Book review: Heartstopper volume 1
Book reviews

Heartstopper Vol 1 – Alice Oseman

18 March 2019 / 17 Comments

Release date: 8 January 2019
Goodreads link
Book Depository link
Rating
4 stars
Heartstopper Vol 1 (Heartstopper, #1) blurb:

Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they’ve never met… until one day when they’re made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nickm even though he doesn’t think he has a chance.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised.

OH. MY. GOD. I am trash for this story, even though it shattered my heart. Why? How? What is going on with graphic novels lately?! This story is the meet-cute to end all meet-cutes and the ending was the worst part because IT ENDED. I need more of this. IMMEDIATELY!!

PLOT

OK so our MC, Nick (he’s the shorter one with the dark hair), is hooking up (I won’t even call it dating) with this total jerk, Ben. Ben is basically using Charlie because he’s the only guy who is ‘out’ at their school. And then Charlie meets Nick (the other guy on the cover). And they become friends. And Nick invites Charlie to play rugby! (Rugby is a sport that’s like football, but I couldn’t tell you the difference. Except in America because they wear padding to play football.) And the story continues until I am drowning in a lake of my own tears.

CHARACTERS

OK, Charlie is a marshmallow of sweetness and rainbows and all that is good in the world. He’s sweet and kind, he plays the drums, and he puts his feelings out in the world because he’s precious.

Nick is a chav, but a really well meaning one. He likes sports (I think we see him playing rugby and field hockey in this) and he’s also kind and is basically a big blonde labrador.
Ben is a jerk and I don’t like him or agree with his life choices. He’s a manipulative sneaky asshat and tries to pressure my poor Charlie. Send the villagers with pitchforks after him!

LIKES

The characters are gorgeous. I don’t always agree with their life choices, but I understand most of their motivations (except Ben). Charlie’s family is so supportive and sweet as well. ?
The art is also super cute, and I love that Alice Oseman did the illustrations as well as the story. How freaking talented is she?!?!
I don’t really do sport. I mean, you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise considering the books I have read this year (The Foxhole Court; Check, Please #Hockey, this) but I think it was integrated well into the story. It doesn’t stand out awkwardly, it’s just part of who Ben is.

DISLIKES

I mostly dislike Ben. I know I’m supposed to, because that is the reason he exists, but I also feel like his existence is supporting the trope of violence and assault towards one character, so that another character can be a hero.
I also disliked the ending. I won’t go into too much detail, but I guess it’s the same way I felt during Autoboyography. Stop jerking people around. If you’re confused, have a conversation. No one is going to hate you for having a conversation. You might get hated for running away though. I am hoping this is situation is rectified in Vol 2, but I also don’t agree with using it as a plot twist. It happens too often in the real world and we need to show others how they SHOULD be acting.

OK, that’s it from me for today! Happy Monday (or Sunday if you’re further west in the world).
Until next time, happy reading ??

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