Book Information

Author: Alice Oseman
Genre: YA, LGBTQ+
Published: Hodder, February 2019

About the Book

Boy meets Boy.
Boys become friends.
Boys fall in love.

My Review

Heartstopper is a graphic novel by Alice Oseman. Unsurprisingly, I absolutely love this book! It is a beautiful story, and one that I can’t get enough of! I must have reread this book about 15 times!

Heartstopper tells the beautiful story of Nick and Charlie in pictures. Their relationship starts with simple greetings in their form room at school, but quickly becomes something more. Charlie thinks that there is no way that Nick Nelson could be interested in him, but Nick certainly is. After an altercation with another boy, Nick and Charlie become friends, and it goes from there. Their love story is so sweet, but also full of challenges, from Nick still figuring things out to homophobic bullies; they manage to deal with it together.

What I love most about Nick and Charlie is how their relationship develops naturally. It starts with friendship, and although there are clearly feelings developing, neither of them has all the answers straight away. I especially like that Nick gets time to work out his own feelings and identity rather than everything being instantly resolved. Their relationship feels supportive and caring, even when they are dealing with difficult situations. They look out for each other, and I love seeing how their friendship becomes something deeper while they both learn more about themselves.

There are also many different storylines and relationships going on at the same time. Tao and Elle. Darcy and Tara. I love all three of these couples and other supporting characters like Nellie (Nick’s dog), Tori, Oliver and Nick’s mum. There are definitely characters that I really don’t like, as they are homophobic and unkind, such as the school bully, Harry Greene.

I also love that Nick and Charlie aren't the only important relationship in the story. Tao and Elle, and Darcy and Tara, each have their own personalities and challenges, and I enjoy seeing their friendships and relationships develop alongside Nick and Charlie's. The supporting characters make the world feel much bigger than just the main romance. I particularly like Tori and Nellie, who each bring something different to the story, and Nick's mum is another character I really enjoy because of how supportive she is of Nick and Charlie.

Heartstopper is also very diverse. It has characters engaged in same sex relationships, characters of all different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and the book deals with things like bullying and mental health difficulties.

Overall, Heartstopper is incredible, and one of my favourites, and I love the relationships between the main characters in the story, but it deals with some heavy subjects, so be advised when going into it. Heartstopper definitely belongs on the shelf with Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo, and also deserves 5 stars. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Reid Jenkins ; My Favourite Quotes from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo