Solitaire

by Alice Oseman

[lessthelonely]

OK, so it's very clear that this is a first book.

Yes, I came from the Heartstopper comic to this, one because I did like Tori's presence in that, but also because I knew that this book had more Nick and Charlie content. This book took me way too long to read. It's not badly written, though it has some very noticeable things that I definitely wish that future editions could fix, for example, one-liners used to the point it managed to draw me out of what was happening. It's funny because it's true.

This book has mostly no plot. I don't think that's a problem. I know they're two different stories altogether with some loose connections, but I'mma keep comparing them because I'm pretty sure most people who will grab this book come from thoroughly enjoying the comic: Heartstopper is more plot-heavy than this, in my opinion. Solitaire, however, goes a bit more for the theatrics, and it mostly pays-off, because it knows just how much seriousness the topics it deals with asks for. Literally, the climax of the book is mostly a break-down of one of the adjacent themes to the book, which is pseudo-intellectualism fueled "pranks", "antics" and "activism". I found it decently funny and well written, for sure.

I'd say this books delves mostly into depression and how conformism generally hurts everyone, the victims, the bystanders and even the perpetrators. At the same time, people who try to go against the grain, which I'd say is primarily embodied by the love interest and another secondary character, they get hurt the most because they're trying to change a world that's deadset on not changing. The whole point of the book is that Tori is a bystander, extremely passive: she knows everything's shitty yet she says she's fine, everything is alright and she doesn't want to be a burden to anyone.

This, of course, causes more harm than good. People who try to care for her end up being sworn off, but I think that Mrs. Oseman did a GREAT JOB at making us understand Tori was truly utterly not herself. I believe I understood that when a past letter written by Tori was shown - it was HIGHLY exaggerated, very OMG you guys, if you know what I mean, which I think was the point: to show just how dulled Tori's own personality became by the simple act of not caring.

There are some definite hiccups, all of them related to breakdowns by Tori that seem to come out of nowhere - there might be a good intention here? Like, mental breakdowns/shit that just ruins our mental state immediately can come out of the blue, but it felt a bit disjointed while reading. The rambles Tori goes on were fine, but what led up to them didn't.

Finally, I'd like to address stuff I saw while reading other reviews for this book (SPOILERS ARE TAGGED):
- I saw in a review that Tori was a bad, judgy person. I didn't get that at all. Tori was an above-decent person who was and still is mentally ill, at least, by the end of the book.
- There is a plot-point about Charlie attempting suicide and having a self-harm relapse, some review claimed therapy is not even mentioned - while I understand the sentiment and Tori and Charlie are presented as very close, it's more than fair to assume Charlie simply didn't tell Tori about therapy, as it's... his business. Other than that, Hearstopper confirms he does go to therapy- In simpler, non-spoilery terms: no, this book doesn't enforce problematic ideas.
- There was a review who talked about Tori and Charlie's parents being both shitty... well, guess what, that was the point. Specially with their mom. The dad seems to be the best of the both of them. And though it seems like parents would be 1000% worried if they noticed their kid is highly unmotivated or passive because that's what we think we'd do if we were parents, the truth is most parents act exactly like Tori and Charlie's: they're dismissive, mildly passive-aggressive and overall unbothered. Speaking from personal experience and from several accounts from many people I've met in life. And I'd like to add that even though Tori's dad sort of redeems himself in a very short and "happy ending" way, it doesn't mean he's a good parent now.

In short: Solitaire isn't all that bad. For teens, it'd be, to be honest, perfect. If you're looking for a super enticing and compelling read? I wouldn't hold my breath on that. It's certainly good! Just not anything that amazing or that you'll be stuck thinking about long after you finish it.