Heyo Bookaholics!

Absolutely perfect and positive!

Aghjsidsl!!!! Heartstopper is everything my heart wants, needs and yearns for. This comic series is so very queer, positive

Blurb

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more...?

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, and he's sort of got a boyfriend, even if he's kind of mean and only wants to meet up in secret.

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. That is, until the start of January, in which Nick and Charlie are placed in the same form group and 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 sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner...

I’ve been following Alice Oseman’s release of the comic on her Instagram and although I didn’t donate to her Kickstarter for the first release of Heartstopper, I picked it up as soon as it was released in bookstores. I read on the last day of May this year and fell head over heels for Nick and Charlie.

Blurb

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.

Heartstopper is about 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.

This is the second volume of Heartstopper, with more to come.

Both novels are at most a 20-minute read and totally worth the time. I like to take my time looking at the doodles and trying to pick out little background things that would define the character further, especially in scenes that show their bedrooms. I started and finished this last night as a quick and cute read to fly though whilst I was in a heavy procrastination mood and it picked me right up.

REVIEW!

I’ve said this before and I will say it again; Heartstopper is such a positive comic for young people to read. It explores the concept of discovering sexuality, school bullying, acceptance and love. Heartstopper shows people that it’s okay to take time to understand who you are and if you love someone you won’t push them to do something, instead let them take their own time with finding themselves.

As someone who is not queer but is beginning to read more queer content in YA literature and also seeing queer content in newer middle-grade novels, I’m loving seeing it represented in a positive way that shows growth, acceptance and love instead of pain and heartbreak.

Nick and Charlie are teenagers who attend the same school. Charlie is a shy nerd and Charlie is what would seem like your typical jock who plays sports. Charlie has had a crush on Nick for the longest time and his friends are worried for him.

Over the course of the two volumes, Nick learns about himself and his sexuality as well as how toxic his friends really are for him, finding a new friend and boyfriend in Charlie. I think Charlie’s softness complements Nick’s insecurities and helps give him confidence especially since he gives Nick time and resources to understand the person he truly is.

I loved how softer, more romantic and exploratory the second volume is compared to the first. There are boundaries that are respected, not only between what Nick and Charlie see as right for themselves but also what would be appropriate for teenage boys to experience.

I was making squealy noises every time the boys were being cute or just texting each other sweet messages because I legitimately had a cuteness overload that could not be contained. I recommend reading Heartstopper before bed for the best night sleep you’ll ever have. These comics put me in the happiest of moods, knowing that everything would be okay for these precious boys in the end.

I can’t wait for the release of Volume 3 as Volume 2 left us on a cliffhanger and I want more!!!

★ Rating ★

I rated this book a ★★★★★ (5/5 stars) This comic caused ugly squealy noises to come out of my mouth as I read it because it’s so cute, positive and just so overall perfect that I want to cri out of happiness.

More Heartstopper!

Alice Oseman has the full Heartstopper comic up on her Tumblr and posts updates on her art Instagram stories, @aliceosemanart if you want to read it online. She also posts a mini-comic series on that same Instagram, a crossover between Detroit Become Human x Heartstopper, an AU that she has been working on for a long time (I believe it has been completed now, check her highlights for the full comic).

What’s your favourite comic book/ comic book series??

I quite like Saga and The Wicked and The Divine. Other than that, I don’t pick up comics as often as I’d like.

Leave your opinions in the comments or alternatively on my social media channels!
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See you back here on Monday’s (book reviews), Wednesday’s (storytime/ writing updates) and Saturday’s (other bookish content).