Nick and Charlie

A good short read. Nick and Charlie personally work better in comic format. Oseman is absolutely incredible with comic writing, but I always feel a little underwhelmed by her prose fiction. Not bad, but her comics are just a whole step up.

But saying that, this was a still nice read. The first volume of Heartstopper was super wholesome and cute. That deals with the feelings of first love and crush. And this novella packs the emotion and deals with an older Nick leaving for university and leaving poor Charlie behind in his A Levels.

It's relatable. I'm a gay british guy and have been in relationships where the move to university has an impact. And not always a good one. It's scary. You don't get to meet up as often. Things change. That summer before university can be exciting, yes, but also anxiety-inducing on relationships and how they change. I think Oseman did a good job of writing about that. Nick and Charlie aren't always the perfect relationship, but I think Oseman is good at showing realistic struggles, and also their commitment and love to each other. They might just be becoming my favourite fictional couple!