What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedIn a Heartbeat
Film · 2017
If you loved In a Heartbeat, start with The Dangers in My Heart (2023) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to In a Heartbeat across media.
What hooked you in In a Heartbeat was the tender, vulnerable way it captures the overwhelming courage of first love.
Books on the same thread
Heartstopper, Vol. 1
Alice Oseman · Book
Shares 2 threads with In a Heartbeat: LGBTQ+ romance, coming-of-age.
Like the protagonist of In a Heartbeat, Charlie and Nick navigate the nervous, electric tension of a first crush while dealing with the complexities of high school social dynamics.
Heartstopper, Vol. 3
Alice Oseman · Book
Shares a thread with In a Heartbeat: Coming out.
This continuation of the series mirrors the earnest self-discovery found in In a Heartbeat, focusing on the brave, transformative process of coming out to the person you love.
Spinning
Tillie Walden · Book · 2017
Shares a thread with In a Heartbeat: Coming Out.
Much like the internal struggle depicted in In a Heartbeat, this memoir explores the quiet, intense journey of identity and the vulnerability required to pursue a first love.
Heartstopper: Volume 4: a Graphic Novel
Alice Oseman · Book · 2021
Shares 2 threads with In a Heartbeat: LGBTQ+ Romance, Coming-of-age.
This graphic novel captures the same sweet, innocent spirit of In a Heartbeat, illustrating the delicate moment when friendship blossoms into a life-changing romantic connection between two boys.
Series on the same thread
Heartstopper
Alice Oseman · Series · 2022
Explores: First Love, Self-Discovery, High School.
Fans of the wordless, emotional storytelling in In a Heartbeat will appreciate how this series visually translates the quiet, unspoken discovery of mutual feelings between two young boys.
The Dangers in My Heart
Series · 2023
Explores: Unrequited Love, Hidden Feelings, Social Outcasts.
If you were drawn to the secret yearning in In a Heartbeat, you will recognize that same sense of hidden longing and social anxiety within these school-based romantic misunderstandings.
Steven Universe
Rebecca Sugar · Series · 2013
Explores: Friendship, Self-discovery, Redemption.
This animated series shares the heartfelt, coming-of-age sincerity of In a Heartbeat, focusing on the importance of self-acceptance and the personal growth that comes from deep, supportive connections.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Heart
Kaitlin Prest · Podcast · 2026
While different in format, this podcast explores the same raw, cinematic human experiences of love that made the wordless narrative of In a Heartbeat feel so profoundly intimate.
Dear LOVE
Podcast
Explores: relationships, affection, emotional connection.
These stories evoke the same heartwarming, fluttery feeling of a first crush that defined In a Heartbeat, focusing on the emotional connections that make our hearts race with excitement.
Common questions
Is In a Heartbeat a full-length feature film?
In a Heartbeat is a short film released in 2017. It depicts the story of a closeted boy whose heart pops out of his chest to pursue his crush. Due to its format, the runtime is brief, focusing entirely on this specific narrative arc.
What is the premise of In a Heartbeat?
In a Heartbeat follows a closeted boy who faces the risk of being outed. His own heart physically emerges from his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams, creating a conflict between his hidden feelings and his desire for connection.
Does In a Heartbeat involve the boy being outed?
In a Heartbeat centers on the risk of the protagonist being outed. The narrative tension is driven by his heart chasing after his crush, which threatens to reveal his secret feelings publicly. The film explores the anxiety and vulnerability associated with this situation.
How does the heart behave in In a Heartbeat?
In In a Heartbeat, the heart acts as an independent entity that physically pops out of the protagonist's chest. It functions as a literal manifestation of his emotions, actively pursuing the boy he dreams of despite the protagonist's attempts to hide his feelings.