Heartstopper: Volume 1 is a fictional graphic novel by Alice Oseman, a young adult author and illustrator. It functions as both a young adult LGBTQ+ romance and a bildungsroman or coming-of-age story. Heartstopper was first published in 2018 and has since been adapted into a Netflix series of the same name. Oseman continues to publish the comic both as a webcomic and a graphic novel, and there are currently four volumes. Oseman garnered support for her idea on Kickstarter, reaching her funding goal within two hours of posting. Oseman’s series Heartstopper is considered pivotal in creating change and moving toward acceptance and understanding of young LGBTQ+ relationships.

This guide utilizes the 2020 Graphix (Scholastic, Inc.) edition.

Plot Summary

The story begins as Charlie, a 14-year-old boy in year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys, finds out that his new registration classes for January will have kids from multiple years in it. He is seated next to Nicholas (Nick) Nelson, a friendly rugby player in year 11. Charlie is gay, and after facing a lot of bullying when he came out, he has become quite popular at his school. Despite this, he is shy around Nick, whom he sees as out of his league and definitely straight. Still, the two are polite to one another. On their fifth day of sitting together, Nick’s pen explodes, and Charlie is asked to go help him clean up. The boys end up joking around in the bathroom, connecting for the first time. Around the same time, Charlie is harassed by Ben, a boy who was using him to kiss between classes in secret while still being seen around school with his girlfriend. Ben is ashamed of being gay and projects this onto Charlie. Charlie tells Ben he does not want to see him anymore.

When Nick sees that Charlie is the fastest runner in his year, he asks him to join the rugby team. Charlie is reluctant at first but decides to join because he really likes Nick. Nick teaches Charlie how to play, and the two boys practice passing and tackling together. Charlie starts to develop a crush on Nick, but at this stage, Nick is still just being friendly. Charlie battles with his own self-esteem because he thinks he is falling for a straight boy. His friend, Tao Xu, warns that it will only cause him pain in the end. One day after class, Ben texts Charlie, begging him to meet up and talk. When Charlie goes to see Ben, Ben assaults Charlie, grabbing him and trying to kiss him as Charlie tells him to stop. Nick sees what is going on and pushes Ben away, warning him to leave Charlie alone. He tells Charlie that he cares about him, and Charlie is flattered but also feels embarrassed. He worries that Nick sees him as pathetic. On the way home from school, Nick is in a daze thinking about Charlie’s smile.

That night, Nick worries about Charlie as he thinks back on how much Charlie has been bullied in the past and what happened with Ben. He decides to text him and ask if he is alright, and Charlie is reluctant to be honest at first. He assures Nick that he is fine, but Nick insists that Charlie can open up if he wants to. Charlie tells Nick about how he met Ben and the way Ben pushed himself on Charlie, using him and having a girlfriend in public. The conversation ends with hearts and smiley faces. The next day, Tao Xu points out that Charlie and Nick have been spending all of their time together. They seem to be flirting during rugby, and he tries to remind Charlie that Nick is straight. However, Charlie’s feelings are already too deep for him to just forget about Nick.

By March, Charlie and Nick are becoming very close friends. Nick invites Charlie over to his house to meet his dog and hang out. The boys play Mario Kart and play with Nick’s dog, Nellie. When it starts to snow, they run outside and enjoy some innocent games like snowball fights and snow-angel making. When Charlie starts to freeze, Nick lends him a blanket and tells him he looks cuddly. Charlie starts to get the sense that Nick might have feelings for him after all. After Charlie goes home, Nick’s mother comments that Nick seems to be more himself around Charlie than his other friends. The next weekend, Nick visits Charlie’s house. The afternoon is much the same, as the boys play video games, play wrestle, and Charlie teaches Nick some basic drumming. When Charlie falls asleep during a movie, Nick wants to hold his hand, but he cannot yet bring himself to act on his feelings for Charlie. When he gets home that night, he starts googling for help in knowing if he is gay or not. Feeling lost, Nick curls up in bed.

April arrives and Charlie is almost certain Nick likes him. Tao Xu instills doubt once again, telling Charlie that Nick likes a girl named Tara Jones. Boys on the rugby team begin commenting that Charlie and Nick might like each other, and one says they would make a good couple. When a boy in Nick’s year invites him to a birthday party, Nick asks Charlie to attend with him. Charlie agrees and meets Nick there. At the party, Nick’s friends continuously harass him and try to get him to talk to Tara. Tara turns out to be a lesbian who has a girlfriend and no interest in dating Nick. This relieves Nick, but his friends do not relent. Eventually, he becomes angry with them and tells the host of the party that he is “homophobic” (224). At the same time, Charlie runs into Ben. Ben tries to assault Charlie again, but this time Charlie pushes him away and demands that he never touch him again.

Charlie and Nick decide to go somewhere quiet, away from the crowds and music. They find a large room and sit down on the floor together. Charlie starts asking Nick if he likes Tara. Nick explains that he does not like Tara but someone else. When Charlie asks if Nick would date someone who is not a girl, Nick is still unsure, but thinks that maybe he would. When Charlie asks if Nick would kiss someone who is not a girl, and more specifically kiss him, Nick says yes. The two boys kiss for a long time, but Nick becomes flustered and overwhelmed and eventually pulls away. Just then, someone at the party starts calling for Nick. He uses it as an excuse to leave the awkward moment and Charlie is left alone. Charlie starts to cry, apologizing out loud and convinced that he messed everything up. Volume One ends on this cliffhanger