Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Solitaire by Alice Oseman

738 reviews

kvothe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder and Mental illness

mayaeatsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The first half was a little slow, but when the panic after a certain event sets in it is palpable in a way that affected my life. I read it in a day. This is not a feel good story. This is a story that reminds me of 2020-2022, and the numbness that came with depression. It is a painful, emotional read, that did not make me cry mostly because it sent me back to a time when I couldn’t. All this to say, it made me feel. Which is what i want out of a book these days. I only hope i’ll sleep through this painful reminder and find tomorrow to be enjoyable. Im playing dnd tomorrow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

mbrogs2024's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia

nemcphile's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

i finished this so quickly holy shit

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Self harm

saturnsaz's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Tori is so real. Brb crying. 

I love the writing. I love when it's consciousness streaming and it's just like you really get into the head of a character. I was a little shocked at how the story took a turn at the end(literally so unexpected)

I thought Tori was ace so when they kissed I was a little confused. Maybe it was just all that build up?

but I think it needs some reflection. I really liked the build up of the friendship. 

I've read a little bit of heartstopper and watched the show. Tori felt a bit more real because of the fact that I've seen their house and the actress who plays her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Eating disorder and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Homophobia, Self harm, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

ravenn15's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was not expecting the second half atall the way it escalated was crazy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit

lilnoosh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Self harm

crufts's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-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

3.75

Summary: Well-written angst, like a modern take on The Catcher in the Rye .

The author's debut novel. Follows the life of a highschool student who starts to notice strange occurrences around the school.

Pros:

• Tagline on the cover is actually true ("This is not a love story...")
• Accurate depiction of mental illness
• Solidly carries an overall story arc with significant character development
•  Pleasing writing style that adapts to changes in the characters' moods
•  Interestingly subverts some LGBT tropes

Cons:

• Unrealistic hacking as a major plot device

Overall: Definitely a good read, I enjoyed it! It reminded me of The Catcher In the Rye, only set in ~2015. It's like if someone's personal Tumblr blog was a book, only much better than that sounds.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Mental illness: The protagonist's (heavily implied) depression.

tazzyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

ashes456's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I’m not sure how I’m feeling right now. This book broke me and then pieced me in kind of a very chaotic way back together. 
And it’s really not a love story even if you momentarily expect it to become one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt