Just like many others, I'm a huge fan of Heartstopper (I mean, who isn't?) and when we first meet Aled in those books, my curiosity was instantly sparked. He's shy but sweet and I wanted to know more so I was really excited to learn that he was in this story. There's so much hype around AO's books and I was so ready to love this one but sadly, and *slightly unpopular opinion time*, I just didn't connect with it as much as I thought I would. Trust, no one is more disappointed than me!
I found Frances to be a compelling character. Her schoolmates only know her as the serious and studious head girl but outside of school she's quirky, bold, a passionate artist, and loves this YouTube series called Universe City. She's been working her whole life towards getting into Cambridge because she believes that's what she needs to do to succeed in life but she starts questioning whether it's what she really wants the closer it gets to the interview. Frances wasn't difficult to root for and she grows a lot throughout the story as she starts to feel more confident in her skin but what I missed was the emotional connection with her story. I don't know whether that's down to the simplicity of the writing but there was a disconnect for me that made it hard to feel invested in the story.
Aled was a secondary character but certainly just as important as Frances and he was key to part of her growth. I loved the friendship that developed between them and I was really glad that there was no romance in this. Not only can you feel how passionate they are about Universe City but it was so great to see how they were able to be their true selves together. They were almost the same person and it was such a heartwarming, albeit fragile, friendship. Aled was going through so much and I felt his pain and Frances' helplessness and panic in dealing with the situation. I loved how Frances did step up but I wished that Aled's home situation had been better resolved or handled. I'm glad it was a "happy" ending but without giving anything away, I felt the resolution was just too simplistic and it felt a little anticlimactic.
Do I still feel like this is a book younger me would've loved? Absolutely! I think it's well-written, simplistic and talks about issues teenagers face in a very relatable way, not to mention AO tackles the topics of mental health (anxiety, depression), parental abuse, identity, and societal and parental expectations very well. I think if I had read this even in my early 20s it probably would've hit that much harder. I really appreciate the way AO addresses mental health and identity in their books and I think it's something she excels at. I also love the way their characters are always so diverse and their stories are very inclusive.
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From the Publisher
Discover the stunning collection of YA novels from Alice Oseman, creator of the Netflix sensation, Heartstopper
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SolitaireTori Spring isn't sure how to be happy again. Then she meets Michael Holden, and they try to unmask the mysterious Solitaire (and survive A-Levels) in Alice Oseman's stunning, unflinching honest debut novel, which first introduced her fan-favourite Heartstopper characters Nick and Charlie. |
Radio SilenceFrances is on the path to Cambridge, even though she's not quite sure why she's so determined to get there. But when she meets the creator of her favourite podcast, a whole new world opens up - and studying may not be a part of it. |
I Was Born For ThisAngel Rahimi is the world's biggest fan of boyband The Ark. Lead singer Jimmy Kaga-Ricci isn't sure how he ended up in this surreal celebrity life. And when the two collide, they'll both come crashing down to the real world... |
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LovelessGeorgia loves romance stories, but she's never been fallen in love. And she's not sure she ever wants to. A thoughtful and heartrending exploration of asexuality, aromanticism and the meaning of true love. |
Nick and CharlieThe beloved Heartstopper characters Nick and Charlie find themselves at a crossroads when Nick heads off to university. Can this first love survive the distance, or are they just delaying the inevitable? |
This WinterReuniting Solitaire's Tori Spring, her little brother Charlie, and Charlie's boyfriend Nick, this novella sees the Spring siblings brave a particularly difficult festive season. |
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| Loveless | I Was Born For This | Radio Silence | Solitaire | Nick and Charlie | This Winter | |
| Characters you'll fall in love with | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heartbreaking and heartwarming stories | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Relationships that will captivate you | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| LGBTQ+ representation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
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Customer reviews
Not an issue with the book, just amazon
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2022
The book I ordered was supposed to be the pale blue/teal cover. That's what was shown and in the description. Not only is it the wrong cover but the quality of the print is terrible. The text is misaligned. Warning for buyers, amazon have started printing their own copies of books that are not official prints.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2022
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 June 2022
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2022
Not an issue with the book, just amazon
By angelique franklin on 8 May 2022
The book I ordered was supposed to be the pale blue/teal cover. That's what was shown and in the description. Not only is it the wrong cover but the quality of the print is terrible. The text is misaligned. Warning for buyers, amazon have started printing their own copies of books that are not official prints.
By angelique franklin on 8 May 2022
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2020
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2018
