All 4 Heartstopper Graphic Novels in Order (Including Novellas)
Heartstopper is a young adult LGBTQIA+ graphic novel and webcomic series by Alice Oseman. Alice Oseman is an English author of young adult fiction. She is best known for the Heartstopper series that she not only wrote, but also illustrated, and self-published. The Heartstopper series was launched into fame when the TV adaptation debuted on Netflix in 2022 with great reception from fans and critics.
The Heartstopper graphic novels tell a coming-of-age story about first love, coming out, and mental illness. We follow Charles “Charlie” Spring and Nicholas “Nick” Nelson as they struggle with the awkwardness and beauty of first love. There are currently four volumes out, and the fifth one will come out in 2023. In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the Heartstopper graphic novels.
How many Heartstopper graphic novels are there?
There are four volumes currently out. The graphic novel named Heartstopper: Volume 1 came out in 2018. The next year, in 2019, Heartstopper: Volume 2 was published. Heartstopper: Volumes 3 and 4 came out in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Heartstopper graphic novels in order (at a glance)
To fully experience the Heartstopper series, with the graphic novels, there are some accompanying works. So, along with the first four heartstopper graphic novels, come two novellas that follow the series.
Novellas:
- This Winter (2015)
- Nick and Charlie (2015)
Main series:
- Heartstopper: Volume 1 (2018)
- Heartstopper: Volume 2 (2019)
- Heartstopper: Volume 3 (2020)
- Heartstopper: Volume 4 (2021)
Heartstopper was adapted into a smash-hit TV series on Netflix, also written by Alice Oseman. It was released in 2022, and it has already been renewed for seasons two and three.
What is the best way to read Heartstopper graphic novels?
The best way to read the Heartstopper volumes is in chronological order. All the events in the main series follow a course of a little over one year. There is no year specified, but we know that Volume 1 starts in January of one year, and Volume 4 ends in March of the next year. The novellas can be read separately, but they take place after the events of the main series even though they were written long before the main Heartstopper graphic novels.
Heartstopper books in order (in chronological order)
Main series:
1. Heartstopper: Volume 1 (2018)
Synopsis: Charles “Charlie” Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The last year of his life wasn’t the best for Charlie, but the good news is he isn’t getting bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and he plays on the school’s rugby team. Nick knows about Charlie, he was the kid that was outed and then bullied for months. But, Nick has never had the chance to talk to Charlie. They soon become friends, and it looks like first love is on the rise.
2. Heartstopper: Volume 2 (2019)
Synopsis: Nick and Charlie are best friends. Everybody knows Charlie’s gay, and everybody is pretty sure Nick isn’t. But love works in mysterious ways, and has a lot more to learn about Nick his friends, and himself.
3. Heartstopper: Volume 3 (2020)
Synopsis: The Heartstopper gang goes on a school trip to Paris! Nick and Charlie are enjoying the city and their relationship. But, not everything is as perfect as it seems. Meanwhile, Tao and Elle will have to face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem to have a romance of their own.
4. Heartstopper: Volume 4 (2021)
Synopsis: Charlie and Nick are now officially boyfriends, and Charlie is beginning to feel ready to say those three little words. Nick has the same feeling for Charlie, but he has a lot on his plate. Coming out to his dad, and looking after Charlie. The summer is over, and a new school year begins, and our protagonists have a lot more to learn about love.
Novellas:
1. This Winter (2015)
Synopsis: In this novella, we peek into the lives of each of the Spring siblings- Tori, Charlie, and Oliver. The most prominent storyline is Charlie’s, because he is the hot-button issue this holiday season. Don’t worry, he and Nick are still going strong even after eight months of dating. Charlie is the center of attention because he still has some bad habits that put him in danger and hurt his family even more.
2. Nick and Charlie (2015)
Synopsis: What will happen to the “perfect” couple after Nick leaves for university, leaving Charlie behind in Sixth Form? Everyone wants to know if they will stay together, which sounds ridiculous because they are “Nick and Charlie”. No matter what anyone thinks, saying goodbye is hard, and it makes people question how strong is the thing they are leaving behind. Will their love survive? Everyone knows first love never lasts forever.
Where to read Heartstopper books?
The Heartstopper graphic novels can be found in their webcomic form on Tumblr, Webtoon, Tapas, and Alice Oseman’s Patreon. . EBooks are available on Kindle. And of course, the physical copies can be found in every bigger bookstore and can be ordered from Amazon or sites like Book Depository.
Do you need to read Heartstopper books in order?
Yes, the main series of Heartstopper graphic novels have to be read in order. As I said earlier it is known in which month each of the volumes takes place over the course of 15 months. The novellas can be enjoyed separately, and the author says it is not important if you read them before or after the main series. But, from experience, the novellas hit so much harder when you read them in chronological order.
Are Heartstopper books connected?
All Heartstopper graphic novels and novellas are connected. Across all four volumes and novellas, we tightly follow the story of two teenagers, Nick and Charlie. They meet in school, become friends, and fall in love. The volumes follow them as they experience the ups and downs of first love, friendship, coming out, and mental illness. To make things even better, there is a whole cast of beautifully written side characters, who have their own trial and tribulations.
Will there be more Heartstopper books?
Yes, Heartstopper: Volume 5 comes out in 2023, and it will be the final chapter in the Heartstopper saga. It is also important to say that in April 2022, the author Alice Oseman announced on Pateron that she is going on a hiatus for an unknown period of time. In this candid announcement, she told the fans she is “suffering from burnout and intense stress for many years”, and that she doesn’t want to ruin the end of Heartstopper.
We wish the author all the best, and we wish for her to finish this series, that changed many people’s lives, in her own time.
