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booksonthefloor 's review for:
Solitaire
by Alice Oseman
I finally finished this book and I am so happy that I gave it the time it was due. I purchased this book this summer right after getting REAL into Heartstopper. I had binged the books, the TV show... and I still truly adore Heartstopper.
When I began reading this, I was really only reading it to get more of Nick and Charlie's story. I knew they were secondary characters in this book-- with Charlie being slightly more important to the plot than Nick (who really is, in this book, just a very loyal, responsible, doting boyfriend and that is pretty much it.)
My first read through of this book was mid-September and I really just skimmed. I was pretty driven by two things: what was the Nick and Charlie storyline (even though I knew it would be very minor), and who was Solitaire? I found the tone of the book so different from the wholesome Heartstopper I was used to and my interest faded.
A month later, I picked it back up with less Heartstopper fanaticism. Even though I was technically well into the 2nd half of the book, I decided to start over and really read it. This time around, I truly fell in love with this book, especially the character of Michael. This reas through, Charlie and Nick became less important side characters to me, where they rightfully belong in this story. Tori definitely deserves to be front and center during this novel. She has so much to do (besides skulking in the corner sipping diet lemonade).
I understand why Solitaire is largely kept separate from Heartstopper. The things that happen in the book, and the way Higgs students react to them, would potentially change our views of some beloved characters (can we imagine Darcie and Tara celebrating at the Clay as the fireworks burst? Would Elle have thought beating up Ben was funny? Would the gang have celebrated as the school burned?) And because the answer to all of those things is "no way," the story would not have been centered around Tori. It would have been the Paris Crew vs. Solitaire.
That being said, as Michael Holden has begun to surface in Heartstopper, just slightly, it was exciting to hear his complex backstory.
Overall, this book was wonderful, not because it was a sister to Heartstopper, but because it was such a beautiful, powerful story.
When I began reading this, I was really only reading it to get more of Nick and Charlie's story. I knew they were secondary characters in this book-- with Charlie being slightly more important to the plot than Nick (who really is, in this book, just a very loyal, responsible, doting boyfriend and that is pretty much it.)
My first read through of this book was mid-September and I really just skimmed. I was pretty driven by two things: what was the Nick and Charlie storyline (even though I knew it would be very minor), and who was Solitaire? I found the tone of the book so different from the wholesome Heartstopper I was used to and my interest faded.
A month later, I picked it back up with less Heartstopper fanaticism. Even though I was technically well into the 2nd half of the book, I decided to start over and really read it. This time around, I truly fell in love with this book, especially the character of Michael. This reas through, Charlie and Nick became less important side characters to me, where they rightfully belong in this story. Tori definitely deserves to be front and center during this novel. She has so much to do (besides skulking in the corner sipping diet lemonade).
I understand why Solitaire is largely kept separate from Heartstopper. The things that happen in the book, and the way Higgs students react to them, would potentially change our views of some beloved characters (can we imagine Darcie and Tara celebrating at the Clay as the fireworks burst? Would Elle have thought beating up Ben was funny? Would the gang have celebrated as the school burned?) And because the answer to all of those things is "no way," the story would not have been centered around Tori. It would have been the Paris Crew vs. Solitaire.
That being said, as Michael Holden has begun to surface in Heartstopper, just slightly, it was exciting to hear his complex backstory.
Overall, this book was wonderful, not because it was a sister to Heartstopper, but because it was such a beautiful, powerful story.