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kim_lommaert's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Outing
Minor: Self harm, Sexual content, and Alcohol
carynnsbookishlife's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Bullying and Self harm
tsamarah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For the first time in a Heartstopper series, readers get to see a volume that primarily focuses on Nick's self-journey and perspective, in contrast to Oseman's penchant to put an equal balance of perspectives between Nick and Charlie or lean more to Charlie's point-of-view. With this direction in the fifth volume, there's some sort of reintroduction of Nick Nelson through his own eyes instead of Charlie's or outsiders' opinions, which brings the readers to discover how particularly 'empty' Nick is as a person.
Maybe empty is quite harsh to describe Nick, for his personality is sweet, empathetic, and patient as opposed to his initially assumed stereotypical as an aggressive jock because of his active status as a high school rugby player. But what I mean in terms of empty is the lack of dimension in his life, most of the time only gravitated towards his sport, his boyfriend, or the best friends he's bonded with, compared to the many interests Charlie is seen acquiring from his establishment in the first volume.
Having Nick as the center in the fifth volume allows Oseman to deconstruct Nick as a character from the core, answering the question of who he is beyond Charlie, rugby, and the Paris Gang. What other things he can measure and like for himself in a vast world outside of Truham?
Moving on, the fifth volume finally reaches the point to explore the sexual urges of teenagers, navigating Nick's and Charlie's first times in a mildly tame yet still daring execution. Oseman takes this narrative to emphasize the importance of safety and consent in a delightful atmosphere without attempting to be patronizing in her writing.
Yet, what I find to be quite ironic in this inclusion of sexual exploration in Nick and Charlie's storyline is how it contradicts the Puritan opinion Oseman has stated in the past about boys' love as a whole genre; that the genre has a misconstrued connotation of simply being an explicit, indigestible work that fetishizes homosexual relationships when the reality is that boys' love genre encompasses a multitude of stories, ranging from the explicit smutty releases to innocent and sweet exploration of first romance, in which none of these ever comes across to be fetishization—and the fifth volume of Heartstopper solidifies the status that, at least, the series is the Western iteration of the latter categorization (of innocent romance) in the boys' love genre instead of being the outlier from the genre.
In the end, while I am naturally excited to see the progress in Nick and Charlie's relationship, particularly how they will overcome the final challenge that is a long-distance relationship, the fifth volume leaves me feeling bemused and less enthused at some point, for its paradoxical interpretation of the next step in their physical connection drawn in the graphic novel.
Maybe empty is quite harsh to describe Nick, for his personality is sweet, empathetic, and patient as opposed to his initially assumed stereotypical as an aggressive jock because of his active status as a high school rugby player. But what I mean in terms of empty is the lack of dimension in his life, most of the time only gravitated towards his sport, his boyfriend, or the best friends he's bonded with, compared to the many interests Charlie is seen acquiring from his establishment in the first volume.
Having Nick as the center in the fifth volume allows Oseman to deconstruct Nick as a character from the core, answering the question of who he is beyond Charlie, rugby, and the Paris Gang. What other things he can measure and like for himself in a vast world outside of Truham?
Moving on, the fifth volume finally reaches the point to explore the sexual urges of teenagers, navigating Nick's and Charlie's first times in a mildly tame yet still daring execution. Oseman takes this narrative to emphasize the importance of safety and consent in a delightful atmosphere without attempting to be patronizing in her writing.
Yet, what I find to be quite ironic in this inclusion of sexual exploration in Nick and Charlie's storyline is how it contradicts the Puritan opinion Oseman has stated in the past about boys' love as a whole genre; that the genre has a misconstrued connotation of simply being an explicit, indigestible work that fetishizes homosexual relationships when the reality is that boys' love genre encompasses a multitude of stories, ranging from the explicit smutty releases to innocent and sweet exploration of first romance, in which none of these ever comes across to be fetishization—and the fifth volume of Heartstopper solidifies the status that, at least, the series is the Western iteration of the latter categorization (of innocent romance) in the boys' love genre instead of being the outlier from the genre.
In the end, while I am naturally excited to see the progress in Nick and Charlie's relationship, particularly how they will overcome the final challenge that is a long-distance relationship, the fifth volume leaves me feeling bemused and less enthused at some point, for its paradoxical interpretation of the next step in their physical connection drawn in the graphic novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Self harm
Minor: Bullying
hanssssmarie's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder and Self harm
pridepageturner's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying
th3ex1t_'s review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i would definitely recommend this to people who like romance and LGBTQ+. but defo read the previous books as it is NOT a standalone. <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Self harm, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia
kitty_may12's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
just absolutely pitch perfect. read this in one sitting. Once again, Oseman delivers something that is undeniably special, relatable, tender and sincere!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, and Self harm
sarahspils's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've mentioned previously how I've really grown out of the YA genre as a whole, but there seems to always be something about this series that never deters me. Alison Oseman has continued to do such a wonderful job of portraying young queer love in a way that tells readers that this love is safe. There's so many powerful works on the different facets of being part of the community, but sometimes all you really need is a wholesome story of two queer boys learning to love themselves and each other as they grow up. Specifically with this volume, I think it's surprising and wonderful that even outside the queer themes, there are still many lessons and reflective pieces that I, at least personally, can take away and hold onto for myself. Despite having graduated high school almost four years ago now, there were still moments that resonated with my experiences all the way up to now. Ideas of dealing with mental health, sex, future studies, and long distance—all things that can be pinnacle to the "coming of age experience"—are navigated with grace and sincerity, while also not feeling exploitative or inappropriate for the characters and readers.
It's kind of crazy to say that we're almost at the end here, but I'm always eager to follow where these precious characters land next.
It's kind of crazy to say that we're almost at the end here, but I'm always eager to follow where these precious characters land next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying
charmarie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Self harm
jette25's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Dysphoria