A Complete Guide to Alice Oseman's Books, Including the "Heartstopper" Series

Oseman's debut publication is the novel "Solitaire" ($6), which started a bidding war with publishing houses when she was still a teenager. "Solitaire" follows Tori Spring, a deeply sad and isolated high school student who doesn't bother to hide her sadness, and Michael Holden, a very angry and lonely boy who hides his anger to try to be less lonely. Together, they try to unmask the mysterious Solitaire and maybe get a little closer along the way.

A spin-off of "Solitaire," the novella "Nick and Charlie" ($9) focuses on Tori Spring's younger brother Charlie. Although these are the same characters as the "Heartstopper" comic, this novella begins with Nick and Charlie having been a couple for two years already. Nick is about to leave for university, while Charlie is a year younger. They may have been inseparable for years, but their faith in their relationship wavers as everyone around them seems to have doubts their relationship will survive the separation.

"This Winter" ($17) is a novella set in the "Heartstopper" and "Solitaire" universes. The story follows all three of the Spring siblings — Tori, Charlie, and Oliver — as they struggle to have a normal, drama-free Christmas Day, despite the difficult season and the difficulties they've been having with their respective mental health issues. But what's Christmas without a little family drama? "This Winter" was originally published in the UK in 2015, but it is being rereleased with a US publisher in September 2023.

"Radio Silence" ($9) is Oseman's second full-length novel, and it is completely outside of the "Heartstopper" universe. "Radio Silence" follows the shy, studious Frances Janvier, who dreams of attending an elite university. Drunk, Aled Last confesses that he's the secret creator behind her favourite podcast, and a genuine friendship quickly forms between the two. When the podcast goes viral, both Frances and Aled are forced to confront the secrets in their pasts and decide who they truly want to be.

In "I Was Born for This" ($11), Muslim teenager Angel Rahimi defines herself by her love for the popular boyband, The Ark. The band's teenaged frontman Jimmy Kaga-Ricci is openly trans, but he, like the rest of his bandmates, is struggling with personal issues he doesn't want the press to know. He's also growing increasingly tired of their fans constantly shipping him with his bandmate Rowan. When Angel finally gets to meet her celebrity obsession, she's confronted with a reality that forces her to question her own life.

"Heartstopper, Volume 1" ($16) brings back Nick and Charlie from Oseman's earlier work into a graphic novel. Nick and Charlie are schoolmates who have little interaction until they're forced to sit together in class. A fast friendship forms, and Charlie falls fast. But what are the odds that a popular rugby player who's never shown any interest in boys might reciprocate Charlie's feelings? And will Nick realise his own feelings and have the strength to share them?

The stand-alone novel "Loveless" ($8) follows Georgia, a first-year university student determined to turn her love of romantic fanfiction into finding her own romance for the first time. However, her best-laid plans keep going awry and damageing her relationships with her best friends, Jason and Pip. Once she learns the terms "asexual" and "aromantic," though, Georgia starts to wonder if she's bad at love or if the sweeping romance she's always thought she wanted might not be for her.

"Heartstopper, Volume 2" ($6) picks up where Volume 1 ended. Charlie and Nick have shared a single kiss, but Charlie's anxiety sends him spiraling into absolute certainty that he's ruined the best friendship he's ever had. The kiss has upended Nick's worldview, and he needs time to sort through his confusion. Luckily, his family, his friends, and his own determination to figure out his feelings set him on a solid path forward, straight back to Charlie.

"Heartstopper, Volume 3" ($6) returns to Charlie and Nick's budding romance. They two are officially dating, but it's not like they can flip a switch that lets everyone in their lives know. With Nick only recently labelling himself bisexual, they don't know where to start. Together, they need to decide when to tell their friends and how much of their relationship they should share with their classmates. Meanwhile, they aren't the only people in their orbit admiring to big feelings and strengthening relationships.

"Heartstopper, Volume 4" ($11) continues the growth of Charlie and Nick's relationship. Summer is passing fast and a new school year is about to begin. Both boys have been thinking it might be time to start saying "I love you." Charlie's anxiety spirals when he considers being the first to take that step, fearing Nick might not reciprocate. Meanwhile, Nick has noticed Charlie's mental health decline. That, plus the stress of coming out to his dad, has made his own love confession a distant priority.

"The Heartstopper Yearbook" ($15) is a collection of bonus content for fans of the "Heartstopper" series. This book includes a couple of mini-comics, family trees, illustrated profiles for more than a dozen series characters, new drawings of the characters in specific moments, personality quizzes, and more about the series. The Yearbook also has a comic version of Oseman providing commentary on her choices, leading tutorials to draw the characters, and offering a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process.

The forthcoming "Heartstopper, Volume 5" ($15) will jump back into Charlie and Nick's relationship and seems as if it may have caught up to the plot of the novella "Nick and Charlie." The two have a strong relationship. They've confessed their love, but Nick's impending departure for university is a heavy weight they cannot ignore forever. First loves don't often become the love of a lifetime, but will Charlie and Nick be able to beat the odds, or is everything going to change for the worse?