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books_and_fairy_lights 's review for:
This Winter (A Heartstopper novella)
by Alice Oseman
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As every other Heartstopper book, This Winter was really good. It was a little "darker" than the comics - or rather it dealt more in depth with Charlie's mental illness and eating disorder. Which was a good thing! Because Alice Osman really has a way to talk about mental illness honestly without being dramatic, kindly while being realistic, and hopefully while not sugar coating things.
This novella spoke to me a lot as you also get Tori's side - Tori who is trying her best to be there for others, putting them before herself as she thinks she "has nothing to complaint about and they have it worse". (that hits too close to home.) At least Tori and Charlie are close and do end up talking about things openly-ish.. Osman knows it can be hard to love someone who's mentally ill (be it a sibling or a partner), and I think she does a great job writing about it because she is very realistic about that, while staying away from stereotypes and not blaming any one. She's always trying to show that everyone is just doing the best they can, and reminds her readers that kindness can go a long way. Maybe that's why her books are so feel good, and why, at least for me personally, reading them feels like being seen and understood.
This novella spoke to me a lot as you also get Tori's side - Tori who is trying her best to be there for others, putting them before herself as she thinks she "has nothing to complaint about and they have it worse". (that hits too close to home.) At least Tori and Charlie are close and do end up talking about things openly-ish.. Osman knows it can be hard to love someone who's mentally ill (be it a sibling or a partner), and I think she does a great job writing about it because she is very realistic about that, while staying away from stereotypes and not blaming any one. She's always trying to show that everyone is just doing the best they can, and reminds her readers that kindness can go a long way. Maybe that's why her books are so feel good, and why, at least for me personally, reading them feels like being seen and understood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Minor: Self harm