Review: Heartstopper, Volume 1

by Alice Oseman

'Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they've never met ... until one day when they're made to sit together. 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 Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised.

Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.'

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Heartstopper, Volume 1, collects together the first two chapters of Oseman's LGBTQ+ webcomic about teens Charlie and Nick, whom readers may recall if they have previously read Oseman's earlier YA novel, Solitaire. Solitaire focuses on Charlie's sister Tori, but in Heartstopper Tori becomes a background character whilst Charlie and Nick take centre stage. 

I haven't read Solitaire so I came to this with no expectations in that respect, however I've never had quite the same immersive experience reading a graphic novel compared to reading a novel, so whilst the general story sounded like something I might enjoy I wasn't sure that it would grip me. Heartstopper proved me entirely wrong.

The story is straightforward: 'Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love.' What Oseman does so well, what gives the story its depth, is focus on the simple, everyday details of first romance. These details will feel familiar to many readers in tone and substance, even if the circumstances differ, and as a consequence its very easy to become invested in this budding romance.

More often than I'd like I read YA characters that just don't sound like genuine teens, but Oseman's dialogue is spot on, making her characters leap off the page. Here are a whole host of characters that sound and act their age; they fizz with youth and promise, with hormones and angst, and paired with Oseman's beautifully simple illutrations you get a near-perfectly realised love story.

It also discusses with real honesty and insight issues that are often too little, or inadequately, addressed in YA fiction, including bullying, self-harm* and sexual identity. It feels like a necessary and worthy addition to the small but growing selection of titles attempting to redress the imbalance. It should be in every school library.

I finished this first volume and had to immediately continue reading about Charlie and Nick's journey via the webcomic, which is still being updated weekly, but I’ll be picking up volume 2 at my local bookshop soon. There is a benefit to reading both the print and the digital editions, as both have additional content that the other doesn't - which Hogwarts house has your favourite Heartstopper character been sorted into? Only in your very own physical copy will you find out.

This was an unexpected joy to read, and I'm keen to read Oseman's YA novels on the strength of it.

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*If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health please seek support - Young Minds is an  invaluable starting point and an excellent resource.