Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Solitaire

This book is a constant favourite of mine I have listened and read it multiple time. This book is extremely relatable and it embodies so much emotion and it really makes you think about what u r doing in ur life. This book is for the people who don’t feel life anymore and for the people who need a comfort character who relates to you.

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tomoonarmy's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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kcmillheiser's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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lolajh's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Yeah so this destroyed me. The perfect portrayal of depression and mental illness, as well as the aroace experience that Alice experiences and has conveyed through Tori’s character. Tori’s mental health journey being placed above a possible intimate relationship with Michael was beautiful and realistic because of just how much Tori needed to focus on herself before being able to commit to another person. This book also described Charlie’s mental issues being favoured and more focused on by their parents compared to Tori, which is what allowed her mental health to deplete unnoticed and being ignored by everyone including herself, as she felt guilty comparing her mental health to her brother’s. Seeing Tori’s parents’ neglect to her mental health and only focusing on Charlie was very heartbreaking, and with Tori being the oldest of her siblings she clearly feels responsible for Charlie and barely has time to look after herself when her parents clearly aren’t looking out for her. Tori has always been an intriguing side character I have loved in Heartstopper, so it was really nice she was given the attention she deserves and have her own story.

Also the scene where nick leaves Charlie to eat by himself just because they had a fight made me so sad and tori yelling at nick is exactly how I felt tbh

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anaguana's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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mai_books27's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really loved this book, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting to. In most reviews of Oseman's works, this book is never really the favorite, and is normally tucked towards the bottom. I think this is for a couple reasons, but primarily (and non-spoilery) it's these: 1- It's a dark book. It deals with heavy themes, and does so in a way that doesn't render them super palatable. It lacks a lot of the sweetness we expect from Oseman (though it's still there!!), and I think a lot of readers (esp coming from Heartstopper) find this unnerving. 2- It's a debut novel, and thusly... has some quirks. But even insofar as it is a debut novel, it's quite incredible, and genuinely such a gripping read.
P.S. Though this book ~technically~ came out first, I would recommend reading Heartstopper beforehand. It will really elucidate a lot of what's happening in this novel that goes unaddressed/ happens in the BG. Overall, I think having Heartstopper under your belt will make this more enjoyable. (-:

Also, I know the ending is "unnatural" and "unbelievable" to some folks. While I understand, (and initially thought the same), I actually think that's the only way the story could have ended. Ok, hear me out: From the beginning, Tori is a serious, cynical creature. The back cover of my book straight up says " I came out of the womb spouting cynicism...". Throughout the book, we see that same cynical attitude get her nowhere/ be her Achilles heel, if you will. At the end of the novel, we see Tori despising others for their apathy and inaction, and we see her realize that she isn't alone. Her arc is one of dismantling and abandoning her inner cynic... and I think that if the ending had been more reasonable and logical (i.e. 'hey maybe standing on the roof of a burning building and sucking face maybe isn't the move right now; we should probably RUN') would have, in some way, enabled her cynic side to win (READ: the side that pushed her to sewerslide/sewerslidal ideation). I feel like having that last moment be so cinematic and almost.. irreal? embodied this arc in her character, and hammered home the idea that sometimes things are "funny because they are true", you know? Like how INSANE, and yet? I think that how wild this novel gets and how it all unravels really incarnates that thesis that patience, and apathy, and cynicism.. they really do kill! So yeah, rant over hehe... I don't really believe any of it made sense...sorry<Spoiler>

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