THE SUNDAY REVIEW | HEARTSTOPPER VOLUMES 1 & 2 – ALICE OSEMAN

     

Like many of you, I picked up the first book in the Heartstopper series, read it straight through in one sitting, and immediately picked up volume 2. So the two are inextricably linked in my mind, and I can’t remember which held what part of the story to review them separately. (I suspect volumes 3 & 4 will be a similar situation.) I’m very late to this party – there are four volumes AND a TV show (and yes, I’ve since watched it, it’s excellent)! But luckily for me, it doesn’t matter when you pick this up, how old you are, who you are – you will have just as good a reading experience with it regardless. It’s that good.

This is the story of Charlie, one of the only openly gay boys in his school (and not by his choice). When we first meet him he’s in a toxic hook up situation with a closeted (*ahem*asshole*ahem*) boy in his school. It’s not going anywhere, and Charlie soon tires of putting up with it. Around the same time as he’s ending that relationship, he meets Nick, a rugby player. At first they are classmates who have been assigned to share a desk, but soon they become friends. There’s a lot more to each of them than meets the eye, and they each revel in learning some of the not-so-surface aspects of one another’s personalities, interests and lives.

When we end the first book things are just starting to get complicated, because Charlie is beginning to feel a bit more than friendship vibes for Nick, but as far as he knows, Nick is completely straight. This is where you should stop reading if you don’t want any spoilers.

***SPOILERS FOR VOLUME 2***

When we roll over into volume 2, we pick up pretty much right where we left off. It’s not long before Charlie has a fairly obvious crush on Nick, and Nick starts to realize that he might not want to *just* be friends with Charlie anymore, either. Their relationship development comes in fits and starts – it’s complicated, it’s hard for Nick to try and figure out who he is and where he fits, because he’s definitely had crushes on girls too. So it’s not a linear pathway. And even once the two are together, it’s tricky. Nick isn’t sure of his sexual identity yet, and definitely isn’t ready to come out as…. what, exactly? Charlie, having been involuntarily outed himself, fully understands this and supports Nick’s need to take things at his own pace.

As the story progresses, this is one of the main sources of tension – Charlie being made fun of for having a never-gonna-happen crush on a hot rugby player and not able to convince his friends that he’s not just heading for heartbreak, and Nick not being ready to come out, but hating seeing Charlie lie to people in his life to protect Nick’s secret more and more.

I won’t say how things come together (or don’t) on account of spoilers, but that at least gives you a bit of a sense of the trajectory of this volume.

***END VOLUME 2 SPOILERS***

I’ll say right now that I ADORED these books. For so many reasons. First, they’re a great format – the art and story work well together and I love the muted pastel colours. It creates a feeling of calmness despite the stormy aspects of the story, and also underscores the softness and intimacy between Nick and Charlie, even when things are complicated. So bravo on the conception of these.

And then there’s the story. Oh, the story. It’s sweet, it’s romantic – but it also has some sharp edges and believable confusion, angst and upset. These are teenagers, after all. If I remember correctly, been in teenager is 90% being overwrought and confused and having no clue how to solve and of the many problems that feel huge and insurmountable. So I liked that these teenagers seem more real than some others I’ve read.

The friendships also had me saying “YES!” a whole helluva lot. I adored the side characters. I loved how fiercely loyal Charlie’s best friends are (Tao in particular) and I loved that they always have his back. I think the only criticism I have for this is that I wanted the prequel – Tao is very worried about the whole Nick thing because of what he saw Charlie go through before, and we missed out on experiencing that. But even still, with a little imagination, it’s not hard to fill in the blanks, and it makes their relationship that much more lovely. Also the parents – there has been a lot of talk about how parents are often missing in YA books. But they’re definitely here in this one, and they are supportive and involved. Which I very much appreciated now that I’m a parent myself.

But more than the art or the writing or the story or the friendships I just love that this series exists. When I was a teenager there was NOTHING like this out there. It took me decades longer to figure out some important things about myself that caused all kinds of insecurity and alienation for most of my life, because it just didn’t occur to me to question them. Because no one talked about things like the gender spectrum or the variations on queer identities. The very fact that this book is here, in the world, being read by teenagers, some of whom are dealing with exactly the same issues right now, makes me both incredibly happy, but also really sad that it’s taken so long. These books are so important. They show the positive side of queer life – even for teenagers – they show that sometimes people aren’t so easy to classify, they show that a whole lot is possible beyond gay or straight, boy or girl. They open up a world of possibilities for everyone, of any age, who reads them.

As I’m sure you’re picking up by now, these are both receiving a fully rave review. I want everyone to read them, because they’re beautiful, hopeful, honest, diverse, romantic, and just a great time. The TV show based on the first two is also fantastic and I highly recommend watching that as well. It was perfect when I’d finished volume 2 and didn’t have 3 and 4 yet and just needed more. Definitely worth the hype!

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. 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.

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… – Goodreads

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. – Goodreads