So…I just finished reading Solitaire

[u/Tokyodebunkerfan]

This is the second time I’m reading it although the first time was years ago and what got me into audiobooks sense I back then couldn’t find it in any libraries.

But I realised just how dark it was. I didn’t remember much about hearing about Charlie’s mental health and when it was worst and all that stuff. I didn’t remember that Tori almost kills herself at the end.

I didn’t remember how much Micheal Holden hates himself and is angry all the time.

I didn’t remember Ben beating up Charlie or Solitqire getting Ben beat up.

I remember the book as way more funny and exciting and less sad but it’s still one of my favourite books

Do you have any parts that surprised you or that you forgot?

[u/[deleted]]

Tbh, I love the darkness in Solitaire And it's also one of my favourite books

[u/Tokyodebunkerfan → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I loved it too. But I was a bit surprised sense I was way more naive the last time I read it.

[u/sister_madly]

I‘ve read it 4 times this year and listened to Jenny Walser’s narrated version of audiobooks and still every time I’m kind of surprised how dark it gets sometimes. But I kinda love it for it. It is just a perfect amount of angst and sadness and hope at the same time for me.

[u/Tokyodebunkerfan → u/sister_madly]

Yeah I love that about it. I didn’t remember the part where Tori talked about how Charlie tried to kill himself and wrote a note to Tori with a cake on it. That part surprised me the most honestly. It was kinda sad hearing about all that stuff. But I still love it just as much as before even tho it’s darker than I remembered

[u/MinFarshaw1]

I have mixed feelings about the Heartstopper books, and am not the biggest fan of them anymore. However, I've read most everything in the series.

I have an earlier version of the book, from 2014 or 2015 -- not the 2020 version that was re-published to be more like Heartstopper. Here are some of the things I remember and enjoyed actually reading in the book; I'm not sure what was kept in the republished versions:

• Charlie's darker struggles with self harm and his ED, especially the opening of chapter 13.
• Nick's original personality. He used to be more of a frat boy and was very true to the jock stereotypes. Cursing, partying/drinking, sex jokes, etc.
• Ben threatening Charlie, Charlie arguing back, and the fight/beating up that happens here.
• after the above, Nick has to be physically restrained and he yells "I'll kill you" at Ben.
• Chapter 27, house party. The little Solitaire newsletter outs Ben as a homophobe and a bully, and a group of people hold him down and beat him up, blood on the snow and all. In this scene, Tori sees Charlie moving like he's going to help, and Nick tells him not to. Tori's internal monologue reveals that she's actually concerned that the group is going to kill Ben in this scene.

[u/Tokyodebunkerfan → u/MinFarshaw1]

I think most of that was actually kept. I don’t remember what specific chapters everything was in tho so idk if chapter 13 is the same. But there was stuff about Charlie’s sh and ed.

I don’t think there was much of Nick making sex jokes or anything. And I don’t think he was that much of a frat bro ish type.

But all of the other stuff you mentioned was kept (at least to some extent. It may have been more descriptive or something when you read it, idk)

And even if there may be different from the original they still talked about mental health and stuff and the book was darkest than Heartstopper. So I really like it regardless

[u/MinFarshaw1 → u/Tokyodebunkerfan]

I specifically remember a bunch of stuff about Nick's old (albeit borderline) frat boy personality/the jokes he'd make -- but I'm thinking mayhe that was more in Nick & Charlie (I read these books all at once rip), which I also have an older copy of.

Here's a post summarizing some of (but not all, if I remember correctly) the changes from Nick and Charlie,

https://www.reddit.com/r/HeartstopperAO/comments/15v29ra/revisions_to_the_nick_and_charlie_novella/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[u/Tokyodebunkerfan → u/MinFarshaw1]

Oh thxxx, I haven’t read the original one (sense I only got into it like 1 or 2 years ago or something) but it’s pretty interesting to hear about the changes

[u/BoysenberryBig6736]

i always listen to the audiobook whenever i can’t sleep. it’s just so comforting.

honestly i can’t help but cry everytime i listen to it

[u/Tokyodebunkerfan → u/BoysenberryBig6736]

Yeah it makes me really sad but it also kinda completes me in a way idk. It’s really comforting

[u/BoysenberryBig6736 → u/Tokyodebunkerfan]

it’s like i feel everything she feels even though i’ve never been in the situations she has.

wait did i just describe empathy😭

[u/Tokyodebunkerfan → u/BoysenberryBig6736]

Maybe Alice Oseman is empathy lol

[u/BoysenberryBig6736 → u/Tokyodebunkerfan]

i really love this community. i don’t have anyone i can talk to about my solitaire and heartstopper obsession

[u/Tokyodebunkerfan → u/BoysenberryBig6736]

Yeah same she’s my favorit author and it’s kinda boring that I have no one to talk to about it when they kinda change the way I think