A review by mai_books27
Solitaire by Alice Oseman

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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