The book has been an asset to the LGBTQIA+ community and has even been adapted into a popular Netflix series.
The story was first released as a webcomic and is now available in five print volumes.
By the time the fifth and last installment is released in 2023, all previous volumes will have been made available for purchase.
Charlie, an openly gay teenager at an all-boys institution who is bashful and anxious, is the main character of the novel.
Charlie, who was bullied and outed the year before, now attends Year 10 and encounters Nick, a kid from the year above.
Nick is a sweet-hearted rugby player, and the two get along well. Charlie starts to develop feelings for Nick but realizes he doesn’t have a shot until perhaps… he does?
In an unexpected development, Nick could have more room in his heart for Charlie than he had anticipated.
Characters from Oseman’s first book, Solitaire, including Nick and Charlie as well as others that feature in the comic, are Nick and Charlie.
Heartstopper and other books like it are excellent reading, but after you’ve caught up, what more is there?
Ten works that are similar to Heartstopper such as Solitaire, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me are listed below.
Themes In Heartstopper
Sexuality and Identity – The Heartstopper series tackles the theme of sexuality and identity in the current world.
Friendship – Charlie’s friends accept him for who he is, and become worried about his relationship with Nick.
Mental Health – Charlie struggles with his mental health throughout the series.
Acceptance – Nick struggles to accept his sexuality at first, while Charlie has fully accepted his. The books highlight the importance of accepting who you are.
We follow Charlie Spring’s sister Tori in Solitaire, who appears in the Heartstopper comics. Sixth-former Tori, 17, balances her A-Levels, family conflict, mental health difficulties, and friendships.
Her school is being terrorized by a gang of pranksters going by the name of Solitaire, and as their antics get worse, they become more dangerous.
When Tori befriends Michael Holden, a quirky but upbeat classmate, he persuades her to join his study into this prankster organization and their motivations.
The prank group expands along with their friendship, finally resulting in a massive confrontation.
Pick up Solitaire instead of a novel like Heartstopper if you enjoy Oseman’s writing and want to read more about Charlie in particular.
In this heartwarming book which is similar in theme to Heartstopper, the author vividly portrays the characters while capturing the young romance and unhealthy relationships that plagued our adolescence.
The narrative centers on Freddy Riley, who has an on-again, off-again romance with Laura Dean, a popular, witty, and attractive young woman.
However, Laura has a nasty streak, and Freddy’s pals don’t know why Freddy puts up with her.
Freddy encounters a mystic, who offers her some counsel that she is unsure she wants to heed, but something needs to change because her life is in disarray.
Books like Heartstopper deal with accepting good connections with others and with ourselves as well as with young love.
Arek was foretold in this fantasy book to murder the evil king of Ere, and he has fulfilled that prophecy. But what comes next now that he has finished this quest?
Arek and his motley crew are unsure of what will happen to them after this.
Arek’s best friend and fellow wizard Matt persuades him to take over until the real heir is saved, but it turns out that she has passed away and Arek is left in charge.
The throne has a condition attached to it as well: choose a partner by the time you are eighteen, or else fade away into nothing.
Arek spends the following three months frantically wooing a spouse with Matt’s assistance.
Pros
Charming, heartfelt storyline.
Story is unbound by gender norms.
Cons
Some readers felt the narrative style could’ve been improved.
Sebastian Hughes is the star goaltender at his high school and is ready to enter his senior year when Running with Lions takes place. He must first make it through summertime training camp.
Everything is going according to plan until Emir Shah, Sebastian’s hate-filled former best buddy from childhood shows up.
Not just for the benefit of their team, but also for themselves, Sebastian is driven to achieve peace with Emir.
But regaining Emir’s trust won’t be simple, and as the two devote more time together off the field of play, something deeper than friendship starts to develop.
Friendship is frequently acknowledged as a solid foundation for a relationship.
We get to accompany the couple on a romantic and self-discovery trip in this book, similar to Heartstopper.
Pros
Humorous, uplifting tone.
Wide range of culturally diverse characters.
Cons
Some readers thought there were too many forced pop culture references.
Themes: Sensuality and Identity, Friendship, Acceptance
In the humorous comic novel Pumpkinheads, we follow the narrative of two teenagers who spend their final fall night working together at a pumpkin patch.
Every year, Deja and Josiah spend two months as best friends before saying farewell the following September. The difference this year is that they won’t be coming back.
Josiah is content to wallow in his grief, but Deja has a plan on making the best of their final shift together.
Deja guarantees Josiah won’t ever forget the connection they developed while working in the nicest pumpkin field in the entire wide world by bringing him on a last journey.
Similar to books like Heartstopper, we examine the concepts of identity, young love, and family in this graphic novel.
Prince Sebastian is hunting for a bride in Paris, or rather, his parents are doing so. Sebastian, though, is more focused on his alter identity, Lady Crystallia, the era’s most prominent fashion figure.
Frances, Sebastian’s dearest friend, and best dressmaker is responsible for his magnificent gowns. Frances longs for success and acclaim for her creative endeavors, but pursuing these goals would mean betraying her buddy.
Prince Sebastian’s love of clothes is only known by two individuals, and now Frances must choose between following her aspirations and looking out for her buddy.
If you’re looking for a lovely graphic novel to lose yourself in, this book is the ideal substitute!
Pros
Meaningful themes about identity and expectations.
Moralistic, artful read for children.
Cons
Not suitable for older readers.
Themes: Sensuality and Identity, Friendship, Acceptance
This young adult book depicts a transgender kid who is navigating his first love while wrestling with his identity.
After years of witnessing everyone around him find love, Felix longs to experience the same feelings.
Felix devises a plan of retaliation when a transphobic message comes from an anonymous student. Felix did not, however, plan on his catfish scenario turning into a love triangle.
While determining what he desires in a partnership, Felix starts to learn some more significant life lessons about himself.
Grab Felix Ever After if you’re looking for a novel that deals with self-discovery adventures comparable to Heartstopper!
Pros
Great read for teenagers.
Covers important themes of identity and finding love.
Cons
Some readers found that the book lacked closure at the end.
Why not consider Bloom if you’re looking for an LGBTQIA+ novel similar to Heartstopper?
The only thing Ari wants to do now that school is over is travel to a big city alongside his band. Ari works in his family’s bakery. He despises baking, but he adores his family as well as their commitment to their business, so he evaluates potential replacements.
At that point, he encounters Hector, a young man who despises baking the same way Ari does.
If Ari doesn’t wreck everything, love begins to blossom as the two increase their time together, and a happy ending seems in the distance. This novel, which tells a tale of love, friendship, family, and baking, will melt your heart.
Pros
Lovely illustrations, well-paced and expertly written.
Engrossing storyline and likable characters.
Cons
Some of the side plots lacked depth.
Themes: Sensuality and Identity, Friendship, Acceptance
Final Thoughts
You feel at rest and your heart is warmed by reading books like Heartstopper. These are the top feel-good books and graphic novels, many of which have LGBTQIA+ themes. Enjoy your next read after selecting it from the list above!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Heartstopper Books Are There?
At the moment there are four books in the Heartstopper series available to read. Another book is due to come out in February 2023.
What Type Of Book Is Heartstopper?
Heartstopper is a young adult LGBTQIA+ graphic novel series written and illustrated by Alice Oseman.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
