Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (Full Webtoon)

Young Adult. Contemporary. Graphic Novel. Queer. 

Read recommended by Ada, part of reading all of Alice Oseman's books.

Rating: 4/5

Started: 3 September

Finished: 3 September

Summary: 

    Ever since Charlie was accidentally outed as gay to his school, he hasn't had much success making friends there. Instead, he hangs out with his friends from other schools and his family. Then Nick, a rugby-playing jock, notices how fast a runner Charlie is, and convinces him to join the rugby team. They become friends, good friends, and Charlie starts to develop feelings for Nick, but Nick is straight. Right?

    Charlie and Nick must navigate friends and family and mental illness and coming out, and it won't be simple for either of them. 

Thoughts:

    Because it was a webtoon and I read it in basically one three-hour sitting, I wasn't expecting it to have more of an impact on me than "oh cute fluffy romance." But. It left me feeling scattered. Maybe it was the intensity of Charlie's eating disorder and self harm, and Nick's asshole brother. Maybe it how every time something bad was going to happen — one of them was going to be pressured into outing the other, or kissing someone — it didn't fucking happen. And that was so good. 

    It was really sweet. The successes and support and coming out all made me super happy. The communication and amazing friends and adorable conversations were really really good. 

    So yeah. Scattered and harried. That about describes it.