How To Read The Heartstopper Webcomic And Graphic Novels

Adapting the webcomic/graphic novels by Alice Oseman, Heartstopper has been a massive hit for Netflix. The LGBTQ+ young adult romance has wooed countless fans, who are passionately invested in the sweet tale of Nick and Charlie’s relationship.

While fans wait for an additional two seasons on Netflix, it’s the perfect time to read ahead with the source material. But how do you do that? Read on to find out how and where you can read Heartstopper. In addition to that, the guide will answer many of the questions that you might have along the way.

Enjoy!

Is Heartshopper a webcomic or a graphic novel?

Heartstopper started as a webcomic on Tumblr in 2016. In this format, Alice Oseman has added new pages a few times a month on a regular basis.

With the webcomic a big hit, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to self-publish graphic novel editions – which was funded within two hours in 2018. Later in the year, Hachette Children’s Group acquired the publishing rights to publish them and have ever since. These are the versions you will see in bookstores and online.

The graphic novels are the same as the webcomic but in a collected format.

Content warnings

Before going into Heartstopper, readers should be aware that there are events that some readers may find distressing.

This includes:

• Physical abuse
• An non-consensual kiss
• Homophobic slurs
• Eating disorders

Luckily, these moments are few and far between, with the comic light and happy most of the time. Content warnings appear throughout the comic, which warn readers when these themes are coming so they can be skipped over or mentally prepared for.

Where can you read the webcomic series?

There are four official options if you want to read Heartstopper in its webcomic form. These are:

• Tumblr
• Webtoon
• Tapas
• Alice Oseman’s Patreon

The webcomic is identical on each platform. It’s totally up to you which one you read Heartstopper on. In the end, I think it’ll come down to your personal preference based on interface and if you’re using any of the platforms already.

Becoming a member on Patreon allows access to the comic, with some levels getting them earlier, plus other extras.

Heartstopper on hiatus

UPDATE: Alice Oseman announced on Twitter that Heartstopper is returning from hiatus on 1st April, 2023.

As announced on Patreon on 1st April, 2022, Heartstopper will be going on hiatus for an undisclosed period of time.

In the announcement, Alice Oseman is quite candid in revealing the below.

I want to be honest with you – I am mentally unwell. I have been suffering from burnout and intense stress for many years, and it has reached the point where I feel exhausted and depressed every day. I haven’t had any new ideas, any desire to create new stories, or much passion for anything I’m doing, for a long time. My closest friends have expressed concern for my health and wellbeing. If I continue trying to produce work at my current rate, I am scared I will lose my desire to create forever. I am terrified of having to create the end of Heartstopper while feeling like this, and looking back on this experience and remembering how shit I felt all of the time. But above all I am deeply afraid of ruining the end of Heartstopper, because I’m creating it while feeling so miserable all of the time.

I have been there before and it’s a terrible feeling. Here’s hoping that Oseman can enjoy some rest and recapture that creative spark.

Heartstopper graphic novels

As mentioned earlier, the Heartstopper webcomic is also collected in a graphic novel format through Hachette Children’s Group. These are perfect for those who prefer to read in print or want to cut down on screen time.

You can find a list of the graphic novels below.

Heartstopper Volume 1
Collects: Chapters 1 and 2

Note: There are two editions of the Heartstopper Volume 1. There’s the regular edition, which has the illustrated cover, and a “TV edition” which recreates the cover with the actors from the Netflix series. This edition also includes an exclusive extract of the TV script.  

Heartstopper Volume 2
Collects: Chapter 3

Heartstopper Volume 3
Collects: Chapter 4

Heartstopper Volume 4
Collects: Chapters 5 and 6

Heartstopper Volume 5
Collects: Chapter 7

Note: Heartstopper Volume 5 is tentatively scheduled for release on 9th November, 2023. However, this may change due to the webcomic going on hiatus.

Buy Heartstopper graphic novels on…

Is Heartstopper available in other languages?

Yes! If you scroll down to the bottom of this page, you’ll see details on the various international editions.

Where you can find Heartstopper graphic novels

Heartstopper can be bought at all good comic book shops, bookshops, Amazon/Kindle, online retailers, and on eBay.

You can also find Heartstopper at many libraries. Use WorldCat to find a library that has this graphic novel series in their collection near you.

Discover more about the different options for finding comics and graphic novels with this extensive resource.

Other works in the same world

Heartstopper is not the first time we’ve seen Charlie and Nick. Before Alice Oleman started the webcomic, she wrote novellas set in the same world. Find out more about the novels set in the same world below.

Solitaire

Written beforehand, this novel is set a year after the events of Heartstopper. It focuses on Charlie’s sister, Tori, and her story of mental illness.

Nick and Charlie

Spinning out of Solitaire and Heartstopper, this novella focuses on a specific challenge in Nick and Charlie’s relationship.

This Winter

This Solitaire spin-off novel focuses on Tori and Charlie during the festive season.

These are standalone stories so you can read them in any order. However, timeline-obsessed fans can find a chronology on Alice Oseman’s website.

Have your say!

Have you found this guide helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments below or via Facebook or Twitter.