The series of graphic novels entitled Heartstopper by Alice Oseman was initially released chapter by chapter online before being compiled into volumes and traditionally published. Oseman had already published numerous other novels, including Solitaire and Radiosilence, but none have amassed the almost cult-like following that Heartstopper has.
Simply put, Hearstopper is a series of graphic novels following two boys, Nick and Charlie, and their love story. Although on the surface the premise seems like a typical story about falling in love, this series encapsulates so much more than that. Heartstopper is a love story, but also a story about struggling with your sexual and gender identity, coming out to your parents, mental health, eating disorders, and more. Nick and Charlie are the central characters of the story, but the strong and diverse group of friends that they have in their found family allows all readers to find someone they can relate to and identify with.
I don’t normally reach for graphic novels, but I picked up Heartstopper after reading Radiosilence, and I am so glad I did. From the beginning, the characters of Nick and Charlie were so addicting because they were relatable and nuanced. Oseman did an excellent job crafting not only Nick and Charlie, but the characters around them as well. All of her novels take place in the same universe and are interconnected, so all of the characters are well thought out and have a purpose. Even if the side characters don’t have their own novel, they are still nuanced and complex with their own personalities, struggles, etc., which is something I really appreciate about all of Oseman’s works. An element about the story that also stood out to me was how the story continued to get more complex as the novels progress, but it never feels overwhelming or out of place. The complexities, struggles, and issues arose naturally and made sense with the characters and environment, which is a common trait of all of Oseman’s works.
I am not very artistically inclined and don’t know much about art or graphic novel design, but from a non-artist standpoint I really enjoyed the art style of Hearstopper. For me, the balance of detail and simplicity was key for the art. The illustration for these novels are simple enough where the reader can focus on the characters and story but complex enough that they add details and nuances to the story.