Heartstopper is about the blossoming romance between two teenage secondary school boys; Charlie and Nick. I read this graphic novel at the very end of 2020 and it was the perfect way to end the year on a high note.

Charlie is an openly gay brainiac who wears his heart on his sleeve because of the traumatising experiences he's had with homophobic bullying. He meets Nicholas, or Nick for short, whom he feels an instant connection to, but Charlie fears that these feelings won't be reciprocated. Little does he know just how much of a liking Nick has taken to him.

Heartstopper had an endearing candy floss charm that will pull on the heartstrings of many young adult/teenage readers. The romance felt very authentic in the way things started tentatively and then slowly developed into the beginnings of something more. I thought the artwork style was very intriguing, if not slightly lacking in finesse, it definitely conveyed a lot of emotion, such as a believable sense of awkwardness.

This sugary sweet comic is perfect for lovers of a heart-warming romance.