Nina F’s Reviews > Heartstopper: Volume Six > Status Update

Tao says to Charlie regarding their friend group: “…The exact relationships may change, and people may fall in and out of touch, I don’t know. Our lives will take different paths. But the web of love that connects us will never break. We built it. And it built us.”

In response to Charlie thinking of starting a Pride Club:

Mr. Farouk: “As your teacher, I’d say that you should respect his [the headmaster’s] decision. But- as a fellow homosexual, I’d say that us queers, historically, have never asked for permission to exist.”

Charlie: “I want to help you because we look after each other don’t we?”

Nick: “Yeah, we do.”

And then they kiss.

Nick’s mom reflects on Nick’s childhood when he tried to please his father. She points out that he was masking then and is doing the same thing now with Charlie. She emphasizes to Nick that Charlie does not want to experience Nick’s ideal version of himself, but instead all the many aspects of his mood and personality, even the so-called ugly parts.

Tori is correct that a big part of Nick’s current identity is that he is Charlie’s boyfriend. She also mentions that they are growing as people together and navigating through new life experiences with each other, which is why Nick and Charlie share an even stronger bond than an average couple.

I like how Charlie openly communicates with Nick here by saying that he also wants to support him the way Nick has for him. He can tell Nick is hiding his feelings and he points out the contradictions between Nick’s open words versus his guarded actions.