Review: How Solo: A Star Wars Story Novelization Made Me Love Solo: A Star Wars Story the Movie
The Force is strong with this adaptation…and so is the hair care routine.
Most Star Wars fans have their favorite movie, and probably a well-debated order in which they rank them. For me, Solo (the movie) originally landed near the bottom of my list. It just didn’t stick with me the way others did. That is, until I read Solo (the book). Has that ever happened to you? When the book version gives you a whole new appreciation for a story you thought you already had figured out?
That’s exactly what happened here. Read on to find out why.
(oh, and May the 4th be with you. We won’t talk about how this review has sat in our archives for six years. At least we are posting it now!)
Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition
by Mur LaffertyPublished by: Century
on September 6, 2018
Genres: Sci-Fi, Media Tie-In
Audiobook Libro.FM
Goodreads
This thrilling adaptation of Solo: A Star Wars Story expands on the film to include scenes from alternate versions of the script and other additional content, giving deeper insights into Han Solo’s years in the Imperial Navy, Qi’ra’s past, and the beginnings of the rebellion.
Though Han Solo has thrilled Star Wars fans for decades, the notorious wisecracking scoundrel was chasing adventure and dodging trouble long before he walked into the cantina at Mos Eisley spaceport.
Young Han dreams of someday soaring into space at the helm of his own starship and leaving his home, the gritty industrial planet Corellia, far behind. But as long as he’s trapped in a life of poverty and crime—and under the thumb of the sinister Lady Proxima and her brutal street gang—reaching the distant stars seems impossible. When Han tries to escape with his girlfriend and partner-in-crime, Qi’ra, he makes it out—but she doesn’t. Desperate for a way to find his own offworld vessel and free her, Han enlists in the Imperial Navy—the last place for a rebellious loner who doesn’t play well with others.
When the Empire clips his wings, Han goes rogue and plunges into the shady world of smugglers, gamblers, and con artists. There he meets the charming and cunning high roller Lando Calrissian, makes an unlikely friend in a cantankerous Wookiee called Chewbacca, and first lays eyes on the Millennium Falcon. To snag his piece of the outlaw pie, Han joins a crew of pirates to pull off a risky heist. The stakes are high, the danger is great, and the odds are slim. But never tell Han Solo the odds.
Review
After the original trilogy, we’re left with plenty of questions. How did Han really get the Falcon? What’s the truth behind the 12 parsecs? Why is there tension between Han and Lando? And seriously, how does Chewbacca keep that hair looking so good?
The movie answers some of these. But the book? It gives us the answer we were really waiting for: Chewie uses Lando’s luxury hair products.
Yes, really.
This is exactly the kind of rich, weird detail I live for in Star Wars books. Adaptations like this one give us the extra layers that just can’t make it to the screen. Whether it’s due to time, budget, or the challenge of translating complex character perspectives into film, the books almost always give us more.
One moment that stood out for me was the infamous shower scene. In the movie, it’s barely there. In the book, it’s laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly charming. Mur Lafferty brings humor and emotional depth in a way that turns small scenes into meaningful moments.
Another brilliant move? The scene where Han and Qi’ra are separated. It’s painful to watch, especially knowing where Han ends up in the original trilogy. Rather than simply rehashing what we already saw, Lafferty reframes the moment through the eyes of someone working in the spaceport. It gives a whole new angle to the experience and offers a glimpse into what it’s like to be an average Imperial worker. I loved that perspective and found it incredibly effective.
And while the movie is titled Solo, the book makes space to dive deeper into Qi’ra’s past and motivations. No spoilers here, but let’s just say I am fully on board for a Solo 2 if it means we get more of her story. Her character is written with far more nuance and power in the book than what we saw on screen.
I also really enjoyed how Mur deepened the story around L3 and her connection to the Falcon. The book makes that emotional moment more complete and gives her character a sense of continuity that’s easy to miss in the film.
By the time I finished, I was already queuing up the movie again. Mur’s take gave me fresh eyes and a renewed appreciation for the story. What once felt like a lower-tier Star Wars installment is now something I view much more fondly.
If you enjoy stories with behind-the-scenes layers, fresh perspectives, and deeper emotional beats, Solo: A Star Wars Story is worth picking up. You may even find yourself falling for a film you once overlooked.
And if nothing else, you’ll finally know Chewie’s secret to great hair.
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