History Literature / Solitaire

''Solitaire'' is the debut novel of Creator/AliceOseman. It is set in the same universe as her more famous work, ''{{Webcomic/Heartstopper}}'', but explores deeper themes such as depression.
Solitaire follows the depressed sixth-former Tori Spring as she negotiates her way around mental health, friendship, and a mysterious organisation known as [[TitleDrop Solitaire.]]

* BrotherSisterTeam: Tori and Charlie support each other through their teenage struggles. Until meeting Michael, Charlie is Tori's only proper confidant.

* SingleTargetSexuality: Discussed. Nick is definitely bisexual but Tori also comments that he's "pretty Charlie obsessed."

* CoolBigSis: Although there is only a year between them, Tori is fiercely protective and caring of Charlie.
** Both Tori and Charlie are Cool Big Siblings to their little brother Ollie.

Solitaire is the debut novel of Creator/AliceOseman. It is set in the same universe as her more famous work, {{Webcomic/Heartstopper}}, but explores deeper themes such as depression.

* {{Bittersweet Ending}}: While Tori's mental health has improved, she isn't "fixed"; furthermore, [[spoiler:Solitaire burned down the school]].

* {{Late Arrival Spoiler}}: Solitaire contains several spoilers for Heartstopper, such as Nick and Charlie getting together, [[spoiler:Charlie's anorexia and self-harm]], or [[spoiler:Harvey Greene Grammar School burning down]].

** The principal of Higgs is mentioned to resemble Creator/AlanRickman

** Among the songs that Solitaire blast throughout the whole school are Material Girl by {{Music/Madonna}}, "Sexy Back" by Music/JustinTimberlake and The Final Countdown by {{Music/Europe}}

** Tori listens to {{Music/Radiohead}} and {{Music/Coldplay}}

** Michael Holden eventually accuses Tori of hanging out with him only when it suits her and basically using him as her own [[ManicPixieDreamGirl Manic Pixie Dream Guy]]
** Tori herself lashes out at [[spoiler: Lucas]] when she learns that [[spoiler: he created Solitaire to express his crush on her]]
** Later on Becky calls out all the members of Solitaire on being [[IJustWantToBeBadass "the most deluded of all the hipsters I've met"]]

** Charlie is a big fan of {{Music/Muse}} and complains that people only associate them with {{Literature/Twilight}}

* NiceGuy: Charlie, who Tori describes as "the nicest person in the history of the universe." His boyfriend [[{{GentleGiant}} Nick]], and Michael also qualify.

* NotSoDifferent: Stoic, introverted Tori and hyper, extroverted Michael bond over their similar weird sense of humour and feeling like outcasts.

* BewareOfTheNiceOnes: Nick, who is introduced as the "human embodiment of a golden retriever puppy'' absolutely ''loses it'' when [[spoiler: Ben attacks Charlie and has to be physically held back from beating him senseless.]]

* NiceGuy: Charlie, who Tori describes as "the nicest person in the history of the universe", his boyfriend Nick, and Michael.

** There are also more than a few shout-outs to Literature/TheCatcherInTheRye. Michael's surname is Holden and the book itself gets frequently mentioned. On a meta level even the blurb on the cover compares the book to Literature/TheCatcherInTheRye.

* BewareOfTheNiceOnes: Nick, who is introduced as the "human embodiment of a golden retriever puppy'' absolutely loses it when [[spoiler: Ben attacks Charlie and has to be physically held back from beating him senseless.]]

* CoolBigSis: Although there is only a year between them, Tori is fiercely protective and caring of Charlie, and supports him through [[spoiler: his anorexia and self-harm relapse.]]

** Among the songs that Solitaire blast throughout the whole school are Material Girl by {{Music/Madonna}}, SexyBack by Music/JustinTimberlake and The Final Countdown by {{Music/Europe}}

* The Unreveal: From Tori's perspective, since she never learns what sort of a secret about Ben Charlie is keeping. The readers who have read {{Webcomic/Heartstopper}} however know that the secret is [[spoiler: that the two of them had a secret relationship]].

** There is a partial overlap between this book and the fourth volume of Webcomic/Heartstopper.

* The Unreveal: From Tori's perspective, since she never learns what sort of a secret about Ben Charlie is keeping. The readers who have read Webcomic/Heartstopper however know that the secret is [[spoiler: that the two of them had a secret relationship]].

** Tori dresses up as [[Film/TheAddamsFamily Wednesday Addams]] for Becky's birthday costume party. Becky herself dresses up as [[WesternAnimation/PeterPan Tinker Bell]]and Michael - as Franchise/SherlockHolmes . Other outfits people wear for the party include {{ComicBook/Superman}}, Creator/AudreyHepburn, [[Series/DoctorWho The Tenth Doctor]] and multiple Disney princesses.
** Among the songs that Solitaire blast throughout the whole school are Material Girl by {{Music/Madonna}}, SexyBack by Music/JustinTimberlake and The Final Countdown by{{Music/Europe}}