A review by ruthlessreads
Solitaire by Alice Oseman

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I'm glad that this book exists for teens today who need and can appreciate the kind of representation within Solitaire. I certainly wish I'd had it as a teenager! However, reading as an adult, there are things that I didn't like or thought should have been done better:
specific references to Charlie's self harm were not handled well, the plot was sloppy & the Solitaire aspect of it went on way too long, and I hated the reverse-manic pixie dream girl ending.
That said, knowing that this book was written by a 17 year old Oseman makes me significantly more forgiving. I certainly couldn't have written this at that age and I think for a teenager, the flaws it has are entirely understandable and the strengths are to be commended. Oseman has created wonderful characters that feel real and who live in a world that feels real to my own teenage & young adult experience. There were *many* literary, musical, and tv references, making it feel like a snapshot of a very specific era in recent history. 

Overall, I didn't love this book but I'm sure lots of YA readers will enjoy getting to know Tori a bit better. 
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