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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:
Complicated
i truly have no business reading a Christmas story in one sitting in August, but i really really love this!! the Spring siblings are so so sweet :]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
A quick read. I would say reading this after Heartstopper would be best to not get "spoilers" from reading this and Solitaire first. Looking forward to reading the other books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Emotional, quick read, really adds depth to Charlie and Tori’s understanding of each other!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Self harm
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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: Bullying, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness
Minor: Self harm
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Alcohol
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Sexual harassment
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, Mental illness, Self harm
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia
emotional
informative
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:
Complicated
It’s Christmas! Sadly, this does not mean that all is well. After a horribly uncomfortable Christmas dinner, Charlie fights with his mother and then – despite Tori asking him to stay – leaves to go to Nick’s instead, leaving his siblings alone with their parents and their extended family …
I’ve never read Heartstopper (although I plan to), but I at least read Solitaire before I ever read This Winter, and before rereading it in February, I watched seasons one and two of the Heartstopper series, so I guess I know at least some of the relevant background.
As with Nick and Charlie, I do not have that much to say – I enjoyed reading this novella very much (although I am not usually one for novellas or slice of life), but it is short. I appreciate how realistic the depiction of people dealing with another person’s mental illness is – some people are helpful, some try their best, but ultimately end up being unhelpful, and some either do not know or do not care to actually try getting over their prejudices. Some passages are uncomfortable to read, but that is by design (and I think Alice Oseman handles them with care without necessarily sugarcoating anything). I also like how every (main) character has their own agency that is easily understandable. And once again, the illustrations are really beautiful!
The one thing that I did not completely like is the ending. It felt a little abrupt to me and one of the more interesting moments – in my opinion – basically happens off-page, which I find frustrating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm