Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the feeling took root—that desire to look, to move closer, to touch. Whenever it started growing, it definitely bloomed the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. Suddenly everything seemed possible. 

But America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.

Reader Fit: Perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction that explores identity, belonging, and the courage to become yourself in the face of societal expectations.

Why We Carry It: We carry Last Night at the Telegraph Club because it illuminates the intersection of Chinese American identity, queer identity, and McCarthy-era San Francisco. Set in the Bay Area, it offers readers a richer understanding of the region's LGBTQ+ history while highlighting the challenges of navigating family, culture, and self-discovery.