Summary
A guide to all of author Alice Oseman's works
Alice Oseman is a titan in the Young Adult genre, from securing her first publishing deal at 19-years-old to creating one of the greatest teen shows of this generation. New fans may only be familiar with her graphic novel turned TV show, Heartstopper. However, they are missing out on some of the most authentic portrayals of the teenage experience in the current market.
Alice has released a variety of novels, novellas and graphic novels for readers to enjoy. However, if you are struggling to know where to start; here’s Braw’s guide to the Osemanverse.
Novels and Novellas
Alice has released four novels and two novellas. All are set within, what has been dubbed by fans, as the Osemanverse. Solitaire, Alice’s first novel, was released in 2014 (it was revised and re-released in 2020), followed by Radio Silence which was released in 2016, I was Born for This was released in 2018 and finally her latest novel, Loveless, released in 2020. This Winter and Nick & Charlie, two spin-off novellas, were initially released in 2015 but were re-released in 2020 with illustrations by Alice.
Her four novels are all standalone works. Although, they do feature iconic characters from her other works such as Heartstopper, Nick and Charlie both make their first appearance in Solitaire. While her novellas are spins off of Solitaire and Heartstopper, both can also be read as standalone stories.
Alice Oseman has revolutionised the YA genre. Readers are blessed with characters and stories they can engage with and relate to. Mental health, sexuality, identity and societal pressures all play key roles within her work. She doesn’t treat her readers as children with sanitised story-lines but as equals who are able to view themselves through the identities and experiences of the characters.
The diversity and representation present in all of her work is unmatched. As an asexual person, genuine representation is rare but three of Oseman’s novels have a main-character on the asexual spectrum, with her latest novel Loveless (my favourite of her novels) centring around an aro-ace protagonist as she comes to terms with her sexuality and comments on societal expectations of sex and relationships.
All of Oseman’s novels are simple yet enjoyable reads for fans of diverse representation, realistic portrayals of young people and brilliant characters which will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
Graphic Novels
Perhaps what Alice Oseman is best known for is her graphic novel series Heartstopper. It originated as a webcomic on Tumblr and Tapas in 2016 and currently has five published volumes with a sixth in production.
Heartstopper tells the story of Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, who originally appeared in Solitaire. It is described on Alice Oseman’s website as a “best-selling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love and everything that happens in between”. It focuses on Nick and Charlie’s relationship as they navigate the ups and downs of first love.
While it is a wholesome story of the blossoming relationship with Nick and Charlie it doesn’t shy away from more serious subject matters such as mental health and bullying, taking what initially appears as a simple love story and taking it to new heights.
Nick and Charlie are the central characters however, they are surrounded by an incredible supporting cast of characters who add so much flavour to the world of Heartstopper and the relationships which form between the characters are a highlight.
The art style is simplistic yet effective and has developed so much through the volumes. The improvement between the first and the latest volume is huge, with very character having a unique and distinct style and the visual elements (the iconic Heartstopper leaves for example) add so much to the reading experience.
Heartstopper is the perfect place to start for any new readers, its visual medium makes for a quick and easy read, while still providing an engaging narrative and likeable characters for you to become obsessed with. It is accessible and free to read online via Tumblr or Tapas.
The Osemanverse is a gold-mine for young adult content. As all of the novels are standalone, any one of them would be acceptable to start with, however, for the best introduction to Alice Oseman, her writing style and the common themes I would recommend beginning with the Heartstopper graphic novel.
But whatever you start with be prepared for excellent writing, beautiful artwork and a story that will leave you begging for more. Happy reading!
Featured Image Credit: Alice Oseman
