Status
Available
Publication
Hodder Children's Books (2021), Edition: 1, 384 pages
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Romance. Young Adult Fiction. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML: The fourth volume in the wonderfully sweet Heartstopper series, featuring gorgeous two-color artwork. Now streaming on Netflix! Charlie and Nick's relationship has been going really well, and Charlie thinks he's ready to say those three little words: I love you. Nick feels the same way, but he's got a lot on his mind �?? especially the thought of coming out to his dad and the fact that Charlie might have an eating disorder. As a new school year begins, Charlie and Nick will have to learn what love really means.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member oldandnewbooksmell
Trigger Warnings: mental illness, eating disorders, self harm
As we see Nick and Charlie’s relationship grow, we also see things start to get more serious.
This has one of the best discussions of mental illness that I’ve read in a long time, specifically about eating disorders. I’m going to be
“...And I know you feel like it’s your job to “save him”... Love can’t cure a mental illness. There are lots of ways to help him, you can just be there. To listen. To talk. To cheer him up if he’s having a bad day. And on the bad days you can ask what you could do to make things easier. Standing by his side, even when things are hard - But knowing that sometimes people need more support than just one person can give. That’s love, darling.”
I just really love how Alice Oseman includes the hard(er) topics in this novel. She doesn’t have Nick be the shining savior to Charlie’s mental illness - he’s there for him as much as he possibly can, but he doesn’t “fix” Charlie. He can’t.
This series is beautiful and I can’t believe it took me this long to get into them and read them.
Please read them. They’re amazing.
As we see Nick and Charlie’s relationship grow, we also see things start to get more serious.
This has one of the best discussions of mental illness that I’ve read in a long time, specifically about eating disorders. I’m going to be
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honest, it was a hard and emotional read. On one hand, you have Nick who is trying everything he can to help Charlie out and be there for him, even though he can’t fix it, and that is causing him lots of anxiety himself. And on the other hand, you have Charlie who is going through a lot of mental health discovery and recovery - something that, like he mentions, will probably be a battle he’ll have to constantly work and fight for for the rest of his life.“...And I know you feel like it’s your job to “save him”... Love can’t cure a mental illness. There are lots of ways to help him, you can just be there. To listen. To talk. To cheer him up if he’s having a bad day. And on the bad days you can ask what you could do to make things easier. Standing by his side, even when things are hard - But knowing that sometimes people need more support than just one person can give. That’s love, darling.”
I just really love how Alice Oseman includes the hard(er) topics in this novel. She doesn’t have Nick be the shining savior to Charlie’s mental illness - he’s there for him as much as he possibly can, but he doesn’t “fix” Charlie. He can’t.
This series is beautiful and I can’t believe it took me this long to get into them and read them.
Please read them. They’re amazing.
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LibraryThing member tapestry100
Heartstopper, Vol 4 is the heaviest volume to date, dealing directly with Charlie’s mental health issues and how Nick is there to support him. This volume is definitely not all flowers and rainbows, and there are some definite triggering elements such as self-harm and eating disorders, but Oseman
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deals with everything in her usual caring manner. I still can’t recommend this series enough. Show Less
LibraryThing member villemezbrown
This series can make me so incredibly happy and then just tear my heart right out. As Charlie and Nick's relationship just keeps getting and better, Charlie's mental health takes a turn for the worse. And Nick's father finally shows up.
As the events of the story finally catch up to her novel
But NOOOOOOOOOOOOO the Author's Note says next volume is THE LAST!!!!! Now that's a heartstopper . . .
As the events of the story finally catch up to her novel
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Solitaire, Tori Spring has some of her best moments in this series.But NOOOOOOOOOOOOO the Author's Note says next volume is THE LAST!!!!! Now that's a heartstopper . . .
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LibraryThing member Itaby
Darkest part of the series. Can't wait for the final part! Really digs into the darker subjects and portray them accurately and with respect. Many perspectives on them to. Heart-breaking and hopeful.
LibraryThing member tuusannuuska
I was already a little emotional picking this up, but this really hit me in the place where the anxiety ridden teenager will forever live, even though it's been nearly twenty years since I went through similar feelings (to a lesser extent). Oseman writes the teenage experience in a really spot on
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way. I imagine it has an appeal to actual, present day teenagers as well as us adults who were teens many a moon ago. While all of the Heartstopper volumes have dealt with some heavier topics, this one's definitely the least fluffy. An excellent read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Familiar_Diversions
While Charlie stresses over whether, when, and how to tell Nick he loves him, Nick is reading up on eating disorders because he believes Charlie has one and he's trying to figure out how to help.
This volume spent quite a bit of time on Charlie's mental health - his anxiety and problems eating.
If you've ever tried to help someone deal with mental illness or other issues, Nick's struggles will likely feel familiar. He desperately wanted to help Charlie but didn't know how. In this volume, part of his journey involved learning that he couldn't do and be everything for Charlie, and that it wasn't healthy to expect himself to. He was supportive, and he helped Charlie understand that he needed help, but "the power of love" wasn't some fix-all that could take care of everything.
Have I mentioned that I really love Nick's mom, by the way? She's great.
Anyway, I think I liked this volume the most out of all the ones in the series so far. It sounds like the next volume is the last. I'm interested in seeing how Oseman wraps this up.
Extras:
A bunch of "firsts" pages for Mr. Ajayi and Mr. Farouk (even though they're minor characters, I love that this adult couple gets to be adorable too), character profiles, Charlie and Tao's Instagram photos, a list of mental health resources, and an author's note.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
This volume spent quite a bit of time on Charlie's mental health - his anxiety and problems eating.
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Things get a lot worse for him before they get better, but I felt like the whole thing was dealt with in a sensitive way and put more of the focus on Charlie's efforts to get better. That said, although I've dealt with anxiety for years, I don't have any personal experience dealing with eating disorders. You can take my opinion with a grain of salt.If you've ever tried to help someone deal with mental illness or other issues, Nick's struggles will likely feel familiar. He desperately wanted to help Charlie but didn't know how. In this volume, part of his journey involved learning that he couldn't do and be everything for Charlie, and that it wasn't healthy to expect himself to. He was supportive, and he helped Charlie understand that he needed help, but "the power of love" wasn't some fix-all that could take care of everything.
Have I mentioned that I really love Nick's mom, by the way? She's great.
Anyway, I think I liked this volume the most out of all the ones in the series so far. It sounds like the next volume is the last. I'm interested in seeing how Oseman wraps this up.
Extras:
A bunch of "firsts" pages for Mr. Ajayi and Mr. Farouk (even though they're minor characters, I love that this adult couple gets to be adorable too), character profiles, Charlie and Tao's Instagram photos, a list of mental health resources, and an author's note.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
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LibraryThing member electrascaife
More adventures in the romance between Nick and Charlie. This volume delves into the issue of Charlie's eating disorder and brings up some excellent points about how loved ones can and can't help. Such an excellent series, this.
LibraryThing member Bodagirl
The story picked up some momentum and the scene after the beach trip was absolutely adorable!
LibraryThing member sublunarie
I do think Charlie's mental health journey is really well discussed and important. I am just selfish and just want to read these for the cuteness and happiness. But that's my own issues!!
LibraryThing member spinsterrevival
There was a lot of angst here, but I thought the author did an amazing job handling Charlie’s mental health and how Nick supported him. This was a lovely blend of love, family (Tori got to be badass), friends, and how it all worked together for Charlie and Nick. Everything about this volume was
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wonderful, and now I can’t wait for the next (and apparently last?) volume. Show Less
LibraryThing member Griffin_Reads
Reading through the series as a whole (at least all that is currently published) really shows a lot of character growth that I feel is needed. While the first few books in and of themselves are cute, having them all together really brings the series to a good place. While it leaves off with still
While the series as a whole is largely not targeted to gay men (in being written by a cis woman author and largely for a woman-based audience), it is still a really cute story.
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having more personal growth needed in the characters, it still has that cute feeling the first one does.While the series as a whole is largely not targeted to gay men (in being written by a cis woman author and largely for a woman-based audience), it is still a really cute story.
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LibraryThing member Danielle.Desrochers
Just when I think this can't get any better...my heart!!!
LibraryThing member BarnesBookshelf
I love Heartstopper so much. Now that the live action series is out, I had to read volume 4 as soon as possible. I can't wait for volume 5!
LibraryThing member reader1009
teen graphic fiction, series (4 of 5) september-march of Charlie's 11th year (Nick's 12th), autumn/fall, Christmas holiday and New Year's, spring. UK.
these two are still so cute together!Charlie wants to tell Nick he loves him; Nick helps Charlie tell his parents he needs help; Charlie ends up
these two are still so cute together!
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self-harming again and checks into a health center where he gets therapy and is diagnosed with anorexia/OCD. Nick comes out to his (largely absent) dad. Show Less
Awards
Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Winner — Teen — 2023)
British Book Award (Shortlist — 2022)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2024)
Excellence in Graphic Literature Award (Finalist — Young Adult Fiction — 2022)
ALA Rainbow Book List (Selection — 2022)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2021-02-04
Physical description
384 p.; 9.21 x 0.39 inches
ISBN
144495279X / 9781444952797