Solo Stan

by Talia Tucker

From the author of Rules for Rule Breaking comes a queer YA romance about two solo concertgoers and unwitting seatmates who, when the show is abruptly cut short, embark on an unforgettable North Carolina summer night together, discovering how opposites can attract under the right circumstances.

Dakarai (Kai) Barbier was supposed to be at CYPHR's sold- out show with his best friends. Instead, he finds himself going solo, reeling from the news that they've decided to accelerate the next chapter of their lives, leaving him alone the summer after high school graduation.

Meanwhile, Elias Davis has just been sent from New York City to North Carolina to live with his uncle after a last-straw fistfight. Stuck in a town he doesn't want to be in, and without knowing a soul his own age, he buys a single ticket to CYPHR's Raleigh show.

When a sudden blackout ends the show early, forcing these unwitting seatmates back onto the streets of Raleigh, they are faced with a choice: get on the bus and head home or take a chance on each other. They might have arrived alone, but will they be leaving together?

Praise for Solo Stan:

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

“Whether you’re a lonely hopeless romantic like Kai or a misunderstood troublemaker with a knack for self-sacrificing like Elias, these two boys will have your entire heart faster than they can steal each other’s. This book single-handedly healed my inner troubled teen who thought their love was too big for others to hold.” —Sonora Reyes, bestselling author of the National Book Award Finalist The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School

“A joyful queer rom-com that’s reminiscent of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist.” —Publishers Weekly

“A wholesome whirlwind queer romance.” —Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, Gay

224 pages, Hardcover

First published June 10, 2025

About the author

Talia Tucker lives and writes in New Jersey. She has a BA in Communication from Rutgers University and an MA in Liberal Studies from Loyola University Maryland. She loves mindless comedies and twisty slow-burn dramas, both of which inspire her writing, as does her connection to her Korean and Jamaican communities. Rules for Rule Breaking is her YA debut.

Reviews

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75★
this was very cute and fluffy. it reminded me a bit of nick and norah's infinite playlist where they spend the night out completing a challenge, except way less angst and drama and with two bisexual Black boys in north carolina.

i found both kai and elias v likeable and sympathetic to their respective issues, and i liked how they worked through things together.

it was a short but sweet read!

[‧₊˚ ellie ♡ (إيلي) · Rating 5 out of 5]

we finally got the cover reveal!! the bisexual rep in this book will be so so so awesome! 💜💙 new from the author of rules for rule breaking u guys!

[Bethany Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to @kokilabooks and @penguinteen for an advanced copy to review!

Two solo concertgoers and unwitting seatmates who, when the show is abruptly cut short, embark on an unforgettable North Carolina summer night together, discovering how opposites can attract under the right circumstances.

^from the publisher!

This was soooooo cute! I had such a great time following Elias and Kai on their adventure. From their little kid kinda meet cute (omg??) to meeting again as older teens, it was pure magic! I totalllllyyyyyy relate to Kai in falling way too quickly. I also relate to Elias in wanting to take care of everyone. These two had my heart.

The premise of this book was really sweet and fun. Elias is the funniest flirt and Kai is so shy and sweet, but also he knows what he wants!!!! I adored the scavenger hunt as it helped them really open up and how *magical* was that first and second kiss?? So so so sweet. And that ending was adorable!

Anyway, these cuties are on sale in June so make sure you check it out. I had a great time. 🩷

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Kokila, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up Solo Stan on June 10, 2025.

I tore through this adorable book in one sitting. I loved Elias' and Kai's relationship and how their connection was instantaneous, but their intimacy and friendship grew over the course of the one day they spent together. Lightning meetings leading to sizzling tension and eventual romance is one of my favorite tropes, and Talia Tucker did it so well!

I just wanted to give Elias a hug throughout the entire book. He acts so tough but he CARES so much more than people realize. I'm glad Kai helped him see those parts of himself as strengths and not weaknesses. Kai's growth was also phenomenal, especially what he had to acknowledge about his friendships and how they needed to change in order for him to grow.

This was a fun, sweet, quick YA romance that I highly recommend picking up!

[Anniek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the author's debut was so charming, but I missed that charm here. I didn't feel pulled in by the story or characters and something felt off about their interactions. I particularly didn't like one of the narrators, which negatively impacted my enjoyment.

[zai · Rating 3 out of 5]

i did enjoy it, it was a fun short ya romcom, however i don't really vibe well with short time romances as it does fell under developed but as a stan myself i loved that aspect of the book !! this one is for all the fan and stans <3

thank you penguin and netgalley for the e-arc

[✨ Brianna Raquel ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i just couldn't get into it like i thought i would

[ting]

as a concert girlie i am so excited for this

[Iris May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would just like to start my review by thanking Talia Tucker and Kokila Books for providing me with a NetGalley link to read this ARC!

I have to say I am very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book! Young Adult fiction and Romance are both genres I do not gravitate towards, but I found myself loving absolutely every page. It is such a quick read, and it is not lacking in humour, fun and adventure in any aspect.

Light spoilers ahead of this point (I will try and keep them as vague as I can).

The writing is absolutely incredible, and I very quickly fell in love with both of our main characters, even quicker than they fell in love with each other. They are both very distinct voices, and it was so fun following them both through this story. The inclusion of astrology was also particularly interesting to me, as someone who does not know much about it. It was such a unique character trait for Dakarai in my opinion, and I love how it was worked through the whole story for him instead of it being left as just a little fact we never revisit.

The humour in this book I would say is absolutely generational, but since it is Gen-Z humour specifically it was something I very much enjoyed. As someone who is of a very similar age to the main characters, I thought they were very realistic to how myself and many other people my age would act in real life. The way the spoke and communicated was also something I found very realistic, and I loved how healthy the friendships and relationships were.

The dynamic between Dakarai and Elias was just everything to me, and following them along the scavenger hunt. It was such a fun way to explore both of the characters!

Of course, I cannot write this review without talking about how I love the diversity. As someone who is bisexual, I have been yearning for some good bisexual representation in books, and this has absolutely ticked all the boxes for me.

Overall, this was just a perfect, fun romance to read and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy, and to read even more of Talia Tucker's work! I would highly recommend reading it once it's out, I genuinely cannot stress enough how heartwarming it was.

Thank you once again for allowing me to read this in advance of the release.

[jae _28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

First off, all the books I knew I’d love this year have not disappointed me.

I’ve been listening to The Happy Writers podcast and one of the questions Marissa Meyer asks all the writers is what book makes them happy. I rack my brain every time but no book has stepped up to claim that responsibility until this one. This made me so happy. The MMCs are witty and sarcastic, and gentle with each other. Kai and Elias running around all night and having the time of their lives while falling for each other gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling. I couldn’t stop smiling. This is what ‘black boy joy’ looks like. Of course, it doesn’t come without its issues. Our main characters have internal struggles and some growing to do in their own ways. There was magic in seeing them work through it all, though, all while being together and taking risks. It was a great balance between internal, external, and romantic sub/plots, in my opinion.

And you know I have to address it when I see it! Once I started getting into the story, I was side-eyeing the author like ‘I know what you are’. The mention of “CYPHR” (!?) putting a finger to his lips and the crowd going silent… I was literally there. Hey, sister wife! Do I feel like I’m better than everybody for having witnessed this in person? Yes. Yes, I do. I can’t wait to read this book again. Not having my copy already is criminal.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This is a great YA romance featuring two developed characters whose love story is only part of what makes them appealing to readers.

Kai and Elias, like all of us, are battling individual struggles, but when they get together, there is something a little magical about their interactions. While this is definitely a romance, both characters are working through relationships with friends and family, finding themselves, and just trying to have a good time, and this setting is ideal for capturing the latter, especially. There are not many surprises here, but this is a satisfying journey that I'm glad I got to follow.

I'll recommend this one to my students and look for more from this author.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Kokila for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Christina Close · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book thinking it would have k-pop/k-drama vibes and I was correct. I liked the fact that both boys went to a concert solo and then ended up together the rest of the night trying to find out where the secret concert location is. The scavenger hunt was a great addition to the whole figuring out the location, based off the clues they were able to get were barely enough for them to figure it out but they did anyways, but oh course fate had its' own plans.

This is a really good coming of age book for teen boys who are growing into their older selves and bodies, learning about what it feels like to want love. Also, it's a good image of what it's like to be in a household where you are the black sheep of the family.

Also loved that Suga got mentioned in the acknowledgements

[TeeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This gave Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist vibes, but make it queer and I am here for it. This story is super sweet, a bit emotional, and an all-around fun adventure. Both Elias and Kai have significant character development throughout the story in an admittedly short amount of time. This is definitely a coming-of-age story of sorts. While this isn't necessarily my most favorite read ever, this was a lot of fun and a good introduction to this author for me. This is their second published book and their first story I have read from them. I will probably check them out again at some point.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anita White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say I enjoyed this read and the characters Kai and Elias. There was so much character development that it made this a good read. I especially liked how we followed them the whole night from the concert to doing a scavenger hunt. This is definitely a book that could be read in one sitting.

[Yuva Harish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a chance to read an early copy of SOLO STAN, and this was such a fun read! Ten out of ten, such a freaking cute love story with spiky, wholesome protagonists, Kai and Elias. I loved seeing their relationship grow and morph over such a short time together, and the ways their changing relationship impacted upon themselves as people as well. The writing was great and engaging, and if you're looking for something fearless and adventurous and a book that will give you all the feels, SOLO STAN is the pick for you!

[Brooke! · Rating 5 out of 5]

i absolutely LOVED this book. dakarai and elias i will ride at dawn for yall!! this was so so so cute and i loved how everything was based around the concert. one of the best little romances ive read. also a BIG thank you to the sweet author who gave me an arc read because she knew i wanted to read it to bad! make sure to read this when it goes on sale june 10th!

[carthi ♡]

ive been keeping this secret for the longest time! and ahhhh i can finally say it 😆🤭✨

[Maria (marmalade.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elias and Kai could not be any more different, but somehow fate keeps pushing them together in this super sweet coming of age story. The two become accidental seatmates as solo attendees at the same concert, but when the concert is unexpectedly canceled, they and other fans must compete in a city wide scavenger hunt to find the bands new secret show. Elias and Kai must work together if they want to see their favorite band perform, despite their obvious differences and growing attraction. This is a super fun rom com that takes place all in one night and is a very quick read. The scavenger hunt takes them all over Raleigh, and that's definitely a city I haven't explored enough of!

The dynamic between these two is incredibly fun, and they both have a ton of growing to do in this book! They're both at this fun young adult inflection point where they've finished school but aren't sure what they're doing next yet, and are both honestly a bit lost. I loved the bisexual representation in this book as well, the bi4bi romance is incredibly sweet and the fact that both these teens are out to their families and it's not a big deal is so nice to see.

Big thanks to Penguin Teen for the gifted review copy! Thoughts are my own.

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet read! I normally don't love fast-paced romance (I love a good slowburn) but Solo Stan was just romcom perfection and it was necessary since the main events of the story take place within one night.

I think Kai may be my favourite character that Talia Tucker has written; he's an artist and a romantic, so I loved reading his perspective. Idk, I just loved his character sm. Elias was also great and it was nice seeing how they connected and helped each other grow. One more thing about the romance: I love that Kai's taller than Elias! I'm not a fan of how some other books constantly bring up height differences, but I felt that Solo Stan did it in a way that didn't make me roll my eyes.

I enjoyed exploring Raleigh with Kai + Elias and the writing made me feel like I was there experiencing all the sights and smells. The scavenger hunt was also very cute and there were some scenes that were so!!! I'll leave it at that due to possible spoilers.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Their summers are completely upended. Dakarai’s three best friends all suddenly make other plans that take them out of town so all he has left is his job in a local bookstore. Since he’s making his recently divorced mom crazy with his hot temper, Elias is sent to live with his uncle and work at his bookstore. When they meet, Dakarai and Elias are cautiously interested in each other but each carries a lot of relationship baggage. A get-to-know you night out turns into an unexpected treasure hunt - the prize is a concert invite from a band they both like. Sparks fly! A fun and sometimes funny romance. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

TLDR; If Nick and Nora's Infinite playlist is your vibe, then this is a book for you!

As a HUGE concert lover I have been looking forward to reading this book all summer. It is a little out of my comfort zone of books but with the LGBTQIA+ and POC representation I knew I just had to jump on this one. Not to mention its based around finding romantic partner at a concert then getting to spend the whole night going on scavenger hunt and realizing you are going from strangers to lovers.

This was just an overall cute story. The characters were both fun, enjoyable, and extremely relatable. The author did a brilliant job on showing the growth of the characters over such a short period of time. The story took place over a 24 hour time period, if I'm not mistaken. There was so much fun, humor, and adventure in such a short read. I DEVOURED this book in two sittings. If I had not started the book at 1AM I, more than likely, would have DEVOURED this in one sitting.

I think what I absolutely adored about this book is that its a romance book with ZERO, yes that is right ZERO, toxicity. This was such a breathe of fresh air. I'm not saying every romance book has toxicity but there is a certain level that most do tend have.

[Lou.Lou.Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solo Stan by Talia Tucker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

Thank you so much to Talia Tucker herself for giving me the E-Arc along with NetGalley

As this was on my TBR I’ve finally gotten to it and this book was so great! Story of two concert goers who know one another but are completely opposites but come to find out they were made for each other. A witty and funny queer romcom that Talia delivers beautifully.

It’s is true that opposites attract! I devoured this book. I loved the story and the characters so much.

I would recommend this book to everyone!

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though both characters were read by two different narrators I feel like maybe the audiobook didn't do the book justice because I see a lot of high praise for the book and I thought it was a little more mediocre though I like the concert-going backdrop and multiple POVs, as always, a good opportunity to dive into the book.

So I'm ambivalent about the character development as much as I'm a fan of the concept of what the book brings. I'm sure it'll go out because it's got a great cover too, or it could be that it's a not for me type title.

[Jesaka Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talia Tucker's SOLO STAN starts with a blackout that ends CYPHR’s sold-out show early, pushing everyone out onto the sidewalks of Raleigh, North Carolina. This kicks of the unexpected connection between Dakarai (Kai) Barbier and Elias Davis. It's an enjoyable read and both characters are well developed. Some of the subjects raised by Kai and Elias could have been further explored, which would have added depth to both the story as well as the characters. Overall, it's a lovely read.

[green ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Talia Tucker for sending me an eARC of Solo Stan!

It is only January and I’m not even kidding when I say this is a STRONG contender for my favourite book of the year!!🩷💜💙 (it wriggled its way into my heart and made a home for itself there 🥹🩷💜💙)

I absolutely adore Kai and Elias, and I know you all will too!!

I can't wait for everyone to fall in love with this gorgeous book!!

[Casanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, I would like to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a SUCKER for cute romance books and this definitely held up to that standard.

I loved the little introspective moments between Kai and Elias. It felt extremely relatable with how people go through the motions of self-awareness.

Overall, a solid read and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy for my shelf.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

👧🏻 review: I read Rules for for Rule Breaking before and enjoyed it. Thus when this book landed on my mom’s TBR shelf I decided to read it. This is romcom, LGBTQ read offers interesting story about Kai and Elias. Many funny dialogues and entertaining moments. Also an easy-read and only 216 pages. Well if you read this with open mind and heart, you’ll absolutely enjoy this book.

[Khushi Arora · Rating 3 out of 5]

very cute, short and sweet, slow burn, k-pop vibes, would not recommend if you're looking for any YA drama. loved the instant connection between the MCs and im always down for a scavenger hunt which turns the city into a character. however, I did expect a little bit of conflict and some more references to music and comics cuz I dove into this as a concert girlie. 100/10 for the cover tho!!

[Samone Webber-Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Super cute and wholesome!! Dakarai & Elias were twin flames that just needed to let their hair down! Both MCs were healing and finding their own ways in life & I thoroughly enjoyed this Bi 4 Bi love story! Happy Pride Month everyone!🌈

[Sam]

Can't decide if this is a 3 or a 4...3.5, I guess?