Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Solitaire

Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Solitaire by Alice Oseman

135 reviews

proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Tori Spring is a loner. She goes to school, she updates her blog, she sleeps. That's about it. She doesn't like to talk to people, but when Michael Holden begins at her school he doesn't give her a choice. At the same time someone starts a blog called Solitaire. Nobody knows who's behind it or its purpose. Tori doesn't care. She doesn't care about Michael Holden either. Really, she doesn't.

It was interesting to get to know more about Tori, Charlie's sister. In Heartstopper we've only seen small bits and pieces of her, although her personality could be sensed. Here we get her thoughts, which are mostly gloomy, and her every day life. Of course we also get glimpses of Charlie and Nick. Michael Holden is an interesting character, who somehow manages to ingratiate himself in Tori's life.

As in the Heartstopper series this is about youths who are trying to find their way into adulthood. Mental illness is a big part of the story, and there's even thoughts of suicide. I really liked the book and the narrator was great, but I still felt like I might have missed some things while listening. I would love to read it again, but as a physical book.

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lilshelly's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I see you, Tori Spring.

This clearly does read as a debut novel. But, in that, I see a very real, raw character in Tori. Everyone is saying how melodramatic and over the top and selfish this book is. But to that I say, this is the world when you are a teenager. I see so much of myself in Tori. I found myself struggling to connect with people my age. I felt like I didn't belong. I felt deeply, deeply sad. I felt selfish that I was sad when I "had no reason" and needed to do other more important things. I felt passive in every aspect of my life. I felt suffocated. I felt like I was constantly waiting for something to change.

Tori is a very real, very troubled character. All the characters alongside her are too. People like to say this isn't real, not all teens like this. And to that I say, have you ever paid attention?

Also, I loathe the Spring parents so deeply. Telling your mentally ill and desperate children to stop being sarcastic and to stop being sad and basically telling them there's nothing wrong is the exact opposite way of providing good support. And they just let the grandparents talk so shittily about Tori and Charlie. These kids need support and love, and their family genuinely seems to give no cares.

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leikyr's review

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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nellienelson's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Idek what to say but I loved it so much. It portrayed well how (some) teenagers go through school life nowadays and I loved how Tori is portrayed as an ‘unlovable pessimistic character who ended up with someone who - from the outside - seems like the exact opposite. And they end up being the one thing they both need. It’s really well-written and I loved it.

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