Volume One by Alice Oseman

Volume One (Heartstopper, #1)

by Alice Oseman

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. An LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between - for fans of The Art of Being Normal, Holly Bourne and Love, Simon.

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.

'The queer graphic novel we wished we had at high school.' Gay Times

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

Charlie Spring is in Year 10 and one of the only guys in his school to come out as gay. That puts a lot of pressure on such a young soul. He survived the bullying, but now he has a different problem – he wants to walk from a "relationship" that isn't healthy for him.

Meeting Nick gave him the courage to walk away. But Nick has done more than that, quickly becoming Charlie's new best friend. Is there a chance that this could be more than friendship? Charlie can only hope.

My Review:

Oh, my goodness. Heartstopper Vol. 1 is such a sweet and endearing story, guys; I'm in love. So are our two leads (I hope!). I'll admit that I had no idea this series had been adapted into a Netflix show until after I read volume one. That said, I think I will finish reading the series before checking it out – just in case there are spoilers.

The romance between Charlie and Nick is incredibly gentle – much like Nick (unless you're threatening somebody he cares about). It's the sort of romance most people dream of, full of dedication and slow-burn.

I was initially hesitant to read Heartstopper Vol. 1 because of the rugby subplot. Sports aren't my thing, and I was worried I couldn't follow along. That said, I had zero issues! It doesn't delve too much into rugby or require readers to have an extensive knowledge of the sport. So don't let that stop you from checking out this lovely read.

Highlights:
LGBT
M/M Romance
Endearing
Adapted into a Netflix show

Trigger Warnings:
Homophobia
Assault/Bullying

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 July, 2023: Finished reading
  • 3 July, 2023: Reviewed