Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Published by Hachette Children’s Group
TO watch the growing success of Heartstopper and the stories around it has been incredible. The series of graphic novels now has three published books while the upcoming Netflix series based on the series has just announced its castlist.
As much as I have always enjoyed deep exploration into the political and dark with fantasies and mysteries, there are times where I find it almost more impressive if a light and warm story can capture the attention to the same extent without all of the intense twists and turns of plot.
Every book in the Heartstopper series has done this, elevating an easy and fluffy read into a regular topic of conversation with friends over the character relationships and development and, most recently, the perfect cast and our hopes for the new and exciting tv adaptation.
The story begins with Charlie Spring, a now openly gay secondary school student with a tendency to overthink things but with a great group of close friends. Charlie doesn’t know he’ll be making another friend until the new school year starts and he’s sat next to Nick Nelson.
Nick is a rugby player with a heart of gold and is delighted to get the chance to get to know Charlie. The two bond quickly, starting to talk every day and spend a lot of their free time together, the only issue arising when Charlie develops a crush and starts to worry about how to proceed.
Nick may yet return the feelings, but he had never before thought about his sexuality and must now come to understand more about himself and his relationship to Charlie.
Through humour, compassion and a genuine sense of joy, Oseman communicates to readers a love story that feels infinitely welcoming with characters that seem like real life friends. Each blunder, endearing mannerism and inside joke is perfectly translated through the style that brings the story to life.
As a character Charlie is wonderful despite, and perhaps in part because of, having natural flaws he is extremely likeable and comes across as the kind of teenager one could meet anywhere.
His occasional struggles with anxiety don’t make him seem closed off in any way but rather only makes the people he comes to trust – and his connection with Nick – seem stronger and far more important.
It portrays the message that to be introverted and to have ongoing struggles with mental health issues does not and will never exclude you from being a main character.
Heartstopper has all the comfortable escapism of any light drama and romance with all of the substance of character as any other genre might.
The focus is not on some dramatic plot with twists and turns on every page but on the small stories that make up life, the little moments of pure happiness that can feel just as romantic as any grand gesture.
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