Being a show adapted from a graphic novel, Heartstopper sure has a lot of books in it. Each season of Alice Oseman’s Netflix adaptation sees fierce bookworm Isaac (Tobie Donovan) flaunting consistently excellent reading taste, and each character always has a bunch of noteworthy books on their shelves or in their backpacks.
In Season 3, there’s a bunch of awesome LGBTQ authors, stories, and histories in the Heartstopper characters’ reading piles, and some buzzy BookTok favourites. Corresponding with some of the storylines this season, Isaac’s handpicked library book recommendations are themed around mental health and eating disorders — many of which could make helpful reads for the characters but also the show’s viewers, and some of which provide the sex education deeply lacking in UK schools.
So, because Heartstopper offers up such an excellent reading list with authors including Maia Kobabe, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton, and more, I’ve pulled them all together for you, from Gender Queer to This Is How You Lose The Time War and The Ethical Slut. Add them to your reading list.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Credit: Oni Press
In episode 1, on the beach in Lyme Regis, Isaac is reading Maia Kobabe’s 2014 memoir Gender Queer. This autobiography saw the author, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, exploring ways to explain being non-binary and asexual to loved ones, but ultimately examining what gender fluidity means for ourselves. Isaac found his way to identifying with asexuality in Season 2 — reading Angela Chen’s book Ace to figure it all out — and he describes himself as such to Charlie (Joe Locke) in the scene, as well as being “probably aromantic, too.”
Meanwhile, Charlie is beside him, engrossed in 10 Things I Hate About Plato, the fictional book by his crush and favourite author, classicist Jack Maddox (Jonathan Bailey). You cannot buy this book, alas.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe is now available to buy via Oni Press on Amazon.
You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry
Credit: Penguin
In episode 2, Isaac is holding a copy Beach Read and Funny Story author Emily Henry’s 2024 holiday rom-com You and Me on Vacation (also titled The People You Meet On Vacation). An homage to When Harry Met Sally, it’s about best friends Alex and Poppy, who met at university and now take annual trips together filled with sexual tension through Vancouver, New Orleans, Tuscany, and Croatia. Isaac is reading this book when he receives his GSCE results, so it’s clear he deserves a holiday too.
You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry is now available to buy via Penguin on Amazon.
This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Credit: Arcadia
“I want to meet you in every place I ever loved.” In Isaac’s hands during school assembly in episode 3 is the exquisite 2019 novella by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, This How You Lose the Time War. The magnificent, time-travelling, sapphic love story of Red and Blue was one of the buzziest, BookTok-beloved books of 2023 for a reason.
Queer City by Peter Ackroyd
Credit: Penguin
Historian, novelist, and critic Peter Ackroyd’s 2017 chronicle of gay London history, from the ancient Romans to today, Queer City is sitting on Nick’s (Kit Connor) bedside table in episode 3. Having come out as bisexual in Season 2, Nick’s now learning up about queer history — and you should too.
Queer City by Peter Ackroyd is now available to buy via Penguin on Amazon.
It’s Not OK to Feel Blue (and other lies) by Scarlett Curtis
Credit: Penguin
A little perspective from plenty of recognisable names, writer and activist Scarlett Curtis‘ It’s Not OK to Feel Blue (and other lies) is sitting at the front of Isaac and James’ (James McEwan) library book display of “Mental Health Books recommended by us”. In the book, Curtis had over 70 big names reflect on their own stories about mental health including Candice Carty-Williams, Sam Smith, Naomi Campbell, Emma Thompson, James Blake, and more.
The Year I Didn’t Eat by Samuel Pollen
Credit: ZunTold
This season, Charlie’s experience with being diagnosed with anorexia is at the forefront of his narrative arc. Sitting at the front of Isaac and James’ book display in episode 3 is The Year I Didn’t Eat, Samuel Pollen’s 2019 novel drawn from the author’s own experiences, which follows a 14-year old boy called Max who’s in treatment for anorexia.
The Year I Didn’t Eat by Samuel Pollen is now available to buy via ZunTold on Amazon.
What Mental Illness Really Is… (and what it isn’t) by Lucy Foulkes
Credit: Vintage
Psychologist Lucy Foulkes’ 2022 book about demystifying mental illness and treatment is also on James and Isaac’s table. With a focus on teenagers’ experiences, this scientific book aims to answer a lot of questions, including the kind that come up in Heartstopper about mental health.
Your Mental Health by Chris Brady
Credit: Ebury Digital
Another on Isaac’s library book display is Chris Brady’s non-fiction book about understanding the symptoms and science of five mental health conditions. Your Mental Health: Understanding Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Eating Disorders and Self-Destructive Behaviour is sitting right beside Pollen’s book on the table. The book incorporates findings from UK mental health research charity MQ and health facility Enigma Wellness.
Your Mental Health by Chris Brady is now available to buy via Ebury Digital on Amazon.
Super Thinking by Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann
Credit: Portfolio
Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann’s 2019 book about problem solving and decision making is the next in Isaac and James’ library collection. The characters of Heartstopper could all use Super Thinking: The Big Book of Mental Models this season, with bigger and more important decisions ahead of them than ever.
Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy
Credit: Feiwel & Friends
Activist Jen Petro-Roy’s novel Good Enough is also on Isaac and James’ reading table, a drawn-from-life tale of eating disorder recovery. The book follows 12-year-old Riley through her own experience with anorexia, a story that mirrors Charlie’s this season. In a really sweet touch in Heartstopper, you can see Isaac holding this book in episode 8, the finale, as if he’s reading it to try and understand some part of his friend’s experience.
Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy is now available to buy via Feiwel & Friends on Amazon.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Credit: Bloomsbury
In episode 4, when Tao (William Gao) gets the crew to film messages for Charlie during his treatment, Isaac mentions he finished Madeline Miller’s mighty BookTok favourite The Song of Achilles on Charlie’s recommendation: “I know you said it was going to have a sad ending, but I wasn’t prepared and I cried for about four hours.”
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is now available to buy via Bloomsbury on Amazon.
Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson
Credit: Vintage
In episode 5, the Christmas episode, there’s a moment where we see Isaac having a lovely time snuggled in with a hot chocolate and British novelist Jeanette Winterson’s festive story collection, Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days. Themed reading!
Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson is now available to buy via Vintage on Amazon.
The Ethical Slut by Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton
Credit: Clarkson Potter / Ten Speed
In episode 7, when Charle, Tao, and Isaac are attending a truly lazy sex education class, Isaac is instead actually getting schooled by Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton’s The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Other Freedoms in Sex and Love. A guide to non-monogamy and polyamory, this 2017 book is a much better sex ed teacher than the cucumber-and-condom situation the students are faced with.
Inner Harmony by Jan De Vries
Credit: Mainstream Publishing
Another one on the book table, the work of naturopath Jan De Vries is recommended by James and Isaac. The 1999 book Inner Harmony: Achieving Physical, Mental and Emotional Well-Being is all about complementary medicine. But if you’re going to read this one, remember, please don’t just take homeopathic medicinal advice from books and implement it, ask your GP about it.
Inner Harmony by Jan De Vries is now available to by via Mainstream Publishing on Amazon.
Heartstopper Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don’t like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.
If you feel like you’d like to talk to someone about your eating behavior, in the U.S. you can call the National Eating Disorder Association’s helpline at 800-931-2237. You can also text “NEDA” to 741-741 to be connected with a trained volunteer at the Crisis Text Line or visit the nonprofit’s website for more information.
In the UK, you can contact Beat through webchat, email, or phone — England (0808 801 0677), Scotland (0808 801 0432), Wales (0808 801 0433) Northern Ireland (0808 801 0434). The helplines are open 3 p.m. to 8 p.m, Monday to Friday.
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