A review by piperclover
Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-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? No

4.5

I really enjoy the way mental health and illnesses are described in a light hearted but still serious way.  It's dealt with appropriately but it's not so heavy that it feels a pit in your stomach. I absolutely love that therapy and medical intervention is so well highlighted and encouraged in this series. There's a whole lot of nuances but it's really nice to see, especially in the context of teenagers. The other thing I love is that Nick flat out tells his dad and brother off and says to his dads face that he isn't being a good parent.  I can't stand it when characters, especially teens/young adults, aren't vocal in telling the people hurting them how they're hurting them. 

I think the author has found a very good balance between sounding like authentic teenagers but keeping it clean and not harmful. At the end, Charlie jokes about Tao being homophobic when he complains about Charlie and Nick kissing too much.  That's such a realistic thing for friends to joke about but its never taken any farther so it's always funny. 
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