Heartstopper, by Alice Oseman, is a cute, heartfelt coming-of-age graphic novel. It features LGBTQIA+ themes in a wholesome way that leaves the reader feeling fuzzy. The novel is about two British high schoolers, Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, and their friend groups. Charlie and Nick first meet in their advisory class, where they sit next to each other. Nick is a popular rugby player, and because Charlie was bullied by a group of rugby players last year for being gay, Charlie was reluctant to accept Nick’s friendly outreaches. After a couple of weeks, Nick saves Charlie from being harassed by an older boy. From there, their friendship flourishes, and soon, Charlie develops a crush on Nick. After spending more time together and becoming closer friends, Nick starts questioning his feelings for Charlie and his sexuality. After they share a kiss at a party, Nick realizes that he likes Charlie and asks him to be his boyfriend. Even though their relationship is secret, because Nick isn’t ready to come out to his friends and family, they face many issues that they manage to overcome. The rugby boys begin to bully Charlie again and Charlie’s friends cause him to second guess his and Nick’s relationship. Ultimately, their relationship survives and becomes even stronger. Nick comes out to his friends and family, their relationship is no longer secret, and they go on their first date to the coast.
I really enjoyed reading this book because there were diverse characters and relationships. There were many queer relationships that were wholesome and not overly depressing or fetishized, which is a rarity, and the queer characters were not based on stereotypes. Nick and Charlie’s friendship and eventual relationship were very cute and heartfelt. The friendships in this book were also super heartfelt and genuine and were great examples of non-toxic and supportive friend groups. I felt very connected with a lot of the characters, especially Nick Nelson, because the book showed both the frivolous and serious struggles of queer teenagers. While this book doesn’t delve deep into serious topics, like homophobia and transphobia, I felt like it was appropriately touched on. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a heartwarming, quick read. As it is a graphic novel, I also really liked the art style and enjoyed the extra emphasis that the art provided for the story. Overall, this was a great read and I would really encourage people to read this if they want to diversify their bookshelves.
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