Alice Oseman is a British author and illustrator who is recognized for her realistic and authentic approach to writing teenage perspectives. Oseman is also intentional about inclusivity and addressing issues like bullying and discrimination in her work. She was born in 1994 and published her first novel, Solitaire, when she was just 19 years old. Writing this novel while still so close to adolescence allowed Oseman to draw heavily on her own experiences navigating this life stage. The novel was published in 2014 and immediately stood out for its honest portrayal of teenage emotions—particularly protagonist Tori Spring’s struggles with social expectations and family dynamics. Tori’s jadedness reflects her confrontation with social norms and pressures that she refuses to conform to, and her direct, introspective narration is typical of Oseman’s insight into the adolescent condition. Oseman also integrates elements of contemporary youth culture, such as social media, blogging, music, and movies in the narrative, thus grounding it in the realities of early-21st-century adolescence.

As her first novel, Solitaire established Oseman as a major voice in young-adult literature and paved the way for her later works, such as Radio Silence and Heartstopper, which continue to explore the teenage experience. Heartstopper, a graphic novel and webcomic series, expands on the relationship between Charlie and Nick, secondary characters in Solitaire; the two are also the subject of the 2015 novella Nick and Charlie, as well as the Heartstopper television series that Oseman penned and developed. As compared to Solitaire, Heartstopper is relatively light in tone and focuses on providing LGBTQ+ teens with representation and an optimistic message about love and acceptance. Oseman herself is asexual and has discussed the lack of information regarding this orientation as a hurdle she faced in adolescence (Aroesti, Rachel. “Interview: No drugs, Booze, Sex or Swearing: Will Heartstopper Rewrite the Young Love Rulebook?” The Guardian, 18 Mar. 2022).