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A review by bianchibooks
Solitaire by Alice Oseman
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
1.5
Content Warnings (from Alice Oseman's website): References to suicide and suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, self-harm, depression (implied and undiagnosed in the narrator), eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCD), brief incident of homophobia, unchallenged misogyny and ableism
If you are planning to read this novel, I strongly suggest making yourself aware of these triggers beforehand and considering if it is a good fit for you, especially if you are simply a fan of the Heartstopper graphic novels and Nick and Charlie, and are not used to reading works that deal primarily with triggering content. Alice has made this clear herself (see her website and her review for this novel on Goodreads, plus the added Author's Note in front if you are reading a revised copy from post-August 2020), but I want to reiterate it as I can see this novel being a trigger very easily without meaning to.
Time to proceed with the actual review:
So... I am very conflicted on how I felt about this book. There are lot of things that didn't make sense and a lot of questions I have unanswered, but I also feel as if this would have been my favorite novel if I discovered it in 8th grade when I was amidst my own angsty Tumblr phase. It also would have been harmful as fuck, so take that as you will.
Most normal people feeling as I do would probably leave this as RTC or just never review it; however, I always try to write a review as soon as I finish, when the emotions are still settling. In my opinion, I would rather read an incoherent and rambling review over a carefully thought out and masterfully critical review on an author. Hopefully you feel the same way and if you don't, maybe skip this one.
Also, I took a lot of points in this review from other reviews that articulated what I was feeling better than I could in this very moment. A large thank you to Lea (drumsofautumn) and kara.reviews for being a better reviewer than I am! Feel free to read their reviews as well (they both gave it 2 stars).
THE GOOD:
➳ We get to see more of Tori's relationship with her siblings. We see a lot of her with Charlie in the Heartstopper graphic novel series, but not her other young brother, Oliver. It was exciting for me to get a better grasp how Tori and Oliver interact with one another since this is not explored in the graphic novel series as it is not Tori's place to shine. Her relationship with Charlie is so strong that I expected it to be similar to Oliver, and I believe it was.
➳ I was able to finish this in one day, no problem. It may have been difficult to push through at times but that is something I always appreciate about Oseman's works: Even though they may be mentally challenging, physically they are easy.
➳ I was not expecting SpoilerLucas to be behind Solitaire. I guess when I realized it wasn't SpoilerMichael that I could have deducted, but I still found that to be a relative surprise. A plot twist, if you will! Even though a lot of other did see it coming, so maybe I am just stupid... that's always a possibility.
➳ Tori's voice is reflected in the style of writing. It is uncomfortable to read. The short and awkward sentences made me feel uneasy as I read. That's what Tori is though, she's awkward, and I believe Oseman did a flawless job in making the narration true to Tori no matter how unpleasant to read.
➳ I am happy Becky got her redemption arc, even if the arc felt a little forced (I guess this is a GOOD and a NOT-SO-GOOD).
THE NOT-SO-GOOD:
➳ It's very cringeworthy, I'll say it. I can tell this was written in 2012 and I can tell that it was Oseman's debut novel she wrote while in high school herself. I hoped this would create a more authentic voice to the high school experience, but it was just a bunch of pop culture references, cliches, stereotypes, and overused phrases pieced together around a very loose plot.
➳ Charlie's self-harm relapse and suicide attempt are described, and then glossed over following one scene where therapy is mentioned. I understand that the Heartstopper graphic novels and [b:This Winter|27264289|This Winter (Solitaire, #0.5)|Alice Oseman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1445650254l/27264289._SY75_.jpg|47316055] better explore Charlie's mental illness and that this novel was about Tori, but it felt stupid to make it such an important scene in the book just to act like it didn't happen, especially for a book that is so focused on mental illness.
➳ Some of Tori's thoughts, specifically towards death upon herself and others, were so repetitive that I didn't care she was feeling that way anymore. At first it caught me off guard, then I was just like... oh God, this shit again. I just wanted her to shut up. That is probably harsh seeming as suicide is one of the primary topics of this novel and I was well aware of that going in, but I would be lying if I said she didn't annoy the hell out of me. I guess that's what teenagers are sometimes though: annoying. This also kind of contradicts my last point under "THE GOOD", but something can be realistic and annoying at the same time.
➳ The symptoms of Tori's depression are so inconsistent. Support is wonderful, I can vouch first-hand for how having a support system can alter someone's day for the better. I also understand that there are good days, bad days, in-between days, really good days and really bad days as someone who is actually diagnosed with depression. But having a support system doesn't change everything overnight, and there are moments in this novel where Oseman acts like it can. This is an issue I had with Volume Three of Heartstopper as well, so I suppose it is more of an issue with Oseman at this point.
➳ The plot is boring. Michael is boring. Lucas is boring. Everything was bland. It's just... boring. I was bored and mainly wishing for it to end.
I am going to be honest, I thought about DNF'ing this book once Part 2 arrived. I really don't have many complaints about Part 1, but the second half was painful to get through. My opinions would've changed if I chose to DNF although I would not have missed anything. I am sure I will come back and edit my review/rating at some point, but I wanted to get this out now like I said at the beginning.
Yeah. I guess that's all??? I don't know. I really don't know.
If you are planning to read this novel, I strongly suggest making yourself aware of these triggers beforehand and considering if it is a good fit for you, especially if you are simply a fan of the Heartstopper graphic novels and Nick and Charlie, and are not used to reading works that deal primarily with triggering content. Alice has made this clear herself (see her website and her review for this novel on Goodreads, plus the added Author's Note in front if you are reading a revised copy from post-August 2020), but I want to reiterate it as I can see this novel being a trigger very easily without meaning to.
Time to proceed with the actual review:
So... I am very conflicted on how I felt about this book. There are lot of things that didn't make sense and a lot of questions I have unanswered, but I also feel as if this would have been my favorite novel if I discovered it in 8th grade when I was amidst my own angsty Tumblr phase. It also would have been harmful as fuck, so take that as you will.
Most normal people feeling as I do would probably leave this as RTC or just never review it; however, I always try to write a review as soon as I finish, when the emotions are still settling. In my opinion, I would rather read an incoherent and rambling review over a carefully thought out and masterfully critical review on an author. Hopefully you feel the same way and if you don't, maybe skip this one.
Also, I took a lot of points in this review from other reviews that articulated what I was feeling better than I could in this very moment. A large thank you to Lea (drumsofautumn) and kara.reviews for being a better reviewer than I am! Feel free to read their reviews as well (they both gave it 2 stars).
THE GOOD:
➳ We get to see more of Tori's relationship with her siblings. We see a lot of her with Charlie in the Heartstopper graphic novel series, but not her other young brother, Oliver. It was exciting for me to get a better grasp how Tori and Oliver interact with one another since this is not explored in the graphic novel series as it is not Tori's place to shine. Her relationship with Charlie is so strong that I expected it to be similar to Oliver, and I believe it was.
➳ I was able to finish this in one day, no problem. It may have been difficult to push through at times but that is something I always appreciate about Oseman's works: Even though they may be mentally challenging, physically they are easy.
➳ I was not expecting SpoilerLucas to be behind Solitaire. I guess when I realized it wasn't SpoilerMichael that I could have deducted, but I still found that to be a relative surprise. A plot twist, if you will! Even though a lot of other did see it coming, so maybe I am just stupid... that's always a possibility.
➳ Tori's voice is reflected in the style of writing. It is uncomfortable to read. The short and awkward sentences made me feel uneasy as I read. That's what Tori is though, she's awkward, and I believe Oseman did a flawless job in making the narration true to Tori no matter how unpleasant to read.
➳ I am happy Becky got her redemption arc, even if the arc felt a little forced (I guess this is a GOOD and a NOT-SO-GOOD).
THE NOT-SO-GOOD:
➳ It's very cringeworthy, I'll say it. I can tell this was written in 2012 and I can tell that it was Oseman's debut novel she wrote while in high school herself. I hoped this would create a more authentic voice to the high school experience, but it was just a bunch of pop culture references, cliches, stereotypes, and overused phrases pieced together around a very loose plot.
➳ Charlie's self-harm relapse and suicide attempt are described, and then glossed over following one scene where therapy is mentioned. I understand that the Heartstopper graphic novels and [b:This Winter|27264289|This Winter (Solitaire, #0.5)|Alice Oseman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1445650254l/27264289._SY75_.jpg|47316055] better explore Charlie's mental illness and that this novel was about Tori, but it felt stupid to make it such an important scene in the book just to act like it didn't happen, especially for a book that is so focused on mental illness.
➳ Some of Tori's thoughts, specifically towards death upon herself and others, were so repetitive that I didn't care she was feeling that way anymore. At first it caught me off guard, then I was just like... oh God, this shit again. I just wanted her to shut up. That is probably harsh seeming as suicide is one of the primary topics of this novel and I was well aware of that going in, but I would be lying if I said she didn't annoy the hell out of me. I guess that's what teenagers are sometimes though: annoying. This also kind of contradicts my last point under "THE GOOD", but something can be realistic and annoying at the same time.
➳ The symptoms of Tori's depression are so inconsistent. Support is wonderful, I can vouch first-hand for how having a support system can alter someone's day for the better. I also understand that there are good days, bad days, in-between days, really good days and really bad days as someone who is actually diagnosed with depression. But having a support system doesn't change everything overnight, and there are moments in this novel where Oseman acts like it can. This is an issue I had with Volume Three of Heartstopper as well, so I suppose it is more of an issue with Oseman at this point.
➳ The plot is boring. Michael is boring. Lucas is boring. Everything was bland. It's just... boring. I was bored and mainly wishing for it to end.
I am going to be honest, I thought about DNF'ing this book once Part 2 arrived. I really don't have many complaints about Part 1, but the second half was painful to get through. My opinions would've changed if I chose to DNF although I would not have missed anything. I am sure I will come back and edit my review/rating at some point, but I wanted to get this out now like I said at the beginning.
Yeah. I guess that's all??? I don't know. I really don't know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Mental illness
Moderate: Eating disorder and Homophobia
Minor: Misogyny and Ableism