Book Review: Heartstopper Volume Five by Alice Oseman

‘Heartstopper’ is a series of graphic novels by Alice Oseman. The fifth installment of the series was released earlier this month and continues to follow Nick and Charlie, a young queer couple from Kent, UK, finding their way in the world, while grappling with external issues, not just their sexuality.

As always, this edition of ‘Heartstopper’ did not disappoint. I laughed, I cried, and I’m desperate for more.

This volume explores the idea of sexual relationships and intimacy, while acknowledging that the education system in the UK isn’t necessarily queer-inclusive. It follows Nick and Charlie as they take the next step in their relationship with the support of friends and family. With Tao and Aled by Charlie’s side, and the ever-growing ensemble cast of queer kids in the local area, Charlie’s horizons are broadening. Not only with how he takes the next steps in his relationship, while recovering from his eating disorder, but also with the idea of being Head Boy, taking his GCSE exams, and the idea that Nick will eventually have to go to university.

I really enjoyed getting to know more about Nick and Charlie as separate entities, as, when they leave school, they will exist outside of each other. Seeing Charlie and Sahar grow closer, and play together at the summer fete, and Charlie grow in confidence to wear a slim-fit t-shirt at the show, instead of a jumper, was amazing character growth! Furthermore, getting a glimpse into a greater community of young people through Sahar, was amazing! I hope we get to see more of the Queer Intentions band in the future, and Charlie remains a member of the band, even if only for a while, I think it would do amazing things for his confidence as a character.

There was so much to love about this next part of their story. Not only was it incredibly powerful to see a glimpse into Mr Farouk’s past, when he encourages Charlie to apply to be Head Boy, because “there are a lot of younger students who would find it inspiring to see [Charlie] as Head Boy”, and how that is an echo of the sentiments ‘Heartstopper’s reception has had on the queer community, and the target audience. There are so many stories, even when I was younger that lacked queer representation. My first glimpse into the idea people could be gay were Mitch and Cam in ‘Modern Family’ and Kurt in ‘Glee’. It’s inspiring, encouraging, and so unbelievably positive to see stories about queer teenagers, where they aren’t beholden to have all their issues revolve around their sexualities and gender identities. They struggle with their mental health, they struggle to pick what university to go to, to name a few!

I also sobbed my eyes out over Tori and Michael’s predicament about labels, their straight-passing relationship and the idea that as an asexual, Tori is grappling with the insecurity that maybe Michael will get tired of her, and feel unfulfilled because she doesn’t want to have sex. That is one hell of a topic, and a conversation to see plain and simple on a printed page, and I was overcome with emotion.

Please, if you haven’t read ‘Heartstopper’, you should! It’s an accessible story with lovely illustrations, it has fade-to-black sexual content where it alludes, and confirms that they’re having sex but nothing is shown, allowing readers to infer it for themselves, and access the content at a younger age. This series has and will continue to do so much for the queer community and I will sing its praises from the rooftop until the cows come home!