Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love.
Charlie: high-strung, openly gay, over-thinker
Nick: cheerful, soft-hearted, rugby player
Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn’t think he has a chance. But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.
This young adult (YA) graphic novel series has beautiful two-colour art and is a wonderfully sweet queer love story. Although it’s a charming and gentle exploration of LGBTQ+ issues in high school (set in a British all boys school), it also stays positive while tackling real challenges of identity, teen angst, bullying, homophobia, transphobia, mental health issues, and family relationships.
I gobbled up all four of these graphic novel volumes in a row, and then started watching the series which is equally good. There is another volume in the book series still coming.
From the author: “I aimed to write the sort of story I would have loved to see when I was a teenager. Everyone deserves the time, space, and support to figure out their feelings and their identity.”
The Netflix series has the same name and sticks close to Oseman’s books. Incidentally, Olivia Coleman is cast in the role of Nick’s Mum and she, of course, does an amazing job in a relatively minor part. She must have really been supportive of the project to join a relatively unknown cast of actors. She does lend the role the necessary maturity, humour, warmth and depth that she is so capable of.
Heartstopper Volume 5 will be released on December 19, 2023.
Joanne's Reading Blog 
I am totally deficient in reading graphic novels. This sounds like a good place to start. And I’m eager to see the movie, too.
Another great graphic novel is Ducks by Kate Beaton, winner of Canada Reads this year. It’s the memoir of a woman from Newfoundland who found herself working in the Alberta oil sands. I really do enjoy ‘reading’ pictures with words once in awhile–it does make for an enrichment of the story!