*spoiler-free*
The second volume of Heartstopper is a great addition to the series, continuing Nick and Charlie’s story. We are introduced to some new characters, such as Tara and Darcy, and their relationship as a romantic couple. We also see more from Tao and Elle and so it’s lovely to see all these characters interact with each other.
I loved Volume 1 of this series so much that I knew I had to pick up the other volumes, and Volume 2 did not disappoint. The story becomes even more charming as Nick and Charlie’s relationship solidifies and becomes stronger despite their worries and concerns. They portray a lot of issues teenagers go through in terms of relationships and identity and do not shy away from covering topics including sexuality, gender, and bullying.
One thing I have noticed with graphic novels is sometimes a story line can take quite a while to develop, especially compared to the Netflix show, but I am still really enjoying reading in this format. It is refreshing to read compared to traditional books and I love seeing how the characters and settings are depicted directly from the author’s mind through the graphics.
I also found it interesting that Isaac replaced Aled in the Netflix series, and Imogen is a completely new character added to the series. But this makes me glad I am reading the graphic novels to see what differences there are to the series.
I definitely recommend continuing to read this series as the story is just as heartwarming as the first volume. This is easily a book you can devour in one sitting as it’s so quick to fly through and I can’t wait to get the other volumes.
5/5 stars
Soph's Library 