Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Solitaire by Alice Oseman

114 reviews

ruthlessreads's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, and Violence

writewithapendragon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

FANS OF HEARTSTOPPER be warned this book takes on some of the heavier topics alluded to/addressed in the series.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

nathaliereading's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

ollieez's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

mattyb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood and Alcohol

aino_maria23's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Self harm, Violence, and Stalking

Minor: Medical content, Outing, and Alcohol

cdoubet's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

mbrogs2024's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia

tetrootz's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

eneko's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Self harm