Parents' Guide to

Heartstopper, Volume 1

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Sweet graphic novel captures first blush of romance.

Book Alice Oseman Graphic Novel 2020
Cartoon of two boys from behind, walking side by side among falling leaves.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

empathy. He's very considerate of others' feelings and thoughtful, he bravely stands up and speaks out for what's right. Charlie has a variety of interests and talents, gets along well with everyone, and learns to stand up for himself. He's trying to figure himself and his world out, so there's room for him to develop as the series continues.</p> ">

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 5 parent reviews

jamesawesome
jamesawesome Parent of 12-year-old
June 17, 2022
age 14+

Gotta read this

It’s a great comic it’s heartwarming Comic.
rosetabia34
rosetabia34 Adult
August 3, 2022
age 13+
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

HEARTSTOPPER is the story of an unlikely high school friendship as it starts to blossom into something more. At the start of a new term, Charlie and Nick are seated together in class. Charlie is openly gay, does well academically, and has a variety of interests. Nick seems like a typical straight jock on the rugby team. As they get to know each other both at school and outside of it, they start to develop feelings beyond friendship for each other that are confusing in different ways. Are their feelings real? Should they act on them?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (37 ):

This sweet romance captures first love, from the thrilling to the awkward, with charm and believability. Teens will relate to Nick and Charlie as Heartstopper takes them through the ups and downs of first love while they're also trying to figure themselves and their emotions out.

The manga-style drawings create a lively feel and are especially effective at conveying unspoken thoughts and feelings. The cliffhanger ending will have fans ready to jump right into the next installment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the strong language in Heartstopper. Is it realistic? Does it matter if it is? How much is too much?

  • Why is diverse representation important in books, TV, games, and other media? How do we feel when we see people like ourselves? What do we learn from people who are different?

  • Have you seen the Netflix series based on the books? Have you read any other books in the series? If you have, which do you like best, and why? If you haven't, would you like to now?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate