
If you’re a Netflix user, you’ve probably seen an LGBT romance series on the streaming service already. Well, here’s what viewers need to know about the novels before diving into the next screen adaptation!
Best Contemporary LGBT Series

Young boys fall in love – that’s the main premise of Heartstopper, a series of novels recently adapted by Netflix. Similar to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Skins, it quickly rose to the top and became an obsession for many teens. Yet, not many fans know that the basis for the series, the graphic novel, started as a webcomic and got popular in 2016! Drawn and written by YA author Alice Oseman, it has over 52.1 million views on Tumblr and Tapas, the latter a digital storytelling platform. Due to the huge popularity, fans were hoping to get a printed version of their favorite story. Oseman then crowd-funded a limited edition of the webcomic. It didn’t take long to get noticed by bigger publishers. The first volume was officially out in 2019. As of 2022, there are four volumes of Heartstopper on the shelves.
The fifth, and last one, is supposed to be on sale later this year. Moreover, readers can grab a companion book, Heartstopper Yearbook, beginning October 13, 2022. Users can buy the novels in paperback, as e-books, or even listen to audiobooks. They are on Audible as well! Be aware that it will take away a significant part of the novel – incredible drawings by the creator. Before it drops and the second season of the series comes out, though, let’s catch up on the lives of the main characters first.
Don’t Close Your Eyes On The Novel

Charlie and Nick are two main figures in the novel – their love and life struggles open up on the pages of Heartstopper. Their story starts with the boys sitting together at school. “They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realized,” the description reads. The second volume continues to open up more about being LGBT and dealing with mental illnesses. That’s when the two get their first kiss and their feelings unravel. Both Nick and Charlie grow up, in physical and mental senses, and in other volumes, their relationship establishes further. They open up about their orientation and dating life to others – that’s what Netflix is planning to show next.
It’s essential to read before watching. Not just because of the plot – the novels are genuinely good. “The entire group of supporting characters are fleshed out wonderfully and each has their own vibrant personality and relationships that Oseman invites us into,” said Music editor Samantha Andrews. “It is mushy and romantic and heart-warming and will put the biggest smile on your face.” Per Kirkus Reviews, the novel’s “organic frame borders and fragmented panels underscore the respective action on the spreads (sweet and tender moments, run-ins with homophobic jerks) and prevent the visual graphics from going aesthetically stale. Handwritten text reinforces the lens of humanity through which Oseman spins this to-be-continued story.”
Now, the Netflix adaptation is on the Twitter trending charts, as there were almost a million engagements during the debut of the eighth episode.
Sources: RedBrick, Rolling Stone, Kirkus Reviews