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- Helen
Heartstopper: Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
In a first attempt to review Heartstopper, I had written:
- Charlie Spring
- Nick Nelson
- Soft fluffy boys (+ pup)
- I CRY
and to be completely honest, I'm not sure if I can beat that description of this wonderful and heartwarming graphic novel, but let's try anyway...
Although Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson go to the same school, they have never crossed paths, what with being in different school years. But when the form groups are reshuffled, Charlie and Nick find themselves sat next to one another. Charlie is a drum-playing over-thinker, and Nick... well, Nick plays rugby (rugby!!!), so the two never imagined that they would become friends.
But as their unlikely friendship begins to blossom (much to the surprise of both of their friendship groups), Charlie soon finds that he has a crush on Nick - his very straight friend. But not everything is exactly as Charlie or Nick thought, and maybe, just maybe, their friendship starts to change into something more...
As any other bookseller at the Alligator's Mouth will attest to, I have been known to force this book into the hands of the needy (ie, those who haven't read Heartstopper yet) and flail with enthusiasm, as this book is That Good; the closest you can get to the physical embodiment of the best hot chocolate you could ever imagine.
Alice Oseman has established herself as one of the top UKYA authors, and Heartstopper only goes to further emphasise just how talented she is. This series may have started out as an online only webcomic, but *rejoice*, readers with a taste for the contemporary and/or fans of brilliant graphic novels, as you can now begin your collection of the series in a physical hold-in-your-hands-and-stain-with-your-tears-of-joy format. Volume 1 includes chapters 1 and 2, with Volume 2 (chapters 3 and 4) now available - what's not to love?