Written by contributor Lauren Marie
As the release of Heartstopper Vol 3 by Alice Oseman nears, let’s remind ourselves of the past events in this endearing, boy meets boy story! However, if you’ve not picked up Volume 1 and 2 yet, we highly recommend you doing so you can enjoy the story fully!
Volume 1
Chapter One
January
Heartstopper opens with Charlie kissing Ben in the library. In Truhams new vertical form groups, Charlie and Nick are made to sit next to each other and over the next week, the boys don’t say much to each other, yet Charlie is suspicious of Nick’s friendliness as Charlie has been subject to bullying for being gay in an all boys school before.
A few days later, when Charlie and Nick are alone, Nick makes an offer to be friends. Meanwhile, Charlie tries to ignore Ben’s pestering messages after he tells Ben he doesn’t want to meet up anymore. Tao Xu (Charlie’s friend) expresses concerns that Charlie is being reckless with his heart by being such close friends with Nick.
February
Nick saves Charlie from a run in with Ben, after which he offers Charlie a place on their school’s rugby team. Over the next few weeks Nick teaches Charlie how to play rugby as he doesn’t know how to play.
After one session, Charlie goes to see Ben to end things once and for all. However, it doesn’t go to plan, as Ben has different plans and forces a kiss upon Charlie. Nick once again swoops in and saves Charlie from Ben. Chapter 1 ends with Nick thinking of Charlie’s cute smile.
Chapter Two
Chapter 2 begins with Nick remembering, from his perspective, Charlie’s coming out and subsequent bullying 10 months prior. Nick then finds Charlie on Facebook and checks up on him after the Ben incident. The next day Charlie tells Tao that he can’t give Nick up even though Nick is straight.
March
With March brings the introduction of Nellie (Nick’s dog) and Charlie and Nick hang out together outside of school or rugby for the first time. When Charlie gets home he admits to his sister, Victoria, that he ‘fell for a straight boy’. The weekend after, Nick goes over to Charlies and we see their relationship become more physical.
Later that night, when Charlie falls asleep, Nick reaches for Charlie’s hand to hold, but chickens out. Then, when Nick is leaving, he gives Charlie a hug. After Nick leaves, Victoria tells Charlie she doesn’t think Nick is straight. At home, Nick spends his night searching the internet about being gay.
April
During a rugby game, Charlie texts Tao that he thinks Nick likes him back, but Tao mentions Nick having a crush on a girl, Tara Jones, for 3 years. After the game, Nick hugs Charlie to celebrate their victory, causing their rugby team mates to speculate about Nick’s sexuality. Meanwhile, Nick invites Charlie to Harry Greene’s party.
At the party, Harry drags Nick over to see Tara Jones and we discover she’s a lesbian and in a relationship. Afterwards, Nick and Charlie go to an empty room in the hotel and they kiss for the first time, but are interrupted by Nick’s friends calling for him. Nick leaves to be with his friends and Heartstopper Vol 1 ends with Charlie alone in the room.
Volume 2
Chapter 3
Vol. 2 opens with Charlie’s diary recapping his relationship with Nick At the beginning of Chapter 3, Charlie is devastated that the kiss ruined their friendship. The next day, Nick makes a surprise visit to Charlie’s house who apologises, but Nick cuts him off with a kiss. Nick then apologies for leaving him alone at the party and agree to keep their relationship between themselves because Nick is still unsure about his sexuality.
Charlie has his birthday party and Nick meets Charlie’s friends for the first time. At first Tao doesn’t warm to Nick, but by the end of the night, all Charlie’s friends are very fond of Nick.
May
When the Higgs Girls School Orchestra comes to Truhams boy school for a joint rehearsal, Nick sees Tara Jones and her girlfriend, Darcey. Nick tells them both that he and Charlie are dating, but are keeping it on the down low.
Nick invites Charlie to go to a movie with his friends and afterwards, Harry Greene begins asking Charlie homophobic questions. Soon after, Charlie leaves, but Harry’s homophobic comments continue, which prompts Nick to punch him.
The next day, Nick takes Charlie to the beach and tells Charlie that he’s definitely bisexual and ready to come out. Nick also doesn’t want to hang out with his friends anymore because of their homophobic comments, si Charlie offers him a place in his friendship group because his friends like Nick.
Heartstopper Vol. 2 ends with Nick coming out to his mother, who accepts him.
One Comment