I think the comparison to Catcher in the Rye is appropriate, I would say this has a similar sort of approach to the main character and their view of the world, but is updated for a more contemporary setting and understanding of what teen lives are like in the digital age. Unfortunately, I hated Catcher in the Rye, so the aspects of it that were similar to this book are what made me enjoy the book less. I did like it overall, mostly because I love these characters from the Heartstopper comics. If it didn't have the connection to them, though, I think I would have had a much harder time enjoying this.