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emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this book. Even though it was quite a short novella, it was super fast paced and I think it fits well into the whole Solitaire/Heartstopper-verse. I really appreciated having Oliver's POV, I think it's a crime they cut him from the tv show because he's just so cute and his perspective is so important. Overall this was a quick read and I really appreciated how Alice Oseman wrote about Charlies eating disorder with so much sensitivity and care.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Homophobia
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book after Heartstopper Volume 5 and Nick & Charlie. It was interesting to hear from the other Spring siblings, and how they feel about their family, Charlie's relationship with Nick and his eating disorder. I feel for Tori and how she tries to help her brother, but is overwhelmed, and how both older siblings try to protect Oliver from the struggles they're experiencing. This was a quick, but satisfying dive into the family's dynamics and how they try to salvage a not-so-great Christmas. I would love to read more about Tori from her perspective!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Homophobia
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Minor: Homophobia
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Positives. It felt so good to dive back into the world created by Alice Oseman. I noticed while reading that I had missed these characters. Tori, Nick, Charlie... It was good reading about them again. This novella is a perfect bridge between Charlie's return from the psych ward and the events of Solitaire in which spoilers Charlie realises at the end of the book that Tori is struggling with major mental health issues as well which have been overshadowed by Charlie's ED . This novella sets these events up very well and deals with the fallout of Charlie's road to recovery. I would only recommend reading this book after reading volume 2 of the graphic novel Heartstopper and Solitaire for these reasons.
Negatives. Oliver's part was not particularly well-written. When Alice writes about him in third person, he is perfectly believable as a 7 yo but that is not the case when you read his inner monologue.
Quote. "Charlie and I have discussed at length how it's possible for Oliver to be related to us, since he's the literal embodiment of joy and we're both miserable fucks. We concluded that he must have got all the happy genes."
Negatives. Oliver's part was not particularly well-written. When Alice writes about him in third person, he is perfectly believable as a 7 yo but that is not the case when you read his inner monologue.
Quote. "Charlie and I have discussed at length how it's possible for Oliver to be related to us, since he's the literal embodiment of joy and we're both miserable fucks. We concluded that he must have got all the happy genes."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Self harm
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not my favorite of the heartstopper world books, but as always, it was sweet and I just love Nick and Charlie. Tori is so lovely.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Self harm
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This short novella takes place on Christmas Day & we get a chapter POV from each of the Spring siblings (Tori, Charlie, & Oliver). As always, I can never get enough of this world and characters. This story focuses on the first Christmas after Nick learns about Charlie’s eating disorder & Charlie is back home after receiving in patient care. It’s a learning process for the whole family as Charlie readjusts and also dealing with extended families. I love the focus this story gave to the sibling dynamic of Tori & Charlie. Very sweet!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm