Heartstopper, Volume 4
2021
- graphic novel
- young adult
- romance
- coming-of-age
- friendship
- gay
- lgbtq+
- anxiety
- eating disorder
- bullying
The story
The fourth volume in the wonderfully sweet Heartstopper series, featuring gorgeous two-color artwork. Now streaming on Netflix! Charlie and Nick's relationship has been going really well, and Charlie thinks he's ready to say those three little words: I love you. Nick feels the same way, but he's got a lot on his mind -- especially the thought of coming out to his dad and the fact that Charlie might have an eating disorder. As a new school year begins, Charlie and Nick will have to learn what love really means.
What it’s like
Soft, airy two-colour artwork with clean panels and plenty of white space, the kind of page that feels like a sunny afternoon held still. Warm, tender and gently funny, it reads like a cosy comfort read for a slow Sunday or a long train ride, with the quiet rhythm of a school year unfolding at its own pace. Its emotional register is sweet and open-hearted, but it doesn't look away from harder things: worry about coming out to a parent, anxiety, a friend's eating disorder, and the sting of bullying all turn up as the story moves through its everyday scenes. These are handled with care and honesty rather than shock, and there is no graphic violence, with romance kept chaste and affectionate. The arc follows two boys learning that loving someone means listening, waiting and showing up for each other, even when they are scared of getting it wrong. It suits readers who want something hopeful and emotionally warm, with a few real weights to hold along the way, and it is especially rewarding for those who enjoy gentle, character-led coming-of-age stories.
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