By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
I’ve had my eyes on the Graphic Novel series ‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman for a while now. A twitter user & fellow Indie author recently tweeted about it and re-ignited my interest in the book.
“Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?” reads the blurb for the book.
When I finally began reading the series, there was just no stopping. It’s so cute, so breezy, that you keep turning page after page and suddenly realize you are done with all three volumes of the book.
‘ALLERGEN ALERT – TOO ADORABLE!
Love the pace, the friendship and how beautifully the relationship between the two leads evolve. Binge-read all three volumes. This book is the warm ball of sunshine you need on a rainy day.’ I posted on GoodReads after reading all of it.
What I love about ‘Heartstopper’ is how simply the panels are drawn, and yet, they convey so much more. It’s almost like watching a film in motion. Olsen takes time to establish the friendship between the two boys, which makes their evolving relationship convincing and charming.
The author makes the story very inclusive, with very lovable characters who are out and proud. Sure, some of them seem too perfect, and maybe the story is idealistic. But we have enough toxic shit in comics, so ‘HeartStopper’ is a breath of fresh air. While there are allusions to dark pasts and serious problems, it’s largely a feel-good story.
These three volumes are the kind of books you want to read after curling up inside a blanket, with a cup of hot-chocolate, while it rains outside. It’s a bundle of sheer love.