Alice Oseman

The acclaimed debut novel from Alice Oseman, the author of the 2021 YA Book Prize winning Loveless. Solitaire features the characters that inspired the beloved webcomic and graphic novel series Heartstopper – now a major Netflix series.

My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that’s all over now.

Now there’s Solitaire. And Michael Holden.

I don’t know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don’t care about Michael Holden.

I really don’t.

This incredible debut novel by outstanding young author Alice Oseman is perfect for fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and all unflinchingly honest writers.

Solitaire

Merasemer

Jessica Sennebogen

All I know is that I’m here. And I’m alive. And I’m not alone.

surtified™

I don’t want people to be worried about me. There’s nothing to worry about. I don’t want people to try and understand why I am the way I am, because I should be the first person to understand that. And I don’t understand yet. I don’t want people to interfere. I don’t want people in my head, picking out this and that, permanently picking up the broken pieces of me.

Dad sits next to me. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” No, I am not. “You know, if you want to be happier, you have to try. You have to put in the effort. Your problem is that you don’t try.” I do try. I have tried. I have tried for sixteen years.

I don’t think my mum likes me very much. That doesn’t really matter, because I don’t really like her either.

“I didn’t. I came in because of the arrow on the door. I thought it looked quite mysterious. And here you are! What a hilarious act of fate!

Sometimes I like to fill my days with little things that other people don’t care about.

I’m not sure whether Becky genuinely likes Evelyn. Sometimes I think people only pretend to like each other.

I think you should know that I make up a lot of stuff in my head and then get sad about it.

When I get back into bed, every single thing that you could possibly think about in one day decides to come to me all at once and suddenly there’s a small lightning storm inside my head.

All the people are chatting and laughing and smiling and it sort of makes me feel a bit sad, like I’m watching them through a dirty window.

Sometimes I hate people. This is probably very bad for my mental health.

Lucas Baxter 

Morgan 

I think I loved you since I first met you I just mistook it for curiosity 

One person can change everything he says and you have changed everything for me 

Signe

"You hate yourself. I hate myself. Common interests. We should get together." 

"Everything was fine. I was fine. I used to be fine."

"I don't want people to be worried about me. There's nothing to worry about. I don't want people to try and understand why I'm the way I am, because I should be the first person to understand that. And I don't understand yet." 

" I do try. I have tried. I have tried for sixteen years.

Tori talking about how Becky's success feels like her failure

"Thanks," she says, and I wish I could tell her that I am happy for her, but everything she does makes me fell like a failure at life." 

"I don't think my mom likes me very much. That doesn't matter, because I don't really like her either."

"Everyone's attractive, to be honest, even if it's just something small, like some people have really beautiful hands. I don't know. I'm a little bit in love with everyone I meet."

"I can't think of anything to say because that is what my answer would be really. Nothing. I am a vacuum. I am a void. I am nothing.

3.85 star 💫 

Gut->Really Gut

It’s not even that depressing 

Solitaire is the perfect book for teenagers and young adults to explore the importance of self reflection. I loved the characters throughout the books, although I did find Tori somewhat obnoxious and self-absorbed. The plot of the Solitaire blog is a great way to guide the reader through Tori’s own experience of self reflection and realisation. 

Charlotte Squire

This book is incredible! The plot is amazing and the main character is very relatable, she is my favourite non read person ❤️ (found it very similar to season 2 of heartbreak high?) 

Sid Ewing

Anna 

solitaire is about nothing and everything at the same time. it deals with mental illness that is not visible to everyone, that might be misunderstood and more complicated than people think. it's about tori being a teenager, a sad teenager with boring life, and about michael whose life became less boring because of tori. it's also about this secret organisation called solitaire and about love and hate and stress and fear. 
it's really good, when you properly think about it. and yes, the characters aren't great, they have their own issues and sometimes act like little babies. but that's what real teens are like. and I think Alice did a great job realistically portraying them in this book.

I just love what Alice Oseman writes. And she was so young when she wrote this book. 

Barbara

Bria

This could’ve easily been a four if Alice Oseman didn’t have the “*in an accent* I’m a strong independent woman who don’t need a man” it’s giving me micro-aggression

kelsey

really trying to figure out how i feel about this book. like it’s honestly anywhere from a 2 star rating to a 4 star rating

brooklyn leota

** spoiler alert **
           I knew someone would tell Tori they’re in love with her

ineke

“But books–they’re different. When you watch a film, you’re sort of an outsider looking in. With a book–you’re right there. You are inside. You are the main character.”

 Please Check The Content Warnings Before Reading This Book 

I've read this book once before, sitting in the corners of the school library and not quite sure what I was getting into — I am useless at reading story blurbs to this day. It didn't really matter though in the end, it was a book I enjoyed then and a book I enjoyed rereading six years later.

I wouldn't say it's a book for happy people, the narration by Tori might seem too cynical and possibly even 'one-track'. On the other hand, it might influence sad people too much though. Maybe it's a book for people who spent hours a day on Tumblr during the AHS peak and have grown up to be comfortably numb. All I know is I enjoyed it as a teenager, and I enjoyed it now at freshly 21, but I am aware that my blanket of numbness may have protected me from the more dark and emotional aspects of the book. Once again, please check the content warnings before reading!

anna

4.5/5 ⭐️ I can understand why half of the reviews are bad but honestly, I loved it. Yes, I rolled my eyes at some things but overall I really enjoyed reading the book. Contemporary lit is easy to read and of course I loved the pop culture references. I think it was a very relatable book, like I could relate to some of the things some characters experience in the book. That helped me be more attached to them. I don't know what else to say but yeah it was a good read 🤗

I loved tori in heartstopper so i really enjoyed seeing things from her perspective and enjoyed learning about her character more. 

Kenzie Carlin

Rodrigo Figueiredo Severino

Is this a masterpiece? Nah but I had a lot of fun with it. The prose is captivating, I liked the POV style and writing, the characters were good, very fun moments and also very sad impactful ones to balance it out. Just a nice message in a very easy to read fun book

river

might write a review later if i can form coherent thoughts but basically i thought it was alright and i liked it (i read the edited version btw)

kayla 

Julie Rubens

I love Alice's books and Loveless is such a special and important book to me, but to be completely honest this book didn't really do it for me. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice book, I like the characters and it is a very easy read. I just thought the storyline wasn't that interesting and the plot was a little predictable.

"Tori Spring feels completely disconnected from her life--until she meets the relentlessly cheerful Michael Holden, and a series of schoolwide pranks starts to draw her out of her shell"--

I love this book and I will read it over and over again ^_^ 

Jeremy Elek

This felt so long for no reason I did not really enjoy it until the end

Pia 

tori spring i love u. michael holden i love u.

while there are definitely issues with this book and the solitaire stuff toward the end was just a bit too unbelievable, i cannot deny that this book is a part of me. tori and michael spoke to me on different levels. tori more to my younger, lonely self and michael to the angrier me of the last few years. i've been struggling a lot lately with the idea of identity, especially when it comes to being someone who does things and doesn't just stand there stagnant. reading this book reminds me that things don't just happen and that you have to want to change to change. sure subtle changes are good, but the biggest, scariest ones are the ones that matter the most. so reminder to self: when it's scariest, it's almost certainly meant to help you grow.

Lydia

tori spring i love u. michael holden i love u.

while there are definitely issues with this book and the solitaire stuff toward the end was just a bit too unbelievable, i cannot deny that this book is a part of me. tori and michael spoke to me on different levels. tori more to my younger, lonely self and michael to the angrier me of the last few years. i've been struggling a lot lately with the idea of identity, especially when it comes to being someone who does things and doesn't just stand there stagnant. reading this book reminds me that things don't just happen and that you have to want to change to change. sure subtle changes are good, but the biggest, scariest ones are the ones that matter the most. so reminder to self: when it's scariest, it's almost certainly meant to help you grow.

her perspective is so calming like its literally me

micah

Alice Oseman is getting on my nerves.

I'm starting to love her works. She's becoming one of my favorite authors. (Well Queen Melina Marchetta you're still my no. 1) 

I loved the Radio Silence more but I still liked this one, Solitaire. You could see how the author's way of writing evolved and it showed in her books.

Let's talk about Solitaire. I think we could all relate to Tori Spring. Admit it. I like the other characters too and their stories and everything was so relatable too. After finishing the book I kinda had a little existential crisis about my life. It's just that good.

Thank you author, I am so excited for your third book!

Ally

I began reading these after having been already introduced to Charlie and Nick in the light-hearted graphic novel. Thus, I went into this book expecting a similar theme. This is anything but. I began reading it with mild interest, but I loved how this read in a way that reminded me of the time circa 2014 when it was my contemporary summer. It made me want to read on and I was unable to put it down. But then a certain part of the story hit and I just couldn't care the same. ALSO, the family is incredibly f'ed up and no one NO ONE is looking for help? like outside of the other messed up children dealing with their own traumas?? and, not to be vague, but we saw it coming, but did we want it??? ii did love the brit life that I am so uneducated about in the beginning tho. but the end is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

Wawa

esperanza 

The book is five stars in my heart. Tori Springer is my mind, Michael Holden is my body.

This book pretty much captured what it is like to feel like you don’t fit and being a teenager, without glamourising any of it. It IS funny because it’s true and I would recommend.

Solitaire

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