Much like Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, the two queer teenage boys whose love story took audiences by storm in the hit comic-turned-Netflix television series Heartstopper, their creator, Alice Oseman, is nearing the end of a journey.
The English author, who uses she/they pronouns, first published Solitaire, a graphic novel that introduced the fictional couple to the world over a decade ago, when she was just 19 years old. They never imagined that Heartstopper, a self-published spinoff webcomic centering Nick and Charlie’s love story, would blossom into one of the most beloved and impactful queer teen love franchises in existence. Across three seasons of the television show and six installations of the comic series, fans have watched the pair and their friends navigate sexuality, coming out, mental health, and body image throughout high school. Viewers of the Netflix adaptation watched the sparks literally fly between Charlie (played by Joe Locke) and Nick (played by Kit Connor), and felt all of the teenage yearning along with them.
'Heartstopper' creator Alice OsemanPetros/@petrosstudio
That’s why it’s even more difficult to fathom that this summer Nick and Charlie’s journey, along with the Heartstopper chapter of Oseman’s life, will be coming to a close. Just four months ago, the now 31-year-old writer and illustrator completed the sixth and final installation of the graphic novel series, which will hit bookstores July 7. They felt the bittersweet conclusion as a resistance throughout their body.
“I felt like I’d kind of gone into a cave, and shut out the rest of the world while I was working on it,” she says. “It felt like my whole body didn’t want me to finish it. I kept getting random aches and pains, and I kept getting sick. Everything was trying to be like, ‘No, don’t let it end, I don’t want it to end,’ but it was a really fun, exciting experience finishing the comic.”
“It just felt like every page that I was drawing was so special, because this is the last time I’m gonna get to draw this,” Oseman continues. “I really wanted to make the most of every single moment.”
Not only is it the end of Oseman’s time crafting the graphic novel series; it also means closing out her work as a screenwriter for the Heartstopper television series. The past two years have been an absolute whirlwind for Oseman and the Heartstopper crew. Filming for Heartstopper Forever, the forthcoming feature-length Netflix film closing out the award-winning adaptation, officially wrapped in July 2025. The movie, out on Netflix July 17, will follow the couple as they navigate long-distance through Nick’s move to college, as well as series regulars and fan favorites such as Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney), Tao Xu (William Gao), Tara Jones (Corinna Brown), and Darcy Olsson (Kizzy Edgell) in their transition to late adolescence.
Kit Connor and Joe Locke as Nick and Charlie in Netflix’s 'Heartstopper' series.Netflix
The beginning of the Heartstopper TV series was easy days, focusing on simpler themes like first crushes and puppy love, aimed at resonating with a younger teenage audience. Scenes showed Charlie and his group of friends deal with bullying, coursework, and figuring out whether Nick was straight or not. But just as Charlie and Nick have grown up throughout the series, so have the viewers who relate the most to their story. Even lead actors Locke and Conner are making the jump into more adult roles, respectively starring in Marvel’s Disney+ series Agatha All Along and the 2025 film Warfare. That’s why the later seasons of Heartstopper have grappled with increasingly mature themes, from experiencing a homophobic household to supporting a loved one with an eating disorder. According to Oseman, Heartstopper Forever will continue to deal with more complex ideas, especially ones that emerge when you’re going from teenage life to adulthood.
“I think the viewers are ready for it, and I think the viewers want to see that from Heartstopper,” they say.
In many ways, Oseman grew up with Nick, Charlie, and the young people who see themselves in the characters. For years, she juggled simultaneously writing and illustrating the comic series, all while adapting it for the television show. She says this creative process forced her to learn how to work with a team and advocate for herself.
“When I started Heartstopper, I’d always worked completely on my own,” they say. “I’d been an author of young adult fiction, and that’s something you do entirely by yourself, and I really had no experience of how to work in a team, how to collaborate with people. I’ve learned so many different things from that experience over the years, whether that’s just how to creatively collaborate with people, but also how to stand up for my own ideas and how to use my voice confidently.”
The cover of 'Heartstopper: Volume 6,' the final chapter of the beloved queer series.Scholastic
Over the years, Oseman has had to put that new, bolder voice to good use. Heartstopper’s resounding, positive impact on queer youth has also made it the target of conservative lawmakers across the globe who are keen on suppressing queer and trans media representation, especially the kind geared towards kids. In the United States, the graphic novel series has been attacked by the right in sweeping book bans and lists of material to censor.
“It is distressing that even as Heartstopper has gone on, LGBT rights are being challenged more and more every day. At least that’s what it feels like,” she says. “I don’t have the answers, except let’s keep fighting, and let’s keep making art that helps people, and that’s really valuable. I just have to turn to the readers and keep giving them these things.”
Beyond fighting the good fight, Oseman doesn’t know what’s next for them creatively. After spending years locked in on Heartstopper, they’re just now coming up for air. At the moment, they’re making Pride plans — though they tend to be a self-proclaimed workaholic, they might check out the local festival in the small English town they call home — and reflecting on Heartstopper’s impact.
“Heartstopper has had such a huge reach, beyond anything I ever expected,” Oseman says. “I feel very grateful to have been able to make this thing and really happy that it could spread so much joy and help so many people.”
This article is part of OUT’s July-Aug 2026 print issue, on newsstands July 7. Support queer media and subscribe — or download the issue now through Apple News+, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader.
Hunter Doohan on the cover Out's July/August 2026 print issue
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