All Alice Oseman Heartstopper Books In Order

Alice Oseman has become one of the most talked about young adult fiction authors of the last decade.

She published her first book at just age 19 (after getting a book deal at 17), and has since written a collection of bestselling books, including one series that has been adapted into a critically acclaimed Netflix series.

All Alice Oseman Heartstopper Books In Order

So Alice Oseman has done a lot. She loves to write, and people love to read her books!

Her most popular work, the Heartstopper book series, has been all the rage since the first book in the series was published in 2019.

There’s no doubt you’ve heard about it, and if you’re one of the many who’s wondering where to start with the Heartstopper books, you’ve arrived at the right place!

While the Heartstopper novels can be read in simple numerical order, there are, in fact, other books by Alice Oseman that can be read in between, tying into the story chronologically.

Alice Oseman listed the order herself on her Goodreads page, which I’ve also listed below!

About The Heartstopper Books

Alice Oseman is best known for the Heartstopper book series.

It’s a graphic novel series, to be exact, which follows two main characters: Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, along with many other equally prominent side characters.

The series started as a webcomic on Tumblr and Tapas before garnering a large following.

Fans funded the publishing through Kickstarter, and the rest is history!

What’s great about the Heartstopper novels is that the characters are three-dimensional and fully fleshed out.

Teenage readers have praised the characters as being relatable, real, and exciting to follow, all of which are part of the same “universe”.

It’s for this reason that Alice Oseman has also made standalone novels focused on some of the characters featured in the Heartstopper series.

These include Tori and Frances, who are the main characters in Solitaire and Radio Silence, respectively, both stories of which take place in the same world (also featuring characters from the Heartstopper books).

So, all in all, Alice Oseman has created a diverse character cast that teenage readers have resonated and fallen in love with.

Her books touch on topics such as mental illness, eating disorders, sexuality, gender, friendship, bullying, love, and platonic love, with strong coming-of-age themes that include self-worth, self-discovery, trust, and courage.

In 2022, the Heartstopper books were adapted into a Netflix series of the same name.

There are currently four books in the main Heartstopper series, but some of Alice Oseman’s standalone books can be read in between to fill out the story!

Heartstopper Books In Order

Heartstopper Volume One (2019)

Heartstopper Volume One, International Edition

Heartstopper Volume One is the first book in the Heartstopper graphic novel series, which introduces Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, who go to the same all-boys grammar school.

Charlie is openly gay and an overthinker, and quickly becomes infatuated with Nick, a friendly boy who is on the rugby team.

Soon Charlie befriends Nick, but doesn’t think he has a chance and isn’t sure what Nick feels. Could there be something more?

Love, after all, works in surprising ways. Heartstopper Volume One is the bestselling graphic novel by Alice Oseman that kick-started the Heartstopper series.

Pros

  • Colorful graphic illustrations
  • An interesting and relatable cast of characters
  • Touches on serious teenage topics in ways that are accessible to young adults
  • The best place to start reading the Heartstopper graphic novel series
  • The most popular book by Alice Oseman

Cons

  • Trigger warnings for emotionally abusive relationships, a scene involving a non-consensual kiss, references to past homophobia, use of homophobic slurs, and references to past bullying

Heartstopper Volume Two (2019)

Heartstopper #2: A Graphic Novel (2)

Heartstopper Volume Two is the second book in the Heartstopper graphic novel series. In this book, Nick and Charlie have become best friends.

Nick knows Charlie is gay, and Charlie is starting to think Nick is gay.

Heartstopper Volume Two is the next bestselling book in the Hearstopper series by Alice Oseman, which continues the fascinating relationship between the main characters Nick and Charlie.

It features the same illustration style and brings a new dynamic to the main characters as they navigate thoughts and problems not touched on in the first book.

Pros

  • Colorful graphic illustrations
  • The interesting and relatable cast of characters
  • Touches on serious teenage topics in ways that are accessible to young adults
  • Builds on the relationship between Nick and Charlie, who have become best friends after the events of the first novel

Cons

  • Trigger warnings for scenes involving homophobia, mentioning of homophobic slurs, and references to past bullying

Heartstopper Volume Three (2020)

Heartstopper #3: A Graphic Novel (3)

Heartstopper Volume Three is the third book in the Heartstopper graphic novel series, now following Charlie and Nick as they embark on an exciting trip to Paris – the city of romance.

Their relationship has gone a step further but has also brought new problems to deal with at the same time.

Alongside Nick and Charlie, Tao and Elle are also expressing their feelings for one another.

There also seems to be something going on with the teachers, which brings more lighthearted comedy to the series.

Pros

  • Colorful graphic illustrations
  • The interesting and relatable cast of characters
  • Touches on serious teenage topics in ways that are accessible to young adults
  • Builds on side characters Tao and Elle
  • Sees the characters explore a new setting

Cons

  • Trigger warnings for eating disorder discussions, references to past self-harm, and references to past bullying

Heartstopper Volume Four (2021)

Heartstopper #4: A Graphic Novel (4)

Heartstopper Volume Four is the fourth book in the Heartstopper graphic novel series by Alice Oseman.

In this volume, star characters Nick and Charlie are now in a relationship after the issues faced in the third book.

What’s next? Verbally expressing their love to one another using those famous three words!

On Alice Oseman’s Goodreads page, she recommends reading This Winter (2015)—a short story that chronologically builds on Charlie and Nick’s relationship in this book—after reading chapter five of Heartstopper Volume Four and before starting chapter six.

Pros

  • Colorful graphic illustrations
  • The interesting and relatable cast of characters
  • Touches on serious teenage topics in ways that are accessible to young adults
  • Shows a new side to Charlie and Nick as they navigate being in an official relationship
  • Option to read a short novella, This Winter, that fills out the story midway through the book

Cons

  • Trigger warnings for anorexia portrayals, references to self-harm, references to past bullying, discussions about OCD

Solitaire (2014)

Solitaire

Solitaire is a standalone novel by Alice Oseman that centers around Tori, who is a prominent side character in the Heartstopper graphic novels.

Alongside the Heartstopper books, Solitaire is one of Oseman’s bestselling books, allowing readers to learn more about Tori Spring, Charlie’s sister.

As part of the Heartstopper universe, Solitaire ties in as the fifth book to read chronologically.

On Alice Oseman’s official Goodreads page, she recommends reading just the prologue of Radio Silence (2016) after finishing Solitaire (readers can read the rest of Radio Silence later, after Nick and Charlie).

Pros

  • Touches on serious teenage topics in ways that are accessible to young adults
  • The interesting and relatable cast of characters
  • Brings readers closer to “side” character Tori
  • Fills out the world created by Alice Oseman

Cons

  • Trigger warnings for suicide references, self-harm, depression, eating disorders, brief incidents of homophobia, and unchallenged misogyny

Nick And Charlie (2015)

Nick and Charlie: A Solitaire Novella (A Heartstopper novella)

Like This Winter (2015), Nick and Charlie is another novella that features Nick and Charlie and builds on their relationship with one another.

It takes place two years after Heartstopper Volume Four when Charlie and Nick officially became boyfriends.

In Nick and Charlie, Nick and Charlie spend quality time together before Nick leaves for university.

Charlie is left behind at Sixth Form, and can’t bear the thought of being separated from Nick.

The time to say goodbye is looming, so will they say what they really feel or continue to avoid the topic?

Although shorter than the books in the Heartstopper series, Nick and Charlie builds on the relationship between the two-star characters and deals with relatable topics such as long-distance relationships and saying goodbye.

Pros

  • Touches on serious teenage topics in ways that are accessible to young adults
  • An interesting and relatable cast of characters
  • Shorter, easy-to-read novella
  • Focuses more on the relationship between Charlie and Nick
  • Deals with the topic of saying goodbye, including long-distance relationships

Cons

  • Trigger warnings for disordered eating behavior

Radio Silence (2016)

Radio Silence

Radio Silence is another standalone novel by Alice Oseman that, like Solitaire, focuses on one of the interesting side characters who feature in the Heartstopper series.

Instead of Tori, this time it’s Frances, who we follow as she tries to balance her perfect studies with a brand new love, Aled.

Radio Silence touches on the topic of love and fate, with strong themes of identity, freedom, trust, and courage.

It ties into the Heartstopper universe seamlessly and is a must-read for fans of the Heartstopper universe who want to continue getting to know the characters featured in the previous books.

After finishing Radio Silence, Alice Oseman recommends (on her official Goodreads page) reading I Was Born for This (2018) and Loveless (2020), two more standalone novels that serve as continuations for the Heartstopper universe, featuring side characters that readers will recognize.

Pros

  • Touches on serious teenage topics in ways that are accessible to young adults
  • An interesting and relatable cast of characters
  • Brings readers closer to “side” characters Frances and Aled
  • Fills out the world created by Alice Oseman
  • Navigates universal themes such as love and fate, courage, prioritization, and identity

Cons

  • Trigger warnings for references to anxiety, animal death, and emotionally abusive parents

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, all Heartstopper books, plus Alice Oseman’s standalone books to be read as part of the Heartstopper universe, in chronological order – as recommended by Alice Oseman on her Goodreads page!

It’s worth mentioning that the Heartstopper books don’t have to be read in order, but the characters and events will make the most sense if read in the order listed above.

This order also lets you get closer to other characters in the universe (while filling out the story), such as Tori and Frances, who are the protagonists in Solitaire and Radio Silence. These two books also mention Nick and Charlie from the Heartstopper books.

Ultimately, it’s all one big universe, and you can be sure to be pulled in right from the first page of Heartstopper Volume One.

So what are you waiting for?

Whether or not you have already watched the Heartstopper Netflix series, get the Heartstopper books on your TBR list as they really are addictive and won’t disappoint!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Have To Read The Heartstopper Books In Order?

You can jump right into any of the Heartstopper books but it’s best to read them in numerical order, starting with the first volume, to get to know the characters properly and follow the story chronologically.

Are The Heartstopper Books Finished?

The fifth Heartstopper book, Heartstopper Volume Five (2023), is the final book in Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper graphic novel series, following Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring.

What Are The Trigger Warnings For The Heartstopper Books?

The Heartstopper graphic novels can be distressing for some readers due to the serious topics touched on in the books. The trigger warnings are for eating disorders, anorexia, emotionally abusive relationships, homophobia, self-harm, and bullying.

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Noah Burton