If you’re obsessed with the world of Alice Oseman's Heartstopper, you're not alone. Thousands of fans just can't get enough of Nick and Charlie's love story. Sweet, earnest, gentle, and fairly realistic for today's queer teens, the series has won our hearts and left us yearning for more. Luckily, the wait is almost over—season two of the hit Netflix adaptation debuts on August 3.
Beyond the show's avid following, Charlie and Nick have been charming readers and listeners for quite some time now. It all started in 2012 with British author Alice Oseman's debut novel, Solitaire. That book tells the story of Tori Spring, Charlie's older sister. Oseman and their readers fell in love with Charlie and Nick as secondary characters in Solitaire, and Oseman decided they had a story to share as well. They got their own novella, Nick & Charlie, in 2015. Then in 2016, they became the subject of Oseman's Heartstopper webcomic series, which was later published as a graphic novel of the same name. Four volumes of Nick and Charlie's love story, plus the adventures of their friends, are currently available, with a highly anticipated fifth volume expected out this November.
Oseman is able to connect so deeply with audiences thanks largely to how her stories tie in real-world issues, including queer identity and disordered eating, in an affirming and powerful way—explorations made even more meaningful because they don’t constitute the entirety of a character’s identity. No matter what her characters struggle with, Oseman underscores that they are still capable and deserving of finding love, a supportive group of friends, and a happy ending all their own. Heartstopper features a dynamic, diverse cast of queer characters among Charlie and Nick's friends and classmates, and listeners are welcomed as members of their found family.
All things considered, it’s no wonder Heartstopper has captured so many hearts. And as you wait for the next installment in Charlie and Nick's story, both on screen and on the graphic novel page, check out these listeners similar to Heartstopper, by authors like Alice Oseman, for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
If you love the characters Alice Oseman created in Heartstopper, don’t miss where it all began. Charlie first appeared as the younger brother of protagonist Tori Spring in Solitaire, a story about teens finding themselves and building meaningful friendships while facing heavy problems like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Tori has always struggled to be the kind of girl society wants her to be—happy, easygoing, surrounded by friends—and when she meets fellow outcast Michael, both of them are transformed by their unlikely friendship. Oseman was only 17 when she wrote the book and got a publishing deal, so Solitaire has an edge of genuine teen angst and desires. Tori's voice is brought to life beautifully by actor Jenny Walser (who also portrays Tori in the Netflix adaptation) in the new audio edition, released earlier this year, demonstrating that the story is as fresh and relevant to teens as it was nearly a decade ago when it was first published.
In Heartstopper, Charlie and Nick face the seemingly insurmountable problem of dating across high school social groups. You'll find that, alongside a classic fake-dating trope, in Adiba Jaigirdar's Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating. Hani is one of the most popular girls in school. Ishu is too intent on becoming head girl to focus on a social life. When Hani comes out as bisexual, her friends invalidate her announcement by saying she can't be bi if she's never dated a girl. In a moment of panic, Hani lies and says she's dating Ishu, a fabrication that none of her friends can question it because they wouldn't be caught dead talking to Ishu. When Ishu finds out about the lie, she agrees to keep it going—if Hani helps her move up the popularity ladder. Hear both Hani and Ishu's sides of the story through the spirited dual narration from performers Reena Dutt and Shubhangi Karmakar in the captivating listen.
Truham Grammar School's rugby team plays a big role in Nick and Charlie's love story in Heartstopper. Check out another sporty queer YA romance with Dahlia Adler's Home Field Advantage. Atherton High is thrown into chaos when their star quarterback is replaced by a girl—Jack, short for Jaclyn. Even worse, Jack is really, really good. Amber has been working toward becoming cheer captain for years, and it seems like the only way to secure her place is by helping the squad scare off Jack. But that proves hard when Amber realizes she's not just a fan of Jack's football skills—she's falling for her. Hear the story from both Jack and Amber's perspectives, voiced by Lori Prince and Audie winner Natalie Naudus. Home Field Advantage is a powerful testament for teens that queer love can survive all adversity, even if it means breaking a few rules for your happy ending.
Alice Oseman is among the most prolific queer YA writers today, but she’s in very, very good company. Iconic queer YA authors Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and Adam Silvera (They Both Die in the End) team up to tell the sweet love story of two teen boys over the course of a summer in New York in What If it's Us. Arthur's NYC summer marks the start of something new—an internship that he hopes will lead to a career on Broadway. Meanwhile, Ben is more focused on endings, primarily the end of his relationship with his ex-boyfriend, who he'll now have to see every day in summer school. A seriously adorable meet-cute makes Arthur and Ben both think the universe is pushing them together. But then, it seems fate intends to push them apart instead. The two authors worked in harmony to write this dual perspective novel, an experience heightened in audiobook thanks to the performances of Noah Galvin and Froy Gutierrez.
This young adult novel written in verse follows a queer British teen boy as he decides to live proudly and unapologetically. If authenticity and queer joy is what drew you to Heartstopper, then The Black Flamingo is the perfect choice for your next listen. Michael, a Jamaican and Greek-Cyprian teen coming of age in the UK, always struggled to feel like he fit in. But when he gets to college and performs in drag for the first time, he realizes he was born to stand out. This gorgeously written story celebrates uniqueness and the LGBTQ+ community, and the very best way to enjoy it is in author Dean Atta's own voice as he narrates his audiobook.
Longing for a gay version of Grease? Then, this YA rom-com is for you. Ollie and Will had a dreamy summer fling. When Ollie's parents move him across the country, the upside is that he's now a student at the same high school as Will. But this version of Will isn't the one Ollie knew. School Will is closeted, brash, and annoyingly rude. Ollie's summer love is long gone, and he refuses to get his heart stomped on by Will. But when Will starts appearing everywhere Ollie goes, how long can he keep his feelings at bay? It's a familiar story told in a fresh, vibrant way, and much like Heartstopper, it also comes with a full cast of quirky classmates. In the audiobook, narrator Mark Sanderlin balances all the snark and sweetness Only Mostly Devastated demands.
You'll find queer drama, comedy, a dynamic friend group, and teen romance aplenty—plus a bit of mystery—in Casey McQuiston's I Kissed Shara Wheeler. Chloe hates the small-minded Alabama town she moved to with her moms, and she especially hates her conservative private high school. She's determined to become valedictorian to prove she can succeed academically while breaking all their nonsense rules. One person stands in her way—gorgeous, smart, perfect Shara Wheeler. Everything turns upside down when Shara kisses Chloe one night and then goes missing. As the whole town looks for Shara, Chloe finds out she's not the only one Shara kissed that night. As Chloe follows an increasingly infuriatingly trail of notes left by Shara, her obsession with the mystery of Shara's disappearance grows untenable. Like Heartstopper, it's full of realistic teen problems, a great sense of humor, and heart. The audiobook shines thanks to Natalie Naudus's impeccable narration, which is rounded out by unique voices to suit each character's journey.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay told the endearing story of teenager Darius Kellner on his first trip to Iran as he discovers more about his family, his heritage, and himself. In the next installment, Darius the Great Deserves Better, our hero is on the right track, but he's got a lot more to learn about loving himself and reaching for his dreams. Darius has a boyfriend, a spot on the varsity soccer team, a dream internship at a tea shop, and strong relationships with his family. What more could he possibly want? A lot, actually—especially as it turns out all the things he wanted aren't quite what he expected. He's got to figure out what he truly deserves and how to be the truest version of Darius he can be. It's a sweet and moving story about authenticity, family, and young love, made even more captivating thanks to the the nuanced, measured performance of Michael Levi Harris.
Among its powerful qualities, Heartstopper shows how teens can face a variety of difficult challenges and still be deserving of love and a happy ending. That's also true of Sonora Reyes's The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School. Yamilet agreed to transfer to a new Catholic school way out of her comfort zone in order to keep an eye on her struggling brother. But she's got personal reasons for the change too. She came out to her best friend and crush at her old school, and it went terribly. Now she's determined to play it safe by staying in the closet, away from trouble. It's harder to do than she thinks, all the more so when she meets cute, smart, rule-breaking Bo, the only out queer kid at the school. Karla Serrato's narration of the audiobook makes Yamilet's story resonate even deeper, resulting in a listen that's completely unforgettable.
Sometimes, you just want to hear a story full of unadulterated queer joy, ringing out like one big, seven-hour pride parade. That's what you'll get in Camryn Garrett's Friday I'm in Love, narrated with heart and unbridled glee by Jade Wheeler. Mahalia missed her chance for a Sweet Sixteen birthday celebration because money was tight in her family. But afterwards, she realizes she can save up and throw her own coming out party instead. As she navigates her teen years, Mahalia is ready to celebrate herself, figure out what she wants, and make her dreams come true all on her own. It's an endearing and joyful story about a teen who learns you don't have to have everything figured out before you can love and rejoice in yourself.
There are few high school misfit stories quite as memorable as John Hughes’s classic film, The Breakfast Club. Julian Winters’s As You Walk On By captures the same magic, featuring similarly unexpected friendships and coming-of-age journeys. It all starts at a house party where Theo is dared to make a very public promposal to his crush in front of all his classmates. When it goes horribly wrong, Theo hides away in an empty bedroom. But one by one, classmates who seem to have it all together, much like Theo, join him in the room to find refuge. It turns out everyone is facing their own struggles, in need of meaningful friendships, and looking for their own authentic voices. If you love an ensemble cast and a tale of young queer people finding love against all odds, this audiobook narrated by André Santana is sure to hit you right in the feels.
This queer YA romance won’t just put a smile on your face—it will also make you want to throw on some cowboy boots and join in on a line dance. It's set at Wanda World, a fictional theme park in Tennessee celebrating country music legend Wanda Jean Stubbs. Emmett dreams of becoming the first gay country singing superstar, and a summer job performing at his idol's theme park is a dream come true. Meanwhile, Luke's job at a Wanda World restaurant was a last resort. His whole family hates country music, mostly because his grandmother was Wanda Jean's friend turned infamous rival. But when Luke meets Emmett, he learns there's a lot more to country music than meets the eye. A Little Bit Country is a down-home romance that will make you laugh and cry, and it shimmers all the more in audio thanks to the bighearted performances of Mark Sanderlin and Andrew Gibson.
Susie Dumond is the author of Queerly Beloved and a senior contributor at Book Riot.
