Alice Oseman turned Heartstopper into a rare and heartwarming young adult phenomenon. First as a webcomic, later as a graphic novel series and Netflix series. And now the story of Nick and Charlie has officially concluded — with Heartstopper Forever, the movie finale that premiered on Netflix on July 17, 2026.
If you're new to the series, this is the perfect time to start. If you're a fan and haven't read the books yet, this is the complete reading guide.
What is Heartstopper?
Heartstopper is a graphic novel series by British writer and illustrator Alice Oseman. In these books, Nick and Charlie grow from awkward classmates into two boys who hold each other tight when life gets messy.
Charlie has had a rough year, with bullying and a forced coming-out. Then he sits next to Nick, the popular rugby boy he only knows by name. What starts as a quiet friendship grows with small glances, texts, and misunderstandings into something much bigger.
Heartstopper is a graphic novel — a story told in drawn panels, similar to a comic but longer and more in-depth. You don't have to be a graphic novel reader to enjoy it: the series is warm, accessible, and a quick read.
The complete Heartstopper reading order
Heartstopper consists of six volumes. Volume 6 is the final part of the series.
| # | Dutch title | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick and Charlie meet | Charlie and Nick get to know each other — the start of everything |
| 2 | Nick and Charlie fall in love | The friendship grows into something more |
| 3 | Nick and Charlie in the city of love | A school trip to Paris — and everything that comes with it |
| 4 | Nick and Charlie need each other more than ever | The emotionally hardest part — Charlie's mental health |
| 5 | Nick and Charlie face the world | Nick goes to university, Charlie stays behind |
| 6 | Nick and Charlie's final chapter | The conclusion of their story |
Always read in order — each volume builds on the previous one.
Per volume: what can you expect?
Volume 1 — Nick and Charlie meet
The beginning. This first volume of the Heartstopper series works because Oseman doesn't force anything. The silence between two drawings sometimes says more than a full page. Charlie and Nick get to know each other, build a friendship, and both start to feel something they don't quite understand yet.
Start here. Always.
Volume 2 — Nick and Charlie fall in love
The friendship from Volume 1 shifts. Nick begins to question who he is and who he loves. This is the volume where the series truly finds its own atmosphere.
Volume 3 — Nick and Charlie in the city of love
A school trip to Paris — and the first big step as a couple. Volume 3 has a lighter tone than what follows, and is a nice resting place in the series.
Volume 4 — Nick and Charlie need each other more than ever
The emotionally hardest part. Oseman treats Charlie's struggle with his mental health with care and honesty. This is the volume that stays with many readers the most.
Content warning: eating disorders and mental health.
Volume 5 — Nick and Charlie face the world
Nick goes to university. Charlie still has a year of school. The distance that arises from this is the core of this volume — and the question of whether a relationship can handle it.
Volume 6 — The final chapter
Heartstopper 6 is the final volume in the immensely popular graphic novel series, about life, love, and everything in between. The conclusion of Nick and Charlie's story.
The Osemanverse: more books in the same universe
Within the Osemanverse created by Alice Oseman, many other books have been published. For example, the main characters of Heartstopper also play a major role in Nick and Charlie, and Solitaire is about Charlie's sister Tori.
If you want to read more in the same universe, these are the books that fit:
| Title | Who | Relationship to Heartstopper |
|---|---|---|
| Solitaire | Tori Spring — Charlie's sister | Plays before the events of Heartstopper |
| This Winter | Charlie and Nick | Christmas story between Solitaire and the graphic novels |
| Nick and Charlie | Nick and Charlie | Plays after Volume 4 — Nick goes to university |
| Radio Silence | Frances and Aled | Stand-alone novel, Aled returns in Heartstopper |
| I Was Born for This | Stand-alone novel | Easter eggs to the Heartstopper universe |
The recommended reading order for the entire Osemanverse:
Solitaire → This Winter → Heartstopper 1-6 → Nick and Charlie
Heartstopper on Netflix: the complete overview
| Netflix | Release date | |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 8 episodes | April 22, 2022 |
| Season 2 | 8 episodes | August 3, 2023 |
| Season 3 | 8 episodes | October 3, 2024 |
| Heartstopper Forever | Film finale | July 17, 2026 |
In April 2025, Netflix announced that the series would conclude with a feature-length finale film — Heartstopper Forever — released on July 17, 2026.
Heartstopper Forever is based on Volume 6 of the graphic novel series and Alice Oseman's Nick and Charlie.
Do I have to read the books in order?
Yes. Heartstopper is an ongoing story where each volume builds on the previous one. Volume 4 will not have the same impact if you haven't experienced the emotional build-up from the first three volumes.
If you've watched the Netflix series and then want to read the books: start with Volume 1. The books go beyond the series and contain extra detail, emotion, and moments that were never filmed.
Why Heartstopper is so special
Heartstopper is different from most young adult romances because the story is gentle without being naive. Oseman writes coming-of-age with an honesty about identity, mental health, and the complexity of teenage love that is rarely captured so well.
The graphic novel format helps with this. The silence between two drawings sometimes says more than a full page. Oseman consciously uses the visual language of her medium — a glance, a pause, a page without words — to say things that prose cannot in the same way.
Complete your Heartstopper reading kit
💚 The perfect Heartstopper reading kit:
✔ Romance bookmark — for the warmest Nick & Charlie pages
✔ Bookish bookmark — for the general book lover
✔ Book Review Notepad — record what each volume meant to you
✔ Reading Log (€1.99) — track all 6 volumes
✔ Glass Can — for your iced coffee or matcha while reading
✔ Blind Date Book (Romance) — for when you're done with Heartstopper and want more
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Happy reading — boy meets boy, boys become friends, boys fall in love. 💚📚
Frequently Asked Questions about the Heartstopper book order
How many Heartstopper books are there?
The Heartstopper series consists of 6 graphic novels by Alice Oseman. Volume 6 is the final volume.
Do I have to read Heartstopper in order?
Yes. Always start with volume 1. The story builds emotionally over all six volumes and will not have an impact if you skip volumes.
Is Heartstopper also available in Dutch?
Yes. All six volumes have been translated into Dutch and are available at Dutch bookstores.
What is Heartstopper Forever?
Heartstopper Forever is the feature-length film finale of the Netflix series, released on July 17, 2026. It is based on volume 6 of the graphic novels and Nick and Charlie.
What is the Osemanverse?
The Osemanverse is the universe that Alice Oseman created. In addition to the Heartstopper graphic novels, there are also novels such as Solitaire (about Charlie's sister Tori) and Nick and Charlie (a novella set after the graphic novels).
In what order do I read the entire Osemanverse?
Solitaire → This Winter → Heartstopper 1-6 → Nick and Charlie. But you can also easily start with Heartstopper volume 1 without the other books.
Is Heartstopper suitable for younger readers?
Yes. Heartstopper is a heartwarming young adult series suitable for readers aged approximately 12-13 and older. The series contains LGBTQ+ themes and mental health is honestly addressed in volume 4.