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A review by rowievdvliet
Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
5.0
Alice Oseman herself describes Heartstopper as giving her comfort and that is the best description I can think of. This is huddling up with a blanket, drinking a hot cacao with whipped cream and finding out it even has caramel drizzle. For me it’s the same level of comfort read as Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda, which was a book I physically wanted to hug (before covid was even a thing).
The book isn’t all fluff. There’s familiair confusion, insecurities at parties, bullying, hanging out with people you don’t even like that much and assault. But there’s also a dog I fell in love with as a cat person, helping out with an exploding pen and so much cute stares and wanting to touch hands.
For some reason the fact this is a comic adds another layer. As Nick and Charlie grow closer, the art style continues to get better. But at first it’s kind of working out that it’s not super stylized. The wonky lines add to the insecurities of the characters and somehow it makes the story more cute.
I’m on my first reread of the series now and I feel like this might become an annual tradition when I just want to read something that gives me comfort.
The book isn’t all fluff. There’s familiair confusion, insecurities at parties, bullying, hanging out with people you don’t even like that much and assault. But there’s also a dog I fell in love with as a cat person, helping out with an exploding pen and so much cute stares and wanting to touch hands.
For some reason the fact this is a comic adds another layer. As Nick and Charlie grow closer, the art style continues to get better. But at first it’s kind of working out that it’s not super stylized. The wonky lines add to the insecurities of the characters and somehow it makes the story more cute.
I’m on my first reread of the series now and I feel like this might become an annual tradition when I just want to read something that gives me comfort.