*minor spoilers ahead*
After enjoying This Winter I wanted to give Oseman’s other novella a go, and it’s safe to say I loved it as much as the other books in the Heartstopper universe. In Nick and Charlie, the two have been going out for a few years but Nick is off to University soon and they are both worried about what those changes will bring for them.
Oseman is good at recapping the story if you haven’t read the other books, so you don’t miss any details. It is interesting to read about another side of Nick and Charlie’s relationship that isn’t all stereotypically romantic. We see how the characters argue with one another, making this novella more realistic as it explores communication issues in relationships.
Although, I was surprised to read that after an argument they didn’t speak for 2 weeks, which was very out of character for them both, contributing to a lot of unnecessary tension and anxiety. However, I did like how this novella did not dismiss teenage romances or first loves and undermine the emotions that come with this.
As this novella is based around Nick heading off to University at the end of summer, I wish we saw more of their experience once Nick actually went to see how their relationship dealt with this, but I was still happy with the ending. I’m looking forward to reading Oseman’s other books with Radio Silence being next on my list!
4/5 stars
Soph's Library 