The series also has a very substantial adult following, and one of the reasons cited by many fans for the story being so beloved outside of its target YA market is because so many readers across the LGBTQ+ spectrum found themselves in the pages. They can be found on the bookshelves of teenagers worldwide. Even before the Netflix adaptation released on April 22, 2022, Oseman’s gorgeous books had sold over a million copies. In graphic novel format, Heartstopper is an unstoppable rainbow force.
That description doesn’t do Heartstopper justice. The story, centered around a group of teenagers at a British all-boys grammar school, has been adapted by YA author and illustrator Alice Oseman from their graphic novels of the same name. On the face of it, Heartstopper is pretty easily described: an LGBTQ+ coming-of-age romance between Nick, played by Kit Connor ( His Dark Materials, Rocketman), and Charlie, played by newcomer Joe Locke.
Heartstopper doesn’t require any of that because the show feels like a warm blanket all by itself. When preparing to watch a new show, the cliché is that viewers should curl up, get cozy, and settle in with a drink and a quilt.
