By Chloe Heuston 
Heartstopper is a bestselling graphic novel series that follows the gentle, slow-burn romance between two British teens — shy, openly gay Charlie Spring and cheerful rugby player Nick Nelson. What starts as a simple friendship blooms into a heartfelt love story filled with emotional growth, queer joy, and deep support through mental health challenges.
Told with soft illustrations and big feelings, the series explores identity, coming out, anxiety, and what it means to truly love and be loved.
Perfect for: Fans of wholesome romance, LGBTQ+ stories, and cozy vibes.
Heartstopper Book Summary
Heartstopper: Volume One
“Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love.”
This volume introduces us to Charlie Spring, an openly gay teen who’s been through bullying and a complicated, secretive relationship with a classmate who didn’t treat him right. Charlie’s sweet, smart, a bit anxious, and very used to being invisible. That changes when he’s seated next to Nick Nelson, a cheerful, kind-hearted rugby player.
Despite their differences, Charlie and Nick click instantly. Their friendship grows quickly — full of sweet banter, shared music, and warm glances — and Charlie starts falling for Nick. But he assumes it’s hopeless… because Nick is straight. Or is he?
As their bond deepens, Nick begins to question everything he thought he knew about himself. His feelings for Charlie aren’t just friendly — and after a snow day full of soft moments and quiet tension, Nick kisses Charlie. The volume ends on a note of emotional honesty and exciting possibility, leaving us aching for more.
Main themes: First love, identity, queerness, friendship, trust
Tone: Light, warm, romantic, with soft LGBTQ+ joy
Heartstopper: Volume Two
“It’s always been you.”
Volume Two is all about discovery and acceptance. After the kiss, Nick is trying to figure things out. He’s confused but curious. He Googles. He reflects. He slowly begins to realize: he’s bisexual — and his feelings for Charlie are very, very real.
Meanwhile, Charlie is trying to give Nick space while also navigating his own self-doubt. He worries he’s pressuring Nick, or that Nick might change his mind. But Nick surprises him with gentleness, affection, and a desire to be honest — even if he’s not ready to tell the world yet.
This volume is full of adorable moments: movie nights, rugby practices, forehead kisses, hand-holding under the table. We also see Charlie’s tight-knit group of friends — Tao, Elle, Tara, Darcy — growing closer and more supportive.
By the end, Nick bravely comes out to his mom in a touching and emotional scene that’s celebrated for its realism and tenderness.
Main themes: Sexuality, coming out, trust, queer joy, friendships
Tone: Affirming, tender, hopeful
Heartstopper: Volume Three
“Paris changes everything.”
The story shifts to a school trip to Paris, where the emotional stakes grow. Charlie and Nick are officially boyfriends now (aww!), and we get some sweet public couple moments — but they’re still keeping their relationship private at school.
In Paris, the friend group gets more attention, especially Tao and Elle, whose dynamic starts shifting into something maybe a little more than friendship. Tara and Darcy face their own bumps, especially around communication and emotional safety.
Charlie’s internal struggles start to show more clearly. He’s dealing with intrusive thoughts, guilt, and an overwhelming need to be “easy to love.” Nick notices and wants to help — but doesn’t know how yet.
Despite the heavier undercurrents, this volume is also full of joy: museums, romantic Parisian views, late-night hotel room chats, and friend group bonding. It beautifully balances the thrill of teen romance with the growing emotional complexity of mental health.
Main themes: Mental health, friendship evolution, queer love, emotional support
Tone: Sweet with a subtle undercurrent of sadness
Heartstopper: Volume Four
“You don’t have to carry it all on your own.”
This is the deepest and most emotional volume so far. Charlie’s struggle with his mental health becomes more serious — including disordered eating, anxiety, and depression. He’s keeping a lot inside, not wanting to burden anyone, not even Nick.
Nick, on the other hand, is doing his best to support Charlie — but is also feeling overwhelmed. He realizes he can’t “fix” what Charlie is going through, and starts researching how to truly help someone with mental illness. He encourages Charlie to talk to a trusted adult, which becomes a turning point.
This volume also dives into family dynamics: Nick’s older brother is homophobic, creating tension and fear around coming out to the rest of the family. Charlie’s parents are well-meaning but a bit distant from his internal world. We also get more moments with the other couples, showing the ups and downs of being a queer teen in today’s world.
The ending is raw, real, and hopeful. Charlie decides to seek help and opens up to his parents — a brave and empowering moment.
Main themes: Eating disorders, depression, support systems, boundaries, family
Tone: Heavy, emotional, but ultimately healing
Heartstopper: Volume Five
“Love is giving someone the power to destroy you… and trusting them not to.”
Now in Year 12, Charlie and Nick’s relationship is stronger and more open — full of mutual love, deep conversations, and gentle affection. But life isn’t slowing down.
Charlie starts therapy, and we get to see his journey toward recovery. He’s learning to express his needs and communicate more clearly, especially when things feel overwhelming. Nick, meanwhile, is preparing for a big step: coming out to his dad, a distant and somewhat conservative figure. He also starts thinking seriously about university, while worrying about what distance could mean for their relationship.
This volume is about communication, boundaries, and emotional maturity. It shows what it really takes to be in a loving relationship — beyond kisses and butterflies. Nick and Charlie say “I love you” and have some beautifully intimate moments that show how far they’ve come since Volume One.
Tao and Elle’s budding romance also deepens, and Tara and Darcy have to confront some painful truths about Darcy’s home life.
Main themes: Growth, love, therapy, identity, coming out, transitions
Tone: Mature, reflective, romantic, with a hopeful arc
Volume Six (Coming 2025)
The final volume is expected to wrap up Charlie and Nick’s love story as they graduate, think about the future, and enter adulthood. Alice Oseman has said it’ll be the most “grown-up” volume yet — expect big conversations, possibly long-distance love, and continued mental health recovery.
Why Heartstopper Matters
Beyond the romance and friendship, Heartstopper is a groundbreaking story about queer joy, mental health, and emotional resilience. It portrays soft masculinity, healthy relationships, and the kind of support systems LGBTQ+ teens need. It’s gentle, affirming, and deeply human — and that’s why millions of readers (and viewers) adore it.
My Review of Heartstopper (Volumes 1–5)
Reading Heartstopper honestly felt like being wrapped in a giant, cozy sweater of love, vulnerability, and queer joy. I didn’t expect a graphic novel to hit me so hard emotionally — but it did, and in the softest, most beautiful way possible.
At first glance, it’s a sweet teen romance: two boys meet, become friends, fall in love. But it’s so much more than that. Charlie and Nick’s journey is tender, slow-burning, and emotionally rich. Their relationship isn’t just about kisses and cute glances (though there are plenty!) — it’s about communication, mental health, identity, and growth.
Each volume gets deeper. What starts as butterflies and blushing in Volume 1 evolves into real love in Volumes 4 and 5 — love that shows up, listens, and stays even when things get hard. Watching Nick discover his bisexuality, seeing Charlie face his anxiety and eating disorder, and watching them learn how to be there for each other? It’s vulnerable, raw, and incredibly healing.
And the friends! Tao, Elle, Darcy, Tara — they aren’t just side characters. They’re real, full of their own struggles and joys, and their stories round out the world in such a heartfelt way.
Book vs. TV Show (Netflix)
Okay, let’s talk adaptation — because the Netflix show is amazing, but there are definitely differences.
What the Show Gets Right:
- The vibe is almost identical — soft, hopeful, queer, and affirming.
- Kit Connor and Joe Locke are Nick and Charlie. Period. Their chemistry is real and awkward and perfect.
- The show expands on side characters and gives more space to people like Tao, Elle, Isaac, and Imogen, which I loved.
- Some scenes are lifted right from the books, down to the dialogue. That level of care? Chef’s kiss.
What’s Different:
- The TV show goes deeper earlier. It introduces some emotional storylines (like Charlie’s mental health and Nick’s family tension) sooner than the books do. Volume 4-level content shows up by the end of Season 2.
- The pacing feels faster — the books linger in those soft silences a bit more.
- There’s some original material in the show (like new scenes at school or with Imogen), and while it doesn’t exist in the books, it works.
- The visual style — animated leaves, hearts, sparks — mirrors the graphic novel in such a sweet way. I loved that they brought that whimsical touch to the screen.
Final Thoughts
Reading Heartstopper feels like giving my inner teen a warm hug. It’s gentle, emotional, and so needed in the world of queer storytelling. It doesn’t rely on trauma or pain to be powerful — it shows that falling in love can be soft and healing, even when life is messy.
If you’ve only watched the show, read the books. If you’ve read the books, watch the show. They’re different in the best way — both versions add layers to this world and these characters.