I don't think this book was meant to be a representation of mental health issues, but as a mom of kids with "Something Wrong" (as the author puts it for most of the book) it felt real. The fear of someone finding out you aren't "normal", the missing school, the lack of privacy in order to ensure safety, the hospitalizations. All of it felt authentic.

The twist at the end was expected, but the author knew it would be. They wrote it in a way that you figure out "The Bad Thing That Happened" for yourself first, before the narrator ever tells you.

Some characters were infuriating (the Mom and Scarlett) but they were supposed to be so I didn't hold it against it in my rating.

In all it was a nostalgic ride back to the 90s with a strong plot and enough b-stories to keep me staying interested.

And I still want to know what happened to the Godfather.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! I liked the characters and loved the ‘retro’ setting of the story. A great book!

I had really low expectations for this book, and I am so glad I was wrong. I couldn't put this book down! Everything comes together perfectly in this must-read hidden gem of a book.

I listened to the audiobook of Baby & Solo, narrated by Nick Walther. The reading performance was superb, and the story was pleasant to listen to.

As a work of fiction, Baby & Solo worked for me. I love coming-of-age-type tales and stories about characters coming into themselves and grappling with a part of their identity that has so far caused them the most anguish. Here, "Solo" confronts his past trauma and mental health and learns how to move forward.

Lisabeth Posthuma is witty and sharp. Her dialogue is snappy and engaging, and her exposition is thoughtful. Emotions thrummed throughout the book, and through me, as I listened to it.

First I want to thank the author for giving me an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange of my honest review.

Baby & Solo takes place in Michigan during the 80's and we follow Joel who almost all his childhood was hospitalized in a mental hospital and now he's free to live his life and socialize with people.

This story was hard to let go, it was a little bit fast paced and all his background story is great and emotional, the book made me go in a roller-coaster and it was wow but sometimes it was unsure in some things.

One little problem I had was that the description made it feel a little bit of romance which it hadn't so I was disappointed but that much, but the plot is a lot.

The grown of the characters was simply good, how they learned to be better and trust in each other and I really felt that.

And there's a lot more to say but I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm going to stop here, I'll givr it a rating of 4.8 and remember this is my own opinion and you could think anything else about it.

First of all thank you Netgalley and Recorded Books for giving me an audio copy of this book.
I have mixed feelings about this story, so this is why I've waited some days for the review. At first I didn't get it. We have Joel here with some problem with his mental health: he was seeing a girl who doesn't exist. His parents were worried and his doctor had the idea of Joel having a job. This would help him to get better sooner. Joel will work at the videostore and will make some friends, specially with Baby.
The book started weird, I wanted to dnf it so many times at the start but Ive decided to keep on listening and I'm happy I've did it.
This book is the one you need to read to the end, because all the things will clear up on the last pages.
The friendship between Baby and Joel, or Solo, was a bit strange. In my opinion it was a very forced one. You don't need to tell all your life to your friend because its the way it works. No, I will tell all my life to someone when I will be prepared for it. Baby was always accusing Joel about him keeping all his secrets with him, and that's in my opinion, isn't a real friendship.
I didn't like how Joel think about some things like, " all the girl are like that..." or things about his Homophobie, but at the end I understood who was the real owner of all these thoughts.
And, I loved the way the author had spoken about Joel's mother. She was the most horrible person in this story. This kind of things teach us how to not behave with our children. It was so annoying and I hated it so much.
I've cried several times reading/listening to this book. There were such a sad moments that broke me inside.
I loved the last chapters, I loved the Joel's story and I've enjoyed the end. But, I didn't like any of the characters. They're were a bit aggressive, annoying and stereotypical, like Jess...
By the way, it was a nice read with a beautiful end, and with some good points we have to think about them.
(The review will be posted on Instagram 1 June)

This novel, about a teenage boy trying to find some semblance of “normal” after several years of mental hospitals and psychosis, was a pleasant surprise.
In the aftermath of “a really bad thing” that he and his family dealt with years before, Joel is taking baby steps towards becoming a regular teenager, starting with a job as a video store clerk. When he is befriended by a coworker, his first real friend since the “really bad thing”, he feels like he’s on the road to recovery, but quickly realizes that his road is filled with speed bumps and potholes.
The story strikes the right balance between cute and weighty. It’s set in the 90s, which was fun, but the amount of pop culture references started to seem a little heavy-handed.
I listened to the audiobook which was a bit problematic, as several time I t jumped to the next chapter before the current chapter was finished.
Thanks #netgalley and #candlewickpress for this ARC of #babyandsolo in exchange for an honest review.

I was really enjoying this one but unfortunately some of the chapters are not complete. This has made it hard to follow the story line as I am missing important parts. From the other feedback posted it seems like this is a common problem. I will continue to read and update my feedback once this problem is fixed.

That said, I was really enjoying the storyline. It has been very easy to listen to and follow along. I am enjoying the narrative and hearing the characters develop. It has brought back lots of childhood memories of visiting the video store on a weekend with family.

Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for an AudioARC of this book.

I picked this up for it’s nostalgic video store vibes and I was not disappointed, this was the 90’s romp with an interesting cast of characters that I had hoped for.

I adored Baby and Solo’s platonic relationship, it was lovely to see. A platonic friendship develop and the characters trust and love of one another grow.

This book was fantastically narrated and truly made Joel come to life.

However, the AudioARC skipped large chunks and since I didn’t have an ebook of this it made the story hard to follow at times.

Unfortunately because of this I can only give the book I received 4 stars. I wish I could give it more but with large chunks of this story missing I really couldn’t give it more and that’s a shame.

Baby & Solo is a novel that takes place in the '90s, and stars Joel, who has spent most of his adolescence in a psychiatric facility due to what he calls The Bad Thing That Happened and What is Wrong With Him. Joel has been homeschooled due to his mental health struggles and after being released, his psychiatrist suggests to him and his parent's that it's time for him to get a part-time job. This is when Joel starts working at an independent video store where everyone picks their names based on their favourite movie character, and he chooses Solo. He soon meets his coworker, Baby, who is pregnant and in need of a friend as much as Joel is.

Baby and Joel help each other discover the importance of vulnerability in friendships and it was pretty satisfying to have a male/female friendship at the center of the story and no romance whatsoever, which is rare for a young adult novel. Joel's developing friendships with his quirky coworkers and Baby in particular helping him find stability was my favourite thing about this novel.

It's hard to review it without giving literally everything away, but this book does deal with suicide, homophobia and transphobia and death of a loved one. I did not expect things to unfold quite as they did and was surprised at what trauma lay at the centre of Joel's illness.

I loved this book! It is set just after I graduated from high school so the references brought back a lot of memories. The combination of nostalgia and the amazing friendship between Solo and Baby make this a must-read. The heavy subject matter is perfectly balanced by wit and sarcasm. I know my students will love it as much as I did.

After being released from a mental hospital, 17-year-old Joel sets out in search of a part-time job at the suggestion of his doctor. He lands a job at ROYO video, where he meets a girl named Nicole, aka Baby. They strike up a friendship and as they get closer, Joel tries harder and harder to keep his past hidden and continue with his new "normal" life.

I honestly wasn't expecting much from this story, but I ended up really enjoying it! I really liked both Joel and Baby as characters. Joel, or better known as Solo in the book, is sarcastic and witty and made me laugh on more than one occasion. Baby was a really complex character in my opinion, she's moody and angry, but its understandable based on what she is going through it the story. She can also be really loveable and a great friend too. I also really enjoyed the side characters as well. All the video store employees have their own personalities and characteristics that make them unique. I liked how we aren't told what the "bad thing" that happened to Solo is, and how it is slowly unveiled to us as we continue to read the story. This dove a lot deeper into some serious topics, such as suicidal ideation and mental health in general, than I expected, but its done in a humorous yet sensitive way that I really appreciated.

I listened to this on audiobook from Netgalley, but there were bits of certain chapters missing from the audiobook... chapters that held really important information to the overall understanding of the story (ex. Chapter 11). I also had a physical copy I could follow along with, so it wasn't that big of a deal for me personally, but those who don't have that option will definitely be confused if the audio doesn't end up being fixed. But, from what was recorded and included, I think the narrator did a really great job capturing Joel's character as a whole, and I really enjoyed it!

Parts of the audiobook are missing so I can't actually listen to this fully which is such a shame! I loved it so far & if that issue ever gets resolved i'll definitely pick it up again.

Thank you for Netgalley and Recorded Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wildly funny and refreshing take on mental illness, coming of age, fitting in, and the impact of grief on a family. Large chunks of this arc were missing which made for a discombobulated read. Even still, the writing and characters made me want to get the book myself to catch up on what I missed. This is a refreshing and authentic take on what it is like to be inside the mind of someone who has struggled with mental health issues. The characters have a sense of self that is well developed and actions through out that match up with those morals.

In this book, one of the biggest things to stand out to me is the discussions of morality and consent. The stream of consciousness of the main character is surprisingly mature, self aware, and takes accountability in a way . The depth of understanding from a 17 year old is no doubt due to his extraordinary upbringing up to this point.

Ever read a story where nothing much is happening and still you can’t keep the book aside? That’s “Baby & Solo” for you.

Honestly, I had low expectations from this book and picked it up only because it looked very different from its title and blurb. I didn’t expect to be so blown away by everything: the story, the characters, the writing! Everything comes together almost perfectly in this hidden gem of a book.

Story:
Joel Teague, our 17 year old protagonist, has been prescribed by his therapist to get a job, which will serve as his first step back into normalcy. Joel’s lucky break comes at ROYO Video, where his first official task is to select a new name for himself, based on a movie character. He goes for “Hans Solo” after his favourite Star Wars character. Soon, he develops a cordial, if not enthusiastic. Friendship with the rest of his colleagues. But he is closest to Nicole “Baby” Palmer, who is stuck with the character name from ‘Dirty Dancing” due to the earlier store manager. Soon, “Solo” and “Baby” discover what friendship is all about.

Characters:
Solo, or Joel, is awesome as the lead character of this unusual story. He is sarcastic, he is humorous, he isn’t self-pitying or whiny in spite of some "bad thing that happened" in his past. He is hell-bent on keeping his past trauma a secret as he wants his “tabula rasa” to stay clear. At times, he breaks the fourth wall and speaks to the readers directly. I love that whimsical connect with him. Baby, or Nicole, is anything but a baby. She has a strong will and a spirited attitude, and the guts to call a spade a spade. The rest of the video store workers are also nicely developed. Every character in this book, in fact, is created in a way that leaves you with no doubt about the reason behind their behaviour. That’s how true character sketching must be done in writing: where you know not just what the character did but can also understand why the character did that without it being expressly mentioned. Brilliantly done!

Writing:
The story befuddles you at the start. It seems to be focussed on Joel and you don’t know why. But as the layers of the past start unveiling themselves, you get sucked into the narrative and can’t stay away. I’ve been reviewing books since quite some time now. But for the first time ever, I had no idea whatsoever about where a book was going even when I was done with about 60% of it. And then it struck me. That’s exactly the point of the book. The story is going nowhere because Joel can’t go anywhere with his narration without revealing “the bad thing that happened”. He’s stuck in his past though he wants to escape it, and we’re stuck in the version he wants us to know, until he is ready for the big reveal. For a book that could have gone either way, I sure am glad it ended up on the right side of my opinion.
The pace of the book is perfect (not too fast, not too slow)) and no where will you find a lull in the narrative.
As the story is set in the 1990s, it has a wonderful nostalgic feel to it, what with the mention of video stores and the classics of the 80s and 90s.


I heard the audiobook as narrated by Nick Walther and he has done a wonderful job. He brings Joel to life with his spirited rendition.

All in all, this is a book that will make you laugh and cry and sigh and fume. It has teenage angst, but it also celebrates the spirit of companionship. Give it a try.

It’s a 4.5 from me.

Trigger warnings: extreme homophobia, abortion, teenage sex, teenage pregnancy, cuss words (a LOT of them!)

Thank you, NetGalley and Recorded Books, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book hits both my 90s nostalgia and the movie geek in me so hard that it would have been a surprise if I didn't like it.
And that's not even taking into consideration how incredibly engaging the story is. Not to mention how well crafted the characters are. Not just Baby and Solo, but Solo's parents, the rest of the employees at the video store where they work, and pretty much everyone that inhabits this book. Baby in particular is a great character and I love how her relationship with Solo slowly developed and where it ended up. There is so much to engage with emotionally here. I spent most of the book wanting to hug Joel/Solo and dropkick his mom.
The fact that it touches so expertly and humanly on the very hard topic of mental health and the aftermath of a childhood spent in psych wards is just the icing on top.
This is definitely one to recommend and a great release for Mental Health Awareness month.

Manny happy thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the listen!

Baby and Solo turned out to be an excellent Young Adult novel. I must admit that at first, I didn't expect it to be so good. Joel Teague has a history of mental issues and a decade of struggle behind him. He has been in and out of mental institutions, visiting therapists, and his overprotective parents control his every move. On his psychiatrist's recommendation, he gets a job in a video rental store.

A coming of age story, set in the 1990s, is full of movie, and some music, references. Interesting relationships and friendships emerge within these pages.

The narration is very good, and Nick Walther turned out to be a great narrator. Also, the dialogs were nicely done.

(Some chapter endings were cut off. But this is probably a mistake that will be, or it is already corrected.) Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.

Joel Teague has had an interesting life since The Bad Thing happened. Desperate to be normal, he successfully gets a job at the local video store at the suggestion of his therapist. Everything is great - nobody knows What Is Wrong With Him - until he befriends his coworker Nicole (Baby) and his past catches up to him, forcing him to preserve the "normal" image he's fostered or having a genuine relationship with someone. The cast of characters, or the employees of Royo Video, are complex themselves and easy to fall in love with. The 90's nostalgia is real, and it is a very enjoyable to watch the development of not just Joel, but the other characters such as Baby, Scarlett, and Joel's parents.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook thanks to NetGalley and RB Media. Posthuma expertly discusses trauma and mental health issues with sensitivity without watering down the seriousness of these topics. Despite the seriousness of the themes in the book, the story still manages to feel like a lighthearted coming of age movie. I highly recommend this audiobook for all ages, not just young adults.

The Short Version: A must read coming of age story about a kid learning to live with mental illness and the complicated lives of teenagers trying to grow into adulthood. It’s perfect for anyone who liked Silver Linings Playbook and misses Friday nights at Blockbuster.

The Long Version: Joel is getting back to normal life after THE BAD THING THAT HAPPENED, and part of getting back to normal is getting a job. When he starts at Royo Video he’s introduced to a wonderful cast of characters, Mary Poppins, The Godfather, Scarlett O’Hara, Baby (don’t worry she’s not in a corner), etc... As he escapes the bubble he’s lived in for the past decade, things careen out of control and he struggles to hold it altogether.

I had the absolute pleasure of listening to the audiobook version of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

This book had me from the point in the first chapter where they called Lucy from Peanuts a bitch. That’s really the strongest selling point of this book, Joel’s narrative voice is really strong and I’m a sucker for a caustic wit.

The book is as close to perfect as I’ve seen recently. The characters are all well developed, layered, and their dialogue breezes along effortlessly.

The plot glides along seamlessly even as the relationships between the characters get twisted into pretzels. I smiled throughout my listen and at points was heartbroken also. It never felt heavy even though it dives into some deep topics (mental health, homosexuality, teen pregnancy).

Now this is not to say nothing was wrong with it. The whole book leads up to Joel dealing with WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM and THE BAD THING THAT HAPPENED and at the beginning of the book and occasionally later on, the reference to the bad thing that happened gets a little wearisome. Also in the first chapter or two the use of cursing feels forced and unnatural, this gets much better as you go though.

Most problematic, though it is addressed and is mostly resolved well by the end (and feels sadly accurate for the time period of the book), was the manner in which homosexuality is first discussed in the book. I’m very glad it was further explored because at first I was worried it might ruin an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable read.

The relationships between Joel and his parents are also a little unresolved at the end, but this didn’t bother me all that much for some reason. It was an audiobook I couldn’t wait to get back to every time I paused, like when work inconveniently got in the way, and was sad to leave when it was done.

ALL OF THAT SAID I HAVE TO RECOMMEND PURCHASING THE BOOK INSTEAD OF THE AUDIOBOOK. The only reason is that the ARC is received had several chapters cut off which caused me to miss some big parts and I had to go purchase the book to figure out what I’d missed. I checked audible and the audiobook length on there is the same as what I received, so I can’t guarantee the same issue doesn’t exist there.

Overall 4.5/5. Enough said.....almost
Me: I love you Baby and Solo
Baby and Solo: I know

Component Ratings:
Concept/Idea: 4.5 out of 5
Characters: 5 out of 5
Character Development: 4.5 out of 5
Plot: 4.5 out of 5
Dialogue: 5 out of 5
Prose: 4 out of 5
Pacing: 5 out of 5
Humor: 5 out of 5
Ending: 5 out of 5