Rating
Synopsis
Volume 1: Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn't been too great, but at least he's not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He's heard a little about Charlie - the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months - but he's never had the opportunity to talk to him. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner.
Volume 2: Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie's gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn't. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family... and himself.
Volume 3: The Heartstopper gang go on a school trip to Paris! Not only are Nick and Charlie navigating a new city, but they are also telling more people about their relationship AND learning more about the challenges each other are facing in private… Meanwhile, Tao and Elle will face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem… rather close…?
Volume 4: Charlie didn't think Nick could ever like him back, but now they're officially boyfriends. Charlie's beginning to feel ready to say those three little words: I love you. Nick's been feeling the same, but he's got a lot on his mind - not least coming out to his dad and the fact that Charlie might have an eating disorder. As summer turns to autumn and a new school year begins, Charlie and Nick are about to learn a lot about what love means.
Review
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman is a graphic novel series that started on Tumblr and is now a popular Netflix series! They follow Nick, Charlie and their friends as they navigate secondary school while also learning about themselves, friendships and first loves.
They are an easy read, and because they are graphic novels, you can effortlessly get through them in a day. They may be Graphic Novels, but that doesn’t take anything from the story or experience of reading it. The illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity and in conveying the characters’ experiences.
There are so many elements in these books that everyone can relate to, whatever your schooling life was like. The things that are explored are relatable to so many people. They include topics from bullying to changing friendships, crushes, figuring out who you are, first loves, growing up and mental illnesses.
It’s an LGBTQIA+ story that is wonderfully positive and leaves you with a warm feeling and just wanting more.
While talking with friends about Heartstopper, I have learnt how accurate a lot of Nick and Charlie’s experiences are to those within the LGBTQIA+ community. From being outed at school, then being bullied because of it, and so many other elements that are explored.
These are a series of stories that will be relatable and loved by many people of all ages for a long time. If you haven’t read them yet, I highly suggest you do.
