this book and wanted to read another one more. My friend persisted, and wore me down by saying "read it and tell me what you think, so then I can read it if it's good". She reads, but is very slow at it, and I wanted her to be motivated to read more, so I caved.
I didn't read the book for maybe a month or so after buying it, as I had other things on my TBR. Finally I decided to put it on my June TBR, for no other reason than to get it out of the way and either recommend it to my friend or caution her against it. Yesterday at work I began reading.
Picture Us in the Light surprised me. I assumed that this would possess a stream-of-consciousness narrative, akin to many YA contemporary novels. Now these types of narratives aren't all bad, and can be enjoyable, but sometimes I find them to be a bit shallow. They work for humorous tales, but not incredibly heavy ones. Not only was the prose in this novel breath-taking (it sort of reminds me of the writing in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe ), but the content is very heavy.
TW for suicide, depression, adoption, anxiety,
I did not expect to be moved by this story, but boy was I. The MC, Danny Cheng, is a very thoughtful narrator. He comes to many conclusions throughout the novel that are heart-wrenching and honest. I love that about him.
This book is diverse, as most of the characters are from Asian descent. Furthermore, Danny is gay (pan? bi?), although the word is never spoken aloud. His love for his best friend Harry is very subtle yet loud at the same time, which made for a realistic story. The entire book, however, does not center around the love between the two boys. It deals mostly with the secrets that Danny's parents have been keeping for years, and how it affects him and his life as a whole. There is a sort of mystery to everything, and I was unable to put this book down due to my desire to know everything that has ever happened to Danny and his family. I literally finished this book in less than 24 hours. It was that good.
Nothing about Picture Us in the Light is shallow, or trivial. Not only is the content heavy, but it harbors an unfortunate realism. The things that happen in this novel can (and have) happen to anyone. I was impacted greatly by this read, and I thank the author for shining a light on such important issues.
The fact that there are only four quotes from this book on Goodreads is horrific. The writing in this book is so beautiful that every line should be documented. I guess my new personal mission is as follows:
- Add more quotes onto Goodreads
- Get everyone to read this book
- Bring awareness to and help others as best I can in situations akin to what this book describes
If you couldn't tell, I think that you should read this book. 5 stars, definitely.
June 21, 2018
He looks unruffled. Why did it feel like a lightning bolt to me, then?
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be this: disconnected. It’s well-written, with thoughtful characters, but it pulls you all over the place. At one point I thought it was exploring the grief of losing a friend, and then it was the grief of losing a family member, and then it was exploring the struggles of moving away from home and friends, dealing with fighting parents, struggling with trying to be creative in a world where it seems like everything’s already been done, then it was a road trip thing, then it was about immigration, then child trafficking... so much.
There is SO much going on. This is the only reason I took down a star, because I sort of loved everything else. The writing is the thing that saves the book for me - even though I just called it disconnected, it’s so introspective and flowed together. I love that the relationship felt so natural, and wasn’t in your face. I think it really shows the quiet parts of being in love - of the quiet and fierce respect that makes a relationship work. It’s not always about the passion of being physical with each other, you know? I do really wish we got that one Kiss ™ moment. I just felt like Danny deserved that.
I think the book should’ve used dates or something like “Before” and “After” because Danny would always talk about past situations and past conversations and it’d be mini flashbacks (which is fine!) but I was always lost on which was the present timeline. Sometimes he’d be like, “I'm sitting at school...” and then I realized it was like 3 years ago? Things like that. But I’m not even too upset about it, because the interactions were told so well. It was like...just the amount of details about the look on his friend’s face. Just the right amount of Danny looking back at their back and wishing for better.
The whole thing with his parents was...not to repeat myself, but disconnected? Like, it was literally all over the place. I guessed what it was in the middle, so the shock wasn’t that *shocking* - what I’m trying to say is if she really wanted to make it a point, I wish she dragged it out longer. Because we got the BARE minimum of their situation and the family member. Most of it is Danny fretting and googling and freaking out, and when it is revealed, it’s one scene. It just kind of fell flat, and felt lackluster.
I really wish this was just about Danny, Sophia, Regina and Harry dealing with the last year of high school. There’s enough issues between each of them that it would’ve worked really well. I think her writing shines when Danny is wondering about his future, this thing that all teenagers have to decide how to feel about, you know? And we had enough conflict there. We could’ve gotten more fleshed out relationships with Regina and stuff. Danny is always like, “Regina and I have always been close, we’ll always get through” but we never really see proof of that. I feel like the characters suffered for this whole side plot that was underdeveloped because she was trying to find a balance between them and the plot.
But STILL. I LOVED all the references to Bay Area. As someone who’s been here since 2009, like, I got all of it. I felt so at home and understood the places and the culture and the people and the references. I connected to the characters that way, but I think people who haven’t lived here would feel disconnected with them on a higher level because they don’t get that. But still. It was good.
Small choices accumulate like snowflakes; enough of them, and the avalanche buries you.
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be this: disconnected. It’s well-written, with thoughtful characters, but it pulls you all over the place. At one point I thought it was exploring the grief of losing a friend, and then it was the grief of losing a family member, and then it was exploring the struggles of moving away from home and friends, dealing with fighting parents, struggling with trying to be creative in a world where it seems like everything’s already been done, then it was a road trip thing, then it was about immigration, then child trafficking... so much.
There is SO much going on. This is the only reason I took down a star, because I sort of loved everything else. The writing is the thing that saves the book for me - even though I just called it disconnected, it’s so introspective and flowed together. I love that the relationship felt so natural, and wasn’t in your face. I think it really shows the quiet parts of being in love - of the quiet and fierce respect that makes a relationship work. It’s not always about the passion of being physical with each other, you know? I do really wish we got that one Kiss ™ moment. I just felt like Danny deserved that.
I think the book should’ve used dates or something like “Before” and “After” because Danny would always talk about past situations and past conversations and it’d be mini flashbacks (which is fine!) but I was always lost on which was the present timeline. Sometimes he’d be like, “I'm sitting at school...” and then I realized it was like 3 years ago? Things like that. But I’m not even too upset about it, because the interactions were told so well. It was like...just the amount of details about the look on his friend’s face. Just the right amount of Danny looking back at their back and wishing for better.
The whole thing with his parents was...not to repeat myself, but disconnected? Like, it was literally all over the place. I guessed what it was in the middle, so the shock wasn’t that *shocking* - what I’m trying to say is if she really wanted to make it a point, I wish she dragged it out longer. Because we got the BARE minimum of their situation and the family member. Most of it is Danny fretting and googling and freaking out, and when it is revealed, it’s one scene. It just kind of fell flat, and felt lackluster.
I really wish this was just about Danny, Sophia, Regina and Harry dealing with the last year of high school. There’s enough issues between each of them that it would’ve worked really well. I think her writing shines when Danny is wondering about his future, this thing that all teenagers have to decide how to feel about, you know? And we had enough conflict there. We could’ve gotten more fleshed out relationships with Regina and stuff. Danny is always like, “Regina and I have always been close, we’ll always get through” but we never really see proof of that. I feel like the characters suffered for this whole side plot that was underdeveloped because she was trying to find a balance between them and the plot.
But STILL. I LOVED all the references to Bay Area. As someone who’s been here since 2009, like, I got all of it. I felt so at home and understood the places and the culture and the people and the references. I connected to the characters that way, but I think people who haven’t lived here would feel disconnected with them on a higher level because they don’t get that. But still. It was good.
Small choices accumulate like snowflakes; enough of them, and the avalanche buries you.
January 10, 2024
reread #4 (01/09/24):
can't believe it's my 5th time reading my favorite book ever ❤️
✧ ♡ ✧ ♡ ✧
reread #3 (01/03/23):
^ me about this book. finishing my reread has left me feeling so raw and deeply moved, even now after my fourth time reading this book. I'm always so grateful to have been able to read this gorgeous story and carry a little bit of it in my heart.
✧ ♡ ✧ ♡ ✧
reread #2 (01/10/22): i want to rewrite my review because THIS BOOK!!!! THIS BOOK!!! i am DESTROYED even after reading it for the third time!!!!!!
✧ ♡ ✧ ♡ ✧
reread #1 (01/02/21): I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! OH MY GOD!! i cried again and tabbed literally every page while annotating because this book is so, so amazing.
✧ ♡ ✧ ♡ ✧
Read this review on my blog!
Picture Us In The Light follows Danny Cheng, a Chinese 18-year-old who has his life set ahead of him. He’s in his senior year of high school with a scholarship to RISD and is planning on pursuing art, his passion. But all of that changes through an intricate series of events that follow one after another and end up altering his life forever.
I’ve decided not to talk too specifically about what occurs in this book today, especially because it unfolds almost like a mystery, and I would hate to spoil its beauty for you. However, there are so many other elements I adored of Picture Us In The Light, starting with the first thing that drew me into it: Kelly Loy Gilbert’s beautiful, poetic prose.
While it wasn’t flowery or overly descriptive, it had a magical fervor that simply demanded attention. I found myself wanting to highlight so many of the paragraphs because they were effortlessly beautiful and read like a quote I wanted engraved in my mind forever.
I also appreciated the characters so, so much, especially the protagonist Danny. His inner conflict and thoughts were slowly revealed, and it was so heartbreaking yet powerful to read about his growth, his insecurities as an artist and just as a person, and his frustration with how everything was unfolding in his life!
You could tell that Danny was an artist through the quiet observations and thoughts he made about the world around him, and his character voice was fleshed out so well. His thoughts were all so understandable, so real that I found myself rooting for him throughout the novel, whether he made good decisions or not.
Honestly, what made all of the characters in this so special to me was that they were human. They made mistakes, they had their low moments, and it made me love them even more for it. And as an Asian teen, Danny’s friend group and the cast of (almost) all Asian characters warmed my heart!
Speaking of friendships, the way Danny’s friend group was depicted made me so happy. All the side characters were three-dimensional and the flashbacks about their friendship sprinkled in throughout made me understand and love them even more.
While there was also a romantic subplot between Danny and his best friend Henry (best-friends-to-lovers my heart!! 🥺), I found myself loving how it only had a small role in the story — the focal point of Picture Us In The Light was Danny’s growth as a character, how he learned so much about everything around him and found a space of his own to fit in.
Much of this book revolved around family as well, and it was wonderful to see how Danny’s relationships with his parents were a prevalent part of the story. Many of the things his parents did were questionable, but it was all out of love and it was awful to read about the struggles they had to go through as immigrants to America.
(I would have included much more about the family relationships Gilbert explored, but like I said… spoilers!!)
I will always admire the way the author portrayed emotion, too — not just the strong, persisting feelings (which are always beautiful in their own way) but every different kind of emotion: the feelings that dig into your side like thorns, the distant throb of past grief, and the stark heaviness of sharing a burden like a secret.
I almost never cry while reading a book. (which is sometimes a good and sometimes a bad thing??) I’ve definitely teared up while reading before, but I can’t remember the last time I shed tears over fictional stories… which is why it came as a shock to me that Picture Us In The Light was able to make me cry: multiple times.
There was just something so special about the story Kelly Loy Gilbert had woven, something so delicate about the characters and emotions portrayed that allowed me to confidently state that this is one of my favorite books.
This novel ended quite abruptly, but I think that’s what the author intended in order to bring in a sense of reality, and also to allow the reader to let Danny’s story dwell in the reader’s minds for a little longer. And that’s exactly what happened to me: even a few weeks after finishing it, I still find myself thinking about it.
It frustrates me that more people have not picked it up — if you enjoy heartwrenching contemporaries, complex family and friend relationships, a soft romance that doesn’t take over the main character’s development, or simply the joy of reading an utterly beautiful and poignant story (i’m sorry but who doesn’t want any of these things??), you need this in your life now!
★★★★★ // 5 STARS
can't believe it's my 5th time reading my favorite book ever ❤️
✧ ♡ ✧ ♡ ✧
reread #3 (01/03/23):
“It feels like someone gently peeled back my skin and muscles, my rib cage, and carefully lifted out my heart and made copies of it and pinned them all over the building.”
^ me about this book. finishing my reread has left me feeling so raw and deeply moved, even now after my fourth time reading this book. I'm always so grateful to have been able to read this gorgeous story and carry a little bit of it in my heart.
✧ ♡ ✧ ♡ ✧
reread #2 (01/10/22): i want to rewrite my review because THIS BOOK!!!! THIS BOOK!!! i am DESTROYED even after reading it for the third time!!!!!!
✧ ♡ ✧ ♡ ✧
reread #1 (01/02/21): I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! OH MY GOD!! i cried again and tabbed literally every page while annotating because this book is so, so amazing.
✧ ♡ ✧ ♡ ✧
Read this review on my blog!
Picture Us In The Light follows Danny Cheng, a Chinese 18-year-old who has his life set ahead of him. He’s in his senior year of high school with a scholarship to RISD and is planning on pursuing art, his passion. But all of that changes through an intricate series of events that follow one after another and end up altering his life forever.
I’ve decided not to talk too specifically about what occurs in this book today, especially because it unfolds almost like a mystery, and I would hate to spoil its beauty for you. However, there are so many other elements I adored of Picture Us In The Light, starting with the first thing that drew me into it: Kelly Loy Gilbert’s beautiful, poetic prose.
While it wasn’t flowery or overly descriptive, it had a magical fervor that simply demanded attention. I found myself wanting to highlight so many of the paragraphs because they were effortlessly beautiful and read like a quote I wanted engraved in my mind forever.
“And maybe life is when you gather all the things you can hold on to and carry with you, and cross your fingers it will be enough.”
I also appreciated the characters so, so much, especially the protagonist Danny. His inner conflict and thoughts were slowly revealed, and it was so heartbreaking yet powerful to read about his growth, his insecurities as an artist and just as a person, and his frustration with how everything was unfolding in his life!
You could tell that Danny was an artist through the quiet observations and thoughts he made about the world around him, and his character voice was fleshed out so well. His thoughts were all so understandable, so real that I found myself rooting for him throughout the novel, whether he made good decisions or not.
Honestly, what made all of the characters in this so special to me was that they were human. They made mistakes, they had their low moments, and it made me love them even more for it. And as an Asian teen, Danny’s friend group and the cast of (almost) all Asian characters warmed my heart!
Speaking of friendships, the way Danny’s friend group was depicted made me so happy. All the side characters were three-dimensional and the flashbacks about their friendship sprinkled in throughout made me understand and love them even more.
While there was also a romantic subplot between Danny and his best friend Henry (best-friends-to-lovers my heart!! 🥺), I found myself loving how it only had a small role in the story — the focal point of Picture Us In The Light was Danny’s growth as a character, how he learned so much about everything around him and found a space of his own to fit in.
Much of this book revolved around family as well, and it was wonderful to see how Danny’s relationships with his parents were a prevalent part of the story. Many of the things his parents did were questionable, but it was all out of love and it was awful to read about the struggles they had to go through as immigrants to America.
(I would have included much more about the family relationships Gilbert explored, but like I said… spoilers!!)
I will always admire the way the author portrayed emotion, too — not just the strong, persisting feelings (which are always beautiful in their own way) but every different kind of emotion: the feelings that dig into your side like thorns, the distant throb of past grief, and the stark heaviness of sharing a burden like a secret.
I almost never cry while reading a book. (which is sometimes a good and sometimes a bad thing??) I’ve definitely teared up while reading before, but I can’t remember the last time I shed tears over fictional stories… which is why it came as a shock to me that Picture Us In The Light was able to make me cry: multiple times.
There was just something so special about the story Kelly Loy Gilbert had woven, something so delicate about the characters and emotions portrayed that allowed me to confidently state that this is one of my favorite books.
This novel ended quite abruptly, but I think that’s what the author intended in order to bring in a sense of reality, and also to allow the reader to let Danny’s story dwell in the reader’s minds for a little longer. And that’s exactly what happened to me: even a few weeks after finishing it, I still find myself thinking about it.
It frustrates me that more people have not picked it up — if you enjoy heartwrenching contemporaries, complex family and friend relationships, a soft romance that doesn’t take over the main character’s development, or simply the joy of reading an utterly beautiful and poignant story (i’m sorry but who doesn’t want any of these things??), you need this in your life now!
“Or maybe we all just forgive the people we love, because we love them, and for no other reason than that.”
★★★★★ // 5 STARS
—representation: gay Chinese-American mc, mlm Taiwanese-American sc, almost all Asian cast
—trigger warnings: racism, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, homophobia, past suicide, death of a loved one, car accident, past child abduction, child trafficking, immigration fears
March 30, 2018
PICTURE US IN THE LIGHT, like THUNDERHEAD, is a book I will shoving down everyone’s throats for the rest of the year my life. I was initially drawn in by the beautiful cover and then I was captivated from the first page and finished in my usual fashion: crying uncontrollably into my teddy bear and pillow.
So, #sorrynotsorry for name-dropping this book up the wazoo…because I will not rest until everyone has read this beautiful book and we can all gush together.
The 411: Danny Cheng is a high school senior and talented artist, who has already been accepted to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). But ever since his acceptance, he’s felt uninspired and unable
Danny’s parents are immigrants from China. He also has an older sister who died prematurely. Even though he barely knew her, Danny has always felt an emptiness in his life where she should be. One day Danny unearths a box hidden away in the closet, full of files detailing the whereabouts of a powerful Silicon Valley family, and his parents refuse to explain.
As Danny begins to put the pieces together, he starts reflecting on things from his past that just didn’t add up. Like the time his parents moved them from Texas to California overnight with no warning. Along for the ride is Danny’s best friend, Harry, for whom he harbors a deep, hidden attraction.
First off, 90 percent of the cast of characters are of Asian descent. *insert squee here* Any typical stereotypes of Asians, i.e. Asian parents all want their kids to be doctors, are addressed head on. (And Danny’s parents are more than supportive of his future in art).
If you like getting your heart ripped out by love stories (or just in general), you’re in for a reeeeal treat. Danny’s feelings for Harry definitely aren’t the focus point of this book, but play a large role. Danny’s sexuality is also never specifically labeled, which I love. The word “gay” is never used. Danny is just Danny. And he loves Harry. (#HANNY <— Yes, I just did that).
With all the current political conversations regarding immigrants to the US, this book feels extremely timely. For a book that tackles many hard-hitting topics, Gilbert does it with grace. Her writing is lyrical and eloquent and her first novel, CONVICTION, skyrocketed to the top of my TBR.
Now, unfortunately, the “swerve” of this novel that touched me to my core is a spoiler and I won’t mention it more here. But just know my origin story begins the same way and it’s a storyline I’ve read very little about in YA. Once I surmised that the story was going in this direction, I actually had to hold in my gasp because it’s perfect. (Once you read, message me on Goodreads and LET’S TALK).
MY RATING: ✰✰✰✰✰ (one of my fave books of 2018 so far)
RECOMMENDED FOR: anyone with a heart and/or soul. So everyone.
MAY I ALSO SUGGEST: STARFISH by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Thank you Disney Hyperion for my galley! Picture Us in the Light is available April 10.
So, #sorrynotsorry for name-dropping this book up the wazoo…because I will not rest until everyone has read this beautiful book and we can all gush together.
The 411: Danny Cheng is a high school senior and talented artist, who has already been accepted to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). But ever since his acceptance, he’s felt uninspired and unable
Danny’s parents are immigrants from China. He also has an older sister who died prematurely. Even though he barely knew her, Danny has always felt an emptiness in his life where she should be. One day Danny unearths a box hidden away in the closet, full of files detailing the whereabouts of a powerful Silicon Valley family, and his parents refuse to explain.
As Danny begins to put the pieces together, he starts reflecting on things from his past that just didn’t add up. Like the time his parents moved them from Texas to California overnight with no warning. Along for the ride is Danny’s best friend, Harry, for whom he harbors a deep, hidden attraction.
First off, 90 percent of the cast of characters are of Asian descent. *insert squee here* Any typical stereotypes of Asians, i.e. Asian parents all want their kids to be doctors, are addressed head on. (And Danny’s parents are more than supportive of his future in art).
If you like getting your heart ripped out by love stories (or just in general), you’re in for a reeeeal treat. Danny’s feelings for Harry definitely aren’t the focus point of this book, but play a large role. Danny’s sexuality is also never specifically labeled, which I love. The word “gay” is never used. Danny is just Danny. And he loves Harry. (#HANNY <— Yes, I just did that).
With all the current political conversations regarding immigrants to the US, this book feels extremely timely. For a book that tackles many hard-hitting topics, Gilbert does it with grace. Her writing is lyrical and eloquent and her first novel, CONVICTION, skyrocketed to the top of my TBR.
Now, unfortunately, the “swerve” of this novel that touched me to my core is a spoiler and I won’t mention it more here. But just know my origin story begins the same way and it’s a storyline I’ve read very little about in YA. Once I surmised that the story was going in this direction, I actually had to hold in my gasp because it’s perfect. (Once you read, message me on Goodreads and LET’S TALK).
MY RATING: ✰✰✰✰✰ (one of my fave books of 2018 so far)
RECOMMENDED FOR: anyone with a heart and/or soul. So everyone.
MAY I ALSO SUGGEST: STARFISH by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Thank you Disney Hyperion for my galley! Picture Us in the Light is available April 10.
November 11, 2021
Picture Us in the Light didn’t dazzle me at first, but I was encouraged by many of the stellar reviews that investing time in this book would be worth my while. Like the young, budding artist portrayed in this mostly first-person narrative, the author’s words paint Danny Cheng’s thoughts in ways I could see them.
“Art doesn’t change the ending. It doesn’t let you lose yourself that way – the opposite, really; it calls you from the darkness into the glaring, unforgiving light. But at least – this is why it will always feel like a calling to me – it lets you not be so alone.” (p. 438)
Much of the story seems ordinary. Danny to his friends, Daniel to his parents, takes us through his school days with his friends, Regina, Harry, and Sandra. Harry is loved by all, except not by Danny at first. Eventually, their relationship evolves. Sandra isn’t exactly Danny’s friend, but she’s Regina’s best friend. Harry and Regina become an item. Ordinary teenage stuff happens most of the time. Lots of conversations. Teenage angst and drama.
Daniel’s parents are traditional Chinese immigrants in the US on green cards. His father is a researcher; his mother is a domestic worker. We learn early on that they have secrets. Daniel learns only fragments; when he asks questions, his parents shut him down, clam up. He snoops and learns a bit more, but this only leads to more questions and turmoil. His parents seem to constantly be looking over their shoulders. Ultimately, big changes occur; Danny silently rebels.
As these events unfold, more of Danny’s personality reveals itself. His hopes and dreams unfold. His immaturity and human frailty, too, naturally. Friendships are extremely important, and as the only son of Chinese immigrants, he feels torn between loyalty to his parents and his own life, others he cares about, and his future. Drawing helps him identify his innermost thoughts and feelings. When an image takes shape on paper, sometimes he is amazed at what it reveals:
“The worst things you fear aren’t the rare or distant ones. The worst things you fear are the ones so close they take up residence in your head and whisper to you in the background all the time; the worst things you fear are that there’s so much darkness lurking inside the nicest people and the safest places that you know.”
Danny makes mistakes, serious ones, and people get hurt. Finally, however, he finds courage to take responsibility. He is surprised, I think, to see that others reciprocate with openness at his blossoming maturity and gentleness. In the end, he seems to be on his way to a life he only imagined possible.
When I reached the conclusion of this book, I looked again at the author’s name and re-checked her bio. I was amazed! I realized that as I became more enmeshed in these characters that I felt as though I were reading the memoir of a young man. Kudos to Kelly Loy Gilbert for writing this touching novel. It can, I believe, speak not only to young adults, to LGBTQ persons, to persons of immigrant families, but also to all readers who love to read and breathe through insightful writing about human experiences. Thanks to the author for her approach to sensitive topics in this book.
4.5 stars rounded up
“Art doesn’t change the ending. It doesn’t let you lose yourself that way – the opposite, really; it calls you from the darkness into the glaring, unforgiving light. But at least – this is why it will always feel like a calling to me – it lets you not be so alone.” (p. 438)
Much of the story seems ordinary. Danny to his friends, Daniel to his parents, takes us through his school days with his friends, Regina, Harry, and Sandra. Harry is loved by all, except not by Danny at first. Eventually, their relationship evolves. Sandra isn’t exactly Danny’s friend, but she’s Regina’s best friend. Harry and Regina become an item. Ordinary teenage stuff happens most of the time. Lots of conversations. Teenage angst and drama.
Daniel’s parents are traditional Chinese immigrants in the US on green cards. His father is a researcher; his mother is a domestic worker. We learn early on that they have secrets. Daniel learns only fragments; when he asks questions, his parents shut him down, clam up. He snoops and learns a bit more, but this only leads to more questions and turmoil. His parents seem to constantly be looking over their shoulders. Ultimately, big changes occur; Danny silently rebels.
As these events unfold, more of Danny’s personality reveals itself. His hopes and dreams unfold. His immaturity and human frailty, too, naturally. Friendships are extremely important, and as the only son of Chinese immigrants, he feels torn between loyalty to his parents and his own life, others he cares about, and his future. Drawing helps him identify his innermost thoughts and feelings. When an image takes shape on paper, sometimes he is amazed at what it reveals:
“The worst things you fear aren’t the rare or distant ones. The worst things you fear are the ones so close they take up residence in your head and whisper to you in the background all the time; the worst things you fear are that there’s so much darkness lurking inside the nicest people and the safest places that you know.”
Danny makes mistakes, serious ones, and people get hurt. Finally, however, he finds courage to take responsibility. He is surprised, I think, to see that others reciprocate with openness at his blossoming maturity and gentleness. In the end, he seems to be on his way to a life he only imagined possible.
When I reached the conclusion of this book, I looked again at the author’s name and re-checked her bio. I was amazed! I realized that as I became more enmeshed in these characters that I felt as though I were reading the memoir of a young man. Kudos to Kelly Loy Gilbert for writing this touching novel. It can, I believe, speak not only to young adults, to LGBTQ persons, to persons of immigrant families, but also to all readers who love to read and breathe through insightful writing about human experiences. Thanks to the author for her approach to sensitive topics in this book.
4.5 stars rounded up
September 11, 2018
If I were to describe Picture Us in the Light in one word it might be “complex.” Or maybe “squishy.” “Beautiful.”
Human.
I have a bad (?) habit of not fully reading synopsis before picking up a book. Really, I don’t need to when it comes to Kelly and her books. Conviction is easily one of the books you’ll ever read so there was exactly zero chance I wouldn’t love this.
I sit here, a week after finishing, unable to read anything else. Danny’s story isn’t just the story of a child of immigrants, of an artist, of a Silicon Valley youth trying to get into our incredibly competitive college system, of someone who is grieving, of secrets, of family, of friendship, of love, of heartbreak. Danny’s story is the story of how complex, squishy, and beautiful our human lives are.
Kelly drops us right into the action- Danny’s college acceptance into his dream school with his dream major. It’s such a beautiful moment, where Danny and his parents recognize their sacrifices and choices (on so many levels) have made it possible for him. We meet Henry, his best friend, and his group of friends. We look into their environment - the small-town feel of Cupertino (home of Apple and safe streets). We sense his world crumbling and his resilience.
In this story, so much happens but honestly it’s all about Danny and you going through the emotions and experiences he’s having. You’re going to experience every emotion Danny has, which are across the entire spectrum. There are shifts in the timeline that reflect situations leading up to the present and help shape Danny and his community. Kelly works her writing magic and brings it all together, leaving us readers in a puddle.
Human.
I have a bad (?) habit of not fully reading synopsis before picking up a book. Really, I don’t need to when it comes to Kelly and her books. Conviction is easily one of the books you’ll ever read so there was exactly zero chance I wouldn’t love this.
I sit here, a week after finishing, unable to read anything else. Danny’s story isn’t just the story of a child of immigrants, of an artist, of a Silicon Valley youth trying to get into our incredibly competitive college system, of someone who is grieving, of secrets, of family, of friendship, of love, of heartbreak. Danny’s story is the story of how complex, squishy, and beautiful our human lives are.
Kelly drops us right into the action- Danny’s college acceptance into his dream school with his dream major. It’s such a beautiful moment, where Danny and his parents recognize their sacrifices and choices (on so many levels) have made it possible for him. We meet Henry, his best friend, and his group of friends. We look into their environment - the small-town feel of Cupertino (home of Apple and safe streets). We sense his world crumbling and his resilience.
In this story, so much happens but honestly it’s all about Danny and you going through the emotions and experiences he’s having. You’re going to experience every emotion Danny has, which are across the entire spectrum. There are shifts in the timeline that reflect situations leading up to the present and help shape Danny and his community. Kelly works her writing magic and brings it all together, leaving us readers in a puddle.
March 30, 2021
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert is a beautiful book that tackles many tough issues. There are multiple themes throughout the story that will open your eyes and rip your heart out at the same time. The writing is compelling and beautiful making this one of my favourite reads so far this year.
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert is a beautiful book that tackles many tough issues. There are multiple themes throughout the story that will open your eyes and rip your heart out at the same time. The writing is compelling and beautiful making this one of my favourite reads so far this year.
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert is a beautiful book that tackles many tough issues. There are multiple themes throughout the story that will open your eyes and rip your heart out at the same time. The writing is compelling and beautiful making this one of my favourite reads so far this year.
Full Review on The Candid Cover
June 10, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5 stars rated down.
--
What I Liked
The mystery. Sure, the synopsis gives a hint at a bit of a mystery that is contained within this novel, however, I didn't think it would play such a huge part in this story. I think that this mystery was one of the main reasons I felt the need to continue reading, even when the story started to drag a little (which I'll talk more about a little later). I wanted to know the secrets that Danny's parents were keeping from him and I could not stop reading until they were revealed.
The importance. There was an amazingly important story to be told within this novel that I was not expecting. It all related back to the mystery and secrets that Danny's parents are keeping from him, so it's kind of hard to talk about without spoiling the story, but just know that it was completely jarring and not something that I was expecting from this novel.
--
What I Didn’t Like
The characters. I'm sorry, but I just did not like a single character within this story except for maybe Harry. They all felt slightly childish to me and I just couldn't relate. I was hoping for more of a character driven story when I picked up this contemporary novel, but unfortunately it relied more on its mystery aspect to keep me reading. Also, the description hints at an LGBTQ+ aspect that would be explored throughout the story, but honestly it felt like more of an afterthought and something that wasn't really explored until the very end which made it feel rushed and like an afterthought.
Dragged a little. As I mentioned vaguely earlier in this review, this story dragged along for me at a very slow pace that I was not anticipating. The mystery of it is what kept me engaged and wanting more, but any time the story diverted to the characters and their lives, I was left feeling a little bored. I think a lot of this had to do with the writing style which unfortunately just wasn't for me.
--
Overall, this was a highly anticipated title for me so I'm sad that it really just didn't end up working for me as much as I hoped it would.
--
Initial post reading thoughts:
I think I need to gather my thoughts before I talk about this one in depth. I liked it and it had a wonderful story to tell, but it felt like it dragged a little for me personally.
July 20, 2020
actual rating: 4.5 stars
trigger warnings: suicide and depression
First of all, I just finished the novel, and I would just like to say: what the fuck???
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert is a moving young-adult contemporary about Danny Cheng, a Chinese-American teen growing up in the Bay Area, whose school life is rocked by a tragedy and whose family life is rocked by the reemergence of a mystery.
This book is just exquisite.
It does get off to a bit of a slow start, and that is my primary reason for knocking off a half-star, but once this novel picks up...it picks up folks.
The prose of this novel just takes this novel filled with grief and heartbreak and turns it into something beautiful and hopeful, and that is a difficult talent to master.
There is definitely a lot going on in this novel, which is part of the reason I’m struggling to write an organized review, but I actually loved that. Gilbert manages to explore a wide variety of themes and relationships and she does it all in a beautiful manner where no theme or plotline loses out throughout the novel.
Danny Cheng was the perfect main. He is a gay Asian-American artist who is a flawed main character, a teen who has made mistakes and who struggles with self-hatred. But he’s also a teen with a ridiculous optimist of a best friend, Harry, a teen with big dreams who is willing to put in the work to achieve those dreams.
And his life is a real mess. There is so much I could say about the plot, but I think the only way to truly appreciate it is to read it yourself.
All I can really say is that Gilbert writes a provocative and moving novel that has something for everyone.
trigger warnings: suicide and depression
First of all, I just finished the novel, and I would just like to say: what the fuck???
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert is a moving young-adult contemporary about Danny Cheng, a Chinese-American teen growing up in the Bay Area, whose school life is rocked by a tragedy and whose family life is rocked by the reemergence of a mystery.
This book is just exquisite.
It does get off to a bit of a slow start, and that is my primary reason for knocking off a half-star, but once this novel picks up...it picks up folks.
The prose of this novel just takes this novel filled with grief and heartbreak and turns it into something beautiful and hopeful, and that is a difficult talent to master.
There is definitely a lot going on in this novel, which is part of the reason I’m struggling to write an organized review, but I actually loved that. Gilbert manages to explore a wide variety of themes and relationships and she does it all in a beautiful manner where no theme or plotline loses out throughout the novel.
Danny Cheng was the perfect main. He is a gay Asian-American artist who is a flawed main character, a teen who has made mistakes and who struggles with self-hatred. But he’s also a teen with a ridiculous optimist of a best friend, Harry, a teen with big dreams who is willing to put in the work to achieve those dreams.
And his life is a real mess. There is so much I could say about the plot, but I think the only way to truly appreciate it is to read it yourself.
All I can really say is that Gilbert writes a provocative and moving novel that has something for everyone.
April 6, 2022
“maybe it takes everything you have, every last atom, to sail past that dark idea, and then on arrival all you have to offer the world is your exhausted, battered self. but that’s everything. you know? it’s enough.”
inside danny's father’s closet lies a taped-up box holding secrets that have followed his family for years. while digging into his family’s past, danny & his friends approach the anniversary of a tragedy that shook them to their core. through it all, he’s forced to question & confront everything he’s ever known.
this book felt like a sibling - so familiar, so much like family. little things like danny's mum cutting grapes into quarters out of fears of him choking, hiding our post-drinks asian glow; bigger things like the crush of expectations, fears of nothingness without a gpa, danny’s passion and imposter syndrome about his art. with a largely asian cast, this book felt heart-wrenchingly like home.
picture us in the light is about the weights we carry.
the weight of family - people who feel like home, whom our bodies and atoms gravitate towards. those who proudly watch over us even from a distance.
the weight of sacrifice - the grief of terrible choices and how life afterwards orbits around it. how that guilt shapes and reshapes everything, past present, & future. also, the sacrifices made out of sheer love. which is a heavy burden to shoulder, but you do it both for them & in spite of them.
the weight of friendship - friends, classmates, & everyone else illuminating our lives. this book takes place on the road to graduation, where the universe you’ve known nearly your whole life is about to dissolve and the friends you see daily are about to be flung to the far ends of the world.
some are the people who you have given your heart to, unprotected, & let them gently stitch it up for you. the friend group knitted together with everyone’s history, hopes, & grief. what do you make of the time left? how do you carry someone with you, deep in your chest wherever you go?
this book is heavy, but it’s a gorgeous reminder of the beauty of those who exist in this world. its a weight, but it’s one that i’m so happy to carry in my heart.
November 8, 2023
to the person who recommended me this book (i mean, charlotte), sincerely, from the bottom of my heart: fuck. you.
rep: Chinese American gay mc, Taiwanese American achillean li, Taiwanese & Chinese American side characters, side character with depression
tw: past suicide, past child abduction
first of all the writing is absolutely gorgeous, more like poetry than prose. and then the story is heartbreaking. we learn more & more about it slowly, in little pieces, and that works to change our minds a few times, to make things even more painful in the end once the whole truth is unraveled.
it’s a story of parental love, of hard, unbearable choices & how those choices can break you, of promises that can shape your life, of loosing connections with people & the beauty of building them up again.
rep: Chinese American gay mc, Taiwanese American achillean li, Taiwanese & Chinese American side characters, side character with depression
tw: past suicide, past child abduction
first of all the writing is absolutely gorgeous, more like poetry than prose. and then the story is heartbreaking. we learn more & more about it slowly, in little pieces, and that works to change our minds a few times, to make things even more painful in the end once the whole truth is unraveled.
it’s a story of parental love, of hard, unbearable choices & how those choices can break you, of promises that can shape your life, of loosing connections with people & the beauty of building them up again.
April 13, 2018
This is not going to appeal to every reader. I already know that for a fact. It’s the kind of story that reads slower than most of my usual fare, and it’s heavy - heavy in the sense that so many issues are raised in the story. But I ended up being unable to tear myself away from the story, and watching it unfold was excruciating but also compelling.
April 10, 2018
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert is out today!!! For fans of YA contemporary fiction this is absolutely a must-read. This is easily one of the best books I've read this year and one that I will happily be foisting upon everyone I know.
When it comes to contemporary fiction, I love both the super swoony romantic contemporaries and the gorgeously written, emotionally evocative ones. Picture Us in the Light certainly falls into the latter category. This book is so smart, heart-stinging, and beautiful.
The characters are wonderful, the setting is immersive and authentic, and that PLOT! This book has multiple hooks that draw you into the story and keep you glued to the pages, and the way that Gilbert ties those separate plot lines together is really quite brilliant. This is probably one of (if not the) most meticulously plotted YA contemporary novels I've read.
Picture Us in the Light isn't a book that you simply read, it's a book you experience. The depth of emotion here is astounding and beautiful. This book will linger in reader's hearts long after they’ve closed the book.
When it comes to contemporary fiction, I love both the super swoony romantic contemporaries and the gorgeously written, emotionally evocative ones. Picture Us in the Light certainly falls into the latter category. This book is so smart, heart-stinging, and beautiful.
The characters are wonderful, the setting is immersive and authentic, and that PLOT! This book has multiple hooks that draw you into the story and keep you glued to the pages, and the way that Gilbert ties those separate plot lines together is really quite brilliant. This is probably one of (if not the) most meticulously plotted YA contemporary novels I've read.
Picture Us in the Light isn't a book that you simply read, it's a book you experience. The depth of emotion here is astounding and beautiful. This book will linger in reader's hearts long after they’ve closed the book.
September 14, 2019
Picture Us In The Light devastates slowly and I'm mad that this book is so underappreciated and under-read. Do yourself a favour and read this book.
- Follows Danny, a Chinese-American teen and son of immigrants, whose life is turned upside down when he discovers a mysterious box containing secrets that link his family to a buried past.
- From the sentence above, it makes it sound like a mystery or thriller - it isn't.
- It's a story about heartbreaking circumstances, the terrible choices we make and the tragedy of the consequences that take years to snowball. It's about family, it's about love, and it's about... heck, it's about LIFE okay.
- It's also about the gradual and slow realisation that you love your best friend. (yeah, it's m/m!)
- I just really loved this book and the writing and what the story meant and what Gilbert was trying to say with this story are things that keep me up at night.
Trigger/content warning:
- Follows Danny, a Chinese-American teen and son of immigrants, whose life is turned upside down when he discovers a mysterious box containing secrets that link his family to a buried past.
- From the sentence above, it makes it sound like a mystery or thriller - it isn't.
- It's a story about heartbreaking circumstances, the terrible choices we make and the tragedy of the consequences that take years to snowball. It's about family, it's about love, and it's about... heck, it's about LIFE okay.
- It's also about the gradual and slow realisation that you love your best friend. (yeah, it's m/m!)
- I just really loved this book and the writing and what the story meant and what Gilbert was trying to say with this story are things that keep me up at night.
Trigger/content warning:
July 5, 2018
It is just past midnight. I am numb. Maybe numb is not the word I need right now. But so may feelings are aswirl inside me that I am actually drained of feeling. And these tears, the ones that are blurring the view outside the nearest window, are tears of pain and relief and awe because Picture Us in the Light is ultimately about the power of love --- the love of friends, the love of family, and the love that we all think of which is different from, yet born of, all the other loves. It's late, and I can't rehash the plot or break down the characters' strengths and weaknesses. I will simply say Picture Us in the Light is this rich, vivid novel that won't leave you the same person you were before you began it.
August 22, 2023
Possibly one of the best YA books, or maybe even books period, that I have ever read. Heartbreaking in places, gorgeous emotion, heavy topics. Just amazing. If the blurb grabs you, absolutely give it a chance.
June 12, 2020
“The people who matter to you the most - you aren't always going to occupy the same space in their lives, I guess. Maybe that's what i always loved most about art, that it was a way of multiplying myself so I could feel like I was always a part of more than I really was... Maybe that still means something, however small. And maybe life is when you gather all the things you can hold on to and carry with you, and cross your fingers it will be enough."
“Other people don't exist just to be your happy ending, you know?”
“But when I really think about it, I wonder if maybe it's more than that; maybe it's something that hits close to the deepest core of who I am. I'm not a religious person, but what I have with Harry is the closest thing I have - when I am with him is when the world is at its clearest for me.”
5 stars. Picture Us in The Light was a book I had put off reading forever and I’m so glad I finally read it. I had actually started this book around two years ago, when it first came out on the promise that there was a male, LGBTQ Asian protagonist who ended up in a MLM relationship. Weirdly enough, I had DNF-ed this novel and it was one of the few books on my minuscule DNF shelf on here. Imagine my surprise when I finally picked it off my TBR not two days ago and upon finishing it, five-starred it and continue thinking about it even a day later. It's really hard for me to put into words why I fell in love with this book, as for a lot of this novel, I thought it was a bit bogged down by the well-done if a bit dense prose and slow pacing. This is not an easy book to read and on the whole, is an incredibly "heavy" read.
I'm not one of those people who experience synesthesia (the phenomenon that is commonly associated with people who "hear" color), but the only way I can most accurately describe this book is that the feeling I got while reading this book was blue. Blue, besides being my favorite color, is a color I also associate a select few anime ending songs that all, at least instrumentally, sound like expressions of melancholy mixed with longing and a bit of nostalgia. I would say that reading Picture Us in The Light evoked those same feelings that listening to those songs do.
This "blue feeling" permeated my reading experience, and I definitely think that it was purposeful on the author's part. There's something so distinctly sad about this novel, which is a symptom of the fact that the core of this novel is about grief, of all kinds. Grief of Throughout this novel, Danny's primary conflict is in dealing with most if not all of these types of grief. He is forced to confront it, deal with it, and work through it in a way that isn't necessarily pretty or fun to watch. As a result of this, there are multiple subjects that I'd like to warn any potential readers about in case they are triggering:
As far as the prose of this novel I would have to say that although I didn't quite enjoy it, it definitely coincided with novel's purpose and it's general heavy nature. The prose in this novel is actually quite dense almost akin to (even though I haven't read much if any of the genre) the type you'd find in literary fiction. I saw a reviewer comparing it to the prose in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and I'm inclined to agree. In the most general sense, the prose is very poetic yet simple, focusing on letting the reader feel the gravity of the emotions Danny is feeling through the physical length of the sentences and paragraphs.
While at times the prose brings the story progression to a halt, this novel is primarily about the interpersonal relationships between Danny and the other characters: Harry, Regina, his parents, his and even his relationships to more abstract things, like his art or his Chinese-American identity. As such, the prose helps more than hurts the novel. Speaking of characters, I really do like Danny as I love protagonists with a passion that defines them as well as protagonists who are allowed to be messy and flawed; in particular, I really love the discussion of how he feels like a fraud of an artist because for a lot of the novel, he is unable to draw or create art (which is something I feel on a personal level as a writer).
Before I conclude this review, I would like to also confirm that this novel is an LGBTQ novel and that it does have a MLM romance in it, however small it may be. Danny does any specific labels to describe himself, but it's clear in-text that I'd also like to point out that this book's minor romance falls into best-friends-to-lovers, the superior romance trope. Especially when its done for the gays, which in this case it is.
Conclusively, I would highly recommend this novel if you're looking for an emotionally weighted, diverse YA contemporary. I saw myself in this novel a lot, despite not being Chinese, and I think anyone could gain a lot from reading this.
“Other people don't exist just to be your happy ending, you know?”
“But when I really think about it, I wonder if maybe it's more than that; maybe it's something that hits close to the deepest core of who I am. I'm not a religious person, but what I have with Harry is the closest thing I have - when I am with him is when the world is at its clearest for me.”
5 stars. Picture Us in The Light was a book I had put off reading forever and I’m so glad I finally read it. I had actually started this book around two years ago, when it first came out on the promise that there was a male, LGBTQ Asian protagonist who ended up in a MLM relationship. Weirdly enough, I had DNF-ed this novel and it was one of the few books on my minuscule DNF shelf on here. Imagine my surprise when I finally picked it off my TBR not two days ago and upon finishing it, five-starred it and continue thinking about it even a day later. It's really hard for me to put into words why I fell in love with this book, as for a lot of this novel, I thought it was a bit bogged down by the well-done if a bit dense prose and slow pacing. This is not an easy book to read and on the whole, is an incredibly "heavy" read.
I'm not one of those people who experience synesthesia (the phenomenon that is commonly associated with people who "hear" color), but the only way I can most accurately describe this book is that the feeling I got while reading this book was blue. Blue, besides being my favorite color, is a color I also associate a select few anime ending songs that all, at least instrumentally, sound like expressions of melancholy mixed with longing and a bit of nostalgia. I would say that reading Picture Us in The Light evoked those same feelings that listening to those songs do.
This "blue feeling" permeated my reading experience, and I definitely think that it was purposeful on the author's part. There's something so distinctly sad about this novel, which is a symptom of the fact that the core of this novel is about grief, of all kinds. Grief of Throughout this novel, Danny's primary conflict is in dealing with most if not all of these types of grief. He is forced to confront it, deal with it, and work through it in a way that isn't necessarily pretty or fun to watch. As a result of this, there are multiple subjects that I'd like to warn any potential readers about in case they are triggering:
As far as the prose of this novel I would have to say that although I didn't quite enjoy it, it definitely coincided with novel's purpose and it's general heavy nature. The prose in this novel is actually quite dense almost akin to (even though I haven't read much if any of the genre) the type you'd find in literary fiction. I saw a reviewer comparing it to the prose in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and I'm inclined to agree. In the most general sense, the prose is very poetic yet simple, focusing on letting the reader feel the gravity of the emotions Danny is feeling through the physical length of the sentences and paragraphs.
While at times the prose brings the story progression to a halt, this novel is primarily about the interpersonal relationships between Danny and the other characters: Harry, Regina, his parents, his and even his relationships to more abstract things, like his art or his Chinese-American identity. As such, the prose helps more than hurts the novel. Speaking of characters, I really do like Danny as I love protagonists with a passion that defines them as well as protagonists who are allowed to be messy and flawed; in particular, I really love the discussion of how he feels like a fraud of an artist because for a lot of the novel, he is unable to draw or create art (which is something I feel on a personal level as a writer).
Before I conclude this review, I would like to also confirm that this novel is an LGBTQ novel and that it does have a MLM romance in it, however small it may be. Danny does any specific labels to describe himself, but it's clear in-text that I'd also like to point out that this book's minor romance falls into best-friends-to-lovers, the superior romance trope. Especially when its done for the gays, which in this case it is.
Conclusively, I would highly recommend this novel if you're looking for an emotionally weighted, diverse YA contemporary. I saw myself in this novel a lot, despite not being Chinese, and I think anyone could gain a lot from reading this.
August 22, 2020
CW:
This is a beautiful novel that covers some great topics but could have done with a wee edit. I have been sitting here trying to think of which storyline could have been written out. I have concluded that the novel wouldn't have suffered if the 'Sandra' storyline had been removed. In fact I think it would have allowed the other storylines to be less diluted if you know what I mean. Everything else felt crucial to our journey as the novel was primarily about Danny's family and his close friends. I thought Danny's relationship with his parents was wonderful and their love for him clear to see. Their grief over the loss of their daughter was set aside in order to channel their energy towards Danny's future.
"They understand what it means for your life to orbit around a single choice. How everything that comes after will always originate from a single point."
The choice his parents make at the end of the novel had a tear sliding down my cheek. The love of parents is truly powerful.
I was captivated by the way the author chose to reveal how the story ended! So remarkably original and brilliant. A wonderful novel.
This is a beautiful novel that covers some great topics but could have done with a wee edit. I have been sitting here trying to think of which storyline could have been written out. I have concluded that the novel wouldn't have suffered if the 'Sandra' storyline had been removed. In fact I think it would have allowed the other storylines to be less diluted if you know what I mean. Everything else felt crucial to our journey as the novel was primarily about Danny's family and his close friends. I thought Danny's relationship with his parents was wonderful and their love for him clear to see. Their grief over the loss of their daughter was set aside in order to channel their energy towards Danny's future.
"They understand what it means for your life to orbit around a single choice. How everything that comes after will always originate from a single point."
The choice his parents make at the end of the novel had a tear sliding down my cheek. The love of parents is truly powerful.
I was captivated by the way the author chose to reveal how the story ended! So remarkably original and brilliant. A wonderful novel.
October 2, 2020
4.75 stars
Raw, tender, and quietly powerful.
RTC
Raw, tender, and quietly powerful.
RTC
May 28, 2018
I don't think I've read a contemporary that's so gripping and Real and nuanced and devastating yet healing in a while
CW/TWs: depression, suicide, panic attacks, adoption, human trafficking
CW/TWs: depression, suicide, panic attacks, adoption, human trafficking
January 22, 2024
i cannot rate this anything but five stars. this book is pain, and i adore it.
(i also read it all in one sitting, because i didn't want to put it down.)
2022 update: i think this being my first book of the year is going to be an annual thing.
2023 update: first read of the year for the third year in a row ! still just as heartbreaking ! so many quotes i highlighted and my copy is now tabbed beyond recognition!
highlighted quotes in spoiler tag below
there's more, and really, this book means more to me than it did before. there's parts that resonate so strongly with me, because of events that have happened to me in the last year, and parts that i understand so deeply that i didn't before. lines that i never paid attention to before, that this time struck me, because i could see danny, harry, and regina in myself and my friends, in varying combinations. sandra in someone my friends and i lost. lines about harry reflecting on his relationship with regina that killed me to read because it's a fine line between him and me, really.
this book means more to me than it used to, somehow. and i'll forever be grateful.
UPDATE JAN 2024:
so. i would have love to have read this for the first book of 2024. but if i thought it touched me last time, in sandra's existence, it would be so so so much worse. this parallel would be absolutely devastating, as i went through a very very similar thing to danny. it's meant i probably won't reread this book for a while longer yet, but i'm only writing this because somehow, what i wrote above became even more true. somehow. i don't know how. i still know who sandra was, and now is. and how absolutely ruined i am now because of this book.
(i also read it all in one sitting, because i didn't want to put it down.)
2022 update: i think this being my first book of the year is going to be an annual thing.
2023 update: first read of the year for the third year in a row ! still just as heartbreaking ! so many quotes i highlighted and my copy is now tabbed beyond recognition!
highlighted quotes in spoiler tag below
there's more, and really, this book means more to me than it did before. there's parts that resonate so strongly with me, because of events that have happened to me in the last year, and parts that i understand so deeply that i didn't before. lines that i never paid attention to before, that this time struck me, because i could see danny, harry, and regina in myself and my friends, in varying combinations. sandra in someone my friends and i lost. lines about harry reflecting on his relationship with regina that killed me to read because it's a fine line between him and me, really.
this book means more to me than it used to, somehow. and i'll forever be grateful.
UPDATE JAN 2024:
so. i would have love to have read this for the first book of 2024. but if i thought it touched me last time, in sandra's existence, it would be so so so much worse. this parallel would be absolutely devastating, as i went through a very very similar thing to danny. it's meant i probably won't reread this book for a while longer yet, but i'm only writing this because somehow, what i wrote above became even more true. somehow. i don't know how. i still know who sandra was, and now is. and how absolutely ruined i am now because of this book.
January 16, 2019
This is a hard book to review because I think that it was very well-done and it had so much potential, but ultimately, there was just too much going on to focus on doing any one thing as well as possible.
Danny is a high school senior who is simultaneously excited and nervous about moving from California to Rhode Island for art school in the next school year. But a wrench gets thrown into his plans when he discovers that his parents—immigrants from China—are keeping one heck of a secret from him.
It starts when he finds a box in the back of the closet, full of documents about a man Danny's never heard of but who lives not far from their home in Silicon Valley. Danny does some more digging and eventually uncovers some wildly life-changing truths about his family. Danny's father loses his job at a local university, and Danny suspects that it may have something to do with a pet research project that the school didn't support. For obvious reasons
The novel would have been incredible if Loy had focused on just this one storyline. It's fascinating, unique, and full of high-stakes drama.
But, there's also drama among Danny's friend group. Danny's best friend Harry is dating their other friend Regina, but Danny isn't convinced that they should be together (It's implied that Danny has a crush on Harry, but it's never really made explicit). Danny is particularly uncertain about what's going to happen between him and Harry next year when Danny's at RISD.
It's also coming up on the first anniversary of a tragedy that rocked the entire student body. Regina is pushing to do a special edition of the school newspaper to mark the anniversary, which, for some reason that isn't clear to me, the school administration is very much opposed to. Danny, meanwhile, harbors some guilt over the situation, concerned that he could have done more to prevent it from happening in the first place.
And then all of the various storylines start coming to a head, and it gets to be a little bit...overwhelming, I guess? Like, they feel kind of rushed and not as in-depth as they could be. Which is a shame, because Loy's prose is phenomenal, and her characters are delightfully well-drawn. This could have been an absolutely incredible book. I just think that she ultimately bit off too much and the final result was rather average.
Danny is a high school senior who is simultaneously excited and nervous about moving from California to Rhode Island for art school in the next school year. But a wrench gets thrown into his plans when he discovers that his parents—immigrants from China—are keeping one heck of a secret from him.
It starts when he finds a box in the back of the closet, full of documents about a man Danny's never heard of but who lives not far from their home in Silicon Valley. Danny does some more digging and eventually uncovers some wildly life-changing truths about his family. Danny's father loses his job at a local university, and Danny suspects that it may have something to do with a pet research project that the school didn't support. For obvious reasons
The novel would have been incredible if Loy had focused on just this one storyline. It's fascinating, unique, and full of high-stakes drama.
But, there's also drama among Danny's friend group. Danny's best friend Harry is dating their other friend Regina, but Danny isn't convinced that they should be together (It's implied that Danny has a crush on Harry, but it's never really made explicit). Danny is particularly uncertain about what's going to happen between him and Harry next year when Danny's at RISD.
It's also coming up on the first anniversary of a tragedy that rocked the entire student body. Regina is pushing to do a special edition of the school newspaper to mark the anniversary, which, for some reason that isn't clear to me, the school administration is very much opposed to. Danny, meanwhile, harbors some guilt over the situation, concerned that he could have done more to prevent it from happening in the first place.
And then all of the various storylines start coming to a head, and it gets to be a little bit...overwhelming, I guess? Like, they feel kind of rushed and not as in-depth as they could be. Which is a shame, because Loy's prose is phenomenal, and her characters are delightfully well-drawn. This could have been an absolutely incredible book. I just think that she ultimately bit off too much and the final result was rather average.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,230 reviews