How does Netflix’s Heartstopper differ from the graphic novels?

Heartstopper has finally arrived at Netflix and based on the reviews so far, it’s quite a hit. It’s hard not to fall in love with Charlie and Nick’s love story and all the complicated and beautiful moments that come with it.

The show is based on the graphic novels of the same name by Alice Oseman. The author was also the writer, creator, and executive producer of the show. When the author is involved in the making of a show based on their own books, it’s likely they’ll make sure the best moments from the book make it to the screen.

And that was definitely true here. But the show also took some liberties and expanded on stories that aren’t as detailed in the books. The creators also left a few things out as well.

How the Heartstopper book and the show differ

The most surprising thing about this first season of Heartstopper was that it didn’t simply give us a recreation of the first book. It provided stories and moments from the second book as well. The moment where Nick comes out to his mom is definitely not in the first book.

The first book stops at the moment where Nick kisses Charlie for the first time at Harry’s party and then walks away. It makes for a great cliffhanger, but it would have likely made lots of the viewers very angry. I’ve read the books and even I would have been pissed.

We also get much more of Elle’s experience at her new school and more insight into Tara and Darcy’s relationship. It made the show about more than just Charlie and Nick. It was about the whole friend group.

The books also introduce us more to Nick’s friends. We get their names and they aren’t all the absolute worst to Charlie. We didn’t get that in the show, but with only 30-minute episodes and the amount of story the show did cover, that’s understandable.

The show also only gave us Charlie’s older sister, Tori. In the books, he also has a little brother, Oliver, who is totally enamored with Nick. I definitely missed those moments.

The books also showed a relationship between two teachers that kind of paralleled Charlie and Nick’s story. That was totally omitted from the show as well. But other than that, the series stayed very true to the books.

What did you think of the first season of Heartstopper? Have you read the books? Did you like what they changed? Let us know in the comments below!