A review by crufts
Solitaire by Alice Oseman

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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