Solitaire

* Original Cover
* UK Cover
* US Cover

***Solitaire*** is a novel written by Alice Oseman, which was published on July 31, 2014 in the UK, by HarperCollins and it was also published on January 3, 2023 in the US, by Scholastic Inc. It is Alice's first novel.

It is set in the same universe as ***Radio Silence***, ***Heartstopper***, ***I Was Born For This***, and ***Loveless***, right after ***This Winter***. Which means that there is a slight overlap between ***Heartstopper*** and ***Solitaire***. ***Heartstopper Volume Four*** briefly covers ***Solitaire*** without getting into the main plot.

In August of 2020, a revised edition of *Solitaire* was published. The main purpose of this revision was to "make it more in line with *Heartstopper*, alongside editing various elements of the story [she] felt were particularly harmful or sensationalized." The new edition comes with a foreword, as well as an updated 'about the author' section.

## Blurb

*In case you’re wondering, this is not a love story.

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.*

## Plot

*Solitaire* follows a year 12 student, sixteen-year-old chronic pessimist, Tori Spring. Throughout the novel, Tori creates (and destroys) relationships, debatably platonic or romantic, while managing family issues, mental health and the uprise of a local 'prankster' group, whose actions are both growing concerning and dangerous. Begrudgingly, Tori assists eighteen-year-old year 13 student, Michael Holden in his 'investigation' into the prank group, in doing so, developing a reluctant friendship.

## Characters

#### Main Characters

* Tori Spring
* Michael Holden
* Charlie Spring
* Nick Nelson
* Becky Allen
* Lucas Ryan

#### Minor Characters

* Oliver Spring
* Evelyn Foley
* Rita Sengupta
* Ben Hope

## Spin-off stories

Solitaire has two spinoff novellas: *Nick and Charlie* and *This Winter*. Some of the characters of Solitaire also appear in *Party Girls* and *Radio Silence*.

## Trivia

* Although Solitaire was originally set in 2011, Heartstopper takes place in 2016, which means that it would technically take place in January 2017 in the updated timeline. However, Alice has said that neither Solitaire not Heartstopper takes place in any specific year.
* Solitaire is the second book Alice wrote, but the first that was published.
* Both Tori's personal blog and the Solitaire blog exist in real life (the Solitaire blog under a different name than the original however, as "solitaire.co.uk" is taken by people who just love the card game).
* Alice is notable for getting her publishing deal for Solitaire when she was only 17.
* Along with Radio Silence, upon the release of Oseman's third book, *I Was Born For This*, Solitaire's UK cover received a redesign from HarperCollins designer, Ryan Hammond.
* Originally, Alice wrote an online six-part short story titled *Five Days of Solitaire*, which has since been deleted.

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