Heartstopper: Volume Two

The Heartstopper series is part of a growing literary trend in the young adult category that has seen the rise of LGBTQ+ novels and graphic novels. Since the mid-2010s, there has been a strong societal push toward representation, diversity, and inclusion of marginalized people who are both underrepresented and often depicted from a stereotyped perspective. Stories like Heartstopper seek to undermine common stereotypes and stigma against LGBTQ+ people by depicting strong, dynamic, and relatable queer characters and relationships. The importance of representation in media and literature, particularly for young people, cannot be understated, as it breaks through feelings of isolation or otherness that LGBTQ+ often experience.

Heartstopper is one of many young adult stories featuring LGBTQ+ people that have taken hold in recent years, particularly when it comes to coming-of-age texts as characters’ sexual identities become more significant in their lives. Other titles that fall into the LGBTQ+ young adult romance genre include Bloom by Kevin Panetta, which sees two boys in the midst of love and self-discovery as they approach the end of high school and look ahead to the rest of their lives. Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram focuses on a high school boy who just went through his first breakup and finds new love while also grappling with societal expectations of what it means to be gay. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender features a trans teenager falling in love for the first time and planning to attend college. Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston depicts a gay romance between the First Son of the United States and a British prince. Flamer by Mike Curato is also a graphic novel featuring a teenage boy coming to terms with his sexuality. Heartstopper depicts gay relationships with a mixture of tenderness and sensitivity, as well as the courage to confront issues like bullying and Overcoming Internal Anti-Gay Bias. This pushes back against the sentiments that have led many LGBTQ+ novels, including Heartstopper, to be banned in different countries. Oseman has been outspoken about her condemnation of book bans, both in the US and abroad. Despite the backlash, the series and others like it remain highly popular, as LGBTQ+ romance literature provides an intimate and honest lens through which young people can understand and reflect upon the nature of queer relationships.