Queer joy, teen crushes and iconic mums

We're halfway through our Heartstopper read-along and I'm feeling all the feels

Well team, we’re already halfway through our Heartstopper read-along! August is whizzing by, and I hope you’re all managing to take some time to rest, recharge and enjoy the (admittedly intermittent) sunshine. Having been introduced to Heartstopper last year when the first Netflix season aired, I’ve been enjoying taking the time to go back and read Alice Oseman’s graphic novels.

So far in the read-along we’ve read Volumes 1 & 2, so I wanted to share some thoughts on these first two before we dive into Volume 3. It’s hard to know what to focus on because there’s so much to discuss and enjoy in these first two books. Let’s use this newsletter as a starting point to have many many more conversations about the Heartstopper canon.

Queer joy and first kisses

So much of these first two volumes is incredibly joyful. From Charlie’s friendships, Tao’s fierce loyalty and protection, to the new romances between Nick and Charlie, Elle and Tao, Tara and Darcy, as well as important family relationships, like Charlie and his sister, and Nick and his mum. For me, and a lot of people I’ve spoken to, these first two volumes, and the Netflix adaptation, modelled a better version of our teen years and school experience. In the world of Heartstopper there is still homophobia, transphobia, vicious bullying and discrimination, but to see this paired with depicting the joy, excitement and nerves of first crushes, first kisses and teenage relationships is an absolute tonic.

What I’m trying to say is that Heartstopper doesn’t shy away from exploring the challenging realities of simply existing as a queer teen, but at the same time manages to do so in a way that still shows the magic of young love. Where, for a lot of us growing up in the 00s, stigma and discrimination completely overshadowed any sense of queer joy, Nick and Charlie’s story offers a glimpse of what could have been. For me, a lot of this is owing to Charlie’s friends - I’m wondering if they’re looking for a new member of the group? Asking for a friend…

Am I gay?

Alice Oseman tackles difficult themes and challenging emotions with an enormous amount of care and nuance. One moment that really stands out is when Nick googles ‘am I gay?’ (Volume 1: 190-1). Such a poignant moment in the graphic novel, this was represented beautifully on screen too, at the end of the second episode of Season 1. Especially as an adult following this story, my heart breaks for him in that moment. Surrounded by rugby lads, Nick feels like he doesn’t have anyone to talk to so he turns to the internet for answers. It’s wonderful seeing this stereotype dismantled as we move through each volume (not all sporty boys are homophobes) but I don’t blame Nick for assuming none of those friends would understand.

What’s more, seeing Nick’s confusion and exploration of his sexuality play out both on screen and in the graphic novels is such an important representation of bisexuality. We’ve spoken in previous book clubs this year about the erasure and stereotyping of bisexual men, and this is something that really comes up in later volumes of the graphic novels. I’ll hold my horses for now, because this is something we can discuss much more in relation to Volume 3. What I will say is that Oseman’s portrayal of a bisexual male character is truly refreshing. Nick Nelson is the bi icon we all need right now.

Iconic mums and Olivia Coleman

Let’s talk about Nick’s mum, who, by the way, is only played by the ICONIC Olivia Coleman in the Netflix adaptation. Every bit of dialogue she has with Nick breaks and heals my heart simultaneously. One of my favourite Nick’s mum moments is on pages 156-7 of Volume 1, where she suggests to Nick that Charlie is ‘very different to your other friends, isn’t he?’. Her assertion that ‘you seem much more like yourself around him’ is a moment of quiet solidarity. My interpretation of this moment is that Nick’s mum isn’t necessarily aware that her son is questioning his sexuality and his feelings towards Charlie, but that she is perceptive of some change and is ready to support Nick. In these fleeting scenes between the two of them, Nick’s mum models the supportive parent, who doesn’t necessarily have all the knowledge or tools to support their queer kid, but is prepared to try.

We see more of this relationship at the end of Volume 2 when Nick comes out to his mum. In a deeply moving moment, Nick explains his attraction to both boys and girls, to which his mum simply responds ‘thank you for telling me’ (Volume 2: 551). I love this for her. She doesn’t project her own feelings, or worse, reject Nick. Instead, she listens, and respects what her child wants to share with her. She even tells him he doesn’t have to say he likes girls if he doesn’t. Not loving this re: bisexual erasure, but we see where she’s coming from, right? She doesn’t want her son to feel that there’s anything he can’t talk to her about, or that he can’t be his full self around her. Don’t tell me you didn’t cry at this.

In this same scene, Nick’s mum says: ‘I’m sorry I ever made you feel like you couldn’t tell me that’ (Volume 2: 556). I loved this addition to the dialogue as it really highlighted the importance of creating an LGBT-friendly family environment, whether you know your kids are queer or not. Nick acknowledged this too, saying: ‘I wanted to tell you, but we never talk about, like, gay stuff’ (Volume 2: 555). In this conversation, Oseman points out that it’s not enough to just not be homophobic; instead, being explicitly queer-friendly lets people know they are safe with you and allows them the space to share without fear (if they want to). Cue straight parents everywhere dramatically announcing ‘isn’t that lovely!!!’ instead of changing the channel when two men kiss on TV.

Embarrassing straight stuff

One final note, purely from the TV show: it’s Season 1 and Imogen (not a character in the books) is trying to organise a date with Nick. ‘Shall we eat at Nando’s for dinner and then we can go to the cinema?’. Is this not the most painfully accurate depiction of straight teen dates you’ve ever heard in your life? It's been over ten years since that was me, but oh good god did it make me cringe for my teen self. As Tara says on page 433 of Volume 2: ‘why are straight people like this?’.

What were your thoughts on the first two volumes of Heartstopper? And how do you think Season 1 of the TV show compares?

Our book clubs run monthly, with a different sex education theme each month. Follow our instagram account @sex.ed.bookclub to be the first to hear about our next book club. Tickets for September and October book clubs available now.