Book Review: Heartstopper Volume #3

 

Heartstopper Volume 3 seeks to further define the romantic relationship Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson as they journey out with their school friends on a field trip to Paris. Now they have fully cemented their relationship as boyfriends, the next big obstacle they are both facing is how they come out about it to their friends and family. There's a nice sense of realistic drama tied between these issues both Nick and Charlie are coming to terms with. It's made clear both have their own concerns about coming out and what that might mean for both of them and I like how Alice Oseman treats the subject with a really respectful amount of gravitas.

One thing I really liked about this entry in the series is how it managed to not only develop the core relationship between it's two central characters, but it also put a bigger spotlight on the secondary characters. Don't get me wrong I get this is a story about Nick and Charlie, but I love how Oseman has made all the surrounding characters just as endearing and likable with just as much focus on developing their own stories now. The backdrop of a school trip to Paris also allows Oseman to further flesh out their stories in an unconfined environment. As we've only really seen the characters in school or in home environments, giving them a lot of freedom in Paris gives them a much appreciated opportunity to grow and flesh out their own relationships. I think there's a wonderful balance of innocent and mature themes here as well. As it's a series targeted to a younger crowd, the level of maturity Oseman shows in how she empathises with the complicated relationship young LGBTQ+ people can go through is incredible.

As always the level of quality behind Oseman's illustration work is consistently brilliant too. There;s a very distinct and heartwarming vibe behind the way she draws the characters and their enviroments. I also love how she is capable of capturing emotional sequences really well in character expressions and with clever usage of format boxes for a key moments. You can tell Oseman is having the time of her life getting to bring this story to live and it's commendable just how much detail and passion she reflects in the art of the book.

Heartstopper Volume 3 just reinforces why Alice Oseman is achieving a major feat. She's telling a personal and heartfelt story with every ounce of passion she has in her body. This is her story and to see her give a spotlight to a part of society that is often overlooked and mistreated and show it all the care and empathy it deserves; it's so wonderful to see play out.