Photo credits: Jan White (pixabay), Pezibear (pixabay) Edited by Vaishali Title: Heartstopper Series: Heartstopper #2 Author: Alice Oseman Publisher: Holder Children's Books Year of Publication: 2019 Format: Paperback copy Genre/Themes: LGBT romance, Teen romance, Graphic novel/comin, Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary Queer Romance, Mental Health ISBN: : 9781444951400 Review... Time to stop my heart for a second time for Heartstopper. The soothing teenage sweetness overload continues with volume two of Nick and Charlie’s romance. How many times did I smile through this? Countless. How many times did my heart swell from all the openness and acceptance? Countless times two. In fact, let's stop counting altogether. Where book one develops the friendship and the privately swelling feelings (of longing and confusion) between Nick and Charlie, it's Nick's ambivalence with his sexual identity that takes precedence with this read. Foremost in shaping up a voice in sharing Nick's sexuality crisis, it was just touching to see all the people who matter to him give him the love and acceptance (like his mom), the support and patience (like Charlie), the shared understanding (like Tara) and all the cuddles (from Nellie) in lending him the space to sit with and explore how he felt with the difference in developing feelings for a boy. In so many ways Heartstopper acts as a guide in how the consensus should receive the queer and same sex preference identity as much as it exacts how homophobia should/maybe/might be tolerated (with a big ol' king-hit meat fist to the face). What stood out most for me in this volume is the level of head-on connection in Charlie and Nick's ability to truthfully communicate every vulnerability they had. They talk, they hug, they care, they touch, they cry, they share so much. I've read so many novels (of various genres) and I can't stop marvelling over how open, honest and sweetly connective Nick and Charlie's conversations are. If you've ever encountered inaccessible protagonists, you might just marvel at the way interactions should be; vulnerable no matter the difficulty. Always asking after each other, Nick and Charlie always seem to be there for each other in their most insecure moments, checking in. I really lost count of how many times I had to reconcile how old they were with how open they were. Charlie really helps Nick through his sense of queer uncertainty, and the developments - as well as the art - captures that feeling of fret and distress in coming to terms with himself and his lack of comfort in exposing a part in himself he doesn't feel he knows. It was an easy joy to continue reading about something so pure, adorably coquettish and vulnerably untouched. And just to add on to the sweetness overload I mentioned above, the way the get excited every time they meet? adorable. Sometimes it's the simplest format that tells a story best, and while I'm a common rookie in all things graphic novel, I've been enjoying heading into each frame with that new experience of graphic novel romance and knowing that this type of story is value needed in the world. I value the inclusive voice, and this graphic novel/web comic is a piece of sage sympathy - and guidance - that encourages acceptance as symmetrically as it does inclusion. It's not isolatedly just a coming of age but a safe place that welcomes that sense of coming into oneself. It's when art holds a beautiful message that it becomes so much more than a story; and in the case of Heartstopper it has become the biggest sympathy to all who have ever felt in the shoes of either Nick or Charlie. A recommended continuation for everyone who loves a cutesy, homey romance and a recommendation especially for the younger crowd, for which this might be an amazing support system. A queer romance every young adult should go to for comfort and kindness! Now, I'm hoping Nick manages to somehow sway his mum into letting Charlie accompany them for a holiday getaway. I'll see you at the doors of volume three *salute* I gave this book 3.5 stars - Content Warning: Verbalised homophobia. Bullying. Some swearing and violence. --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- __________________________________________________________ R E L A T E D P O S T S: ● BOOK REVIEW: Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman ● BOOK REVIEW: Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Bookish Pics of Heartstopper Volume 2! I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK Leave a comment and let's talk about |
VaishaliBorn in the UK Archives
February 2024
Categories
All
2019 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [Vicarious Living] has
read 15 books toward
her goal of
30 books.
hide
2020 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [Vicarious Living] has
read 1 book toward
her goal of
20 books.
hide
2021 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] has
read 1 book toward
her goal of
10 books.
hide
2022 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] has
read 0 books toward
her goal of
5 books.
hide
2023 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] has
read 0 books toward
her goal of
5 books.
hide
DisclaimerAll images of book covers on this site belong to the authors and publishers of the books.
|