book

THIS WINTER

Name: THIS WINTER
Author: Alice Oseman

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Alice Oseman

Is THIS WINTER appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Siblings Tori, Charlie and Oliver deal with life challenges over the holiday season. (Ages 14 to 18)

Ages 14+Book 0.5 · SolitaireSource checked

Why this age? The prose is accessible for teens, but discussions of eating disorders, mental-health crisis, family conflict, and recovery may be emotionally intense for younger readers. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 14+

Strongest cautionsLGBTQIA characters 5/5 · Romance 3/5 · Frightening scenes 2/5

Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Kindness & empathy 4/5

Series positionBook 0.5 · Solitaire

Recommendation3.8/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: lgbtqia characters.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

The prose is accessible for teens, but discussions of eating disorders, mental-health crisis, family conflict, and recovery may be emotionally intense for younger readers. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: lgbtqia characters.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 14+Main watch-out: LGBTQIA characters 5/5

Recommendation 3.8/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial

Source checkedPublication method

14Scored categories

14Evidence notes

3Explicit 0/5 checks

Nov 2, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings work Report a rating or series issue

Review depth14 scored categories14 evidence notes

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At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

LGBTQIA characters5/5
Romance3/5
Frightening scenes2/5

Strongest positives

Courage & resilience4/5
Kindness & empathy4/5
Positive messages4/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 1 · SOLITAIREStrongest cautions: Strong language 3/5 · LGBTQIA characters 3/5Open next review →

Book 0.5 · THIS WINTERAges 14+
LGBTQIA characters5/5Romance3/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5
Starting point
Book 1 · SOLITAIREAges 15+
Frightening scenes3/5LGBTQIA characters3/5Romance3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Violence2/5Death of a character1/5Graphic injury1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
Gets more intense
Book 1.5 · NICK AND CHARLIEAges 14+
LGBTQIA characters5/5Romance5/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Frightening scenes1/5
Gets gentler

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

What’s in it?

Strong language2/5

Why this rating?

Very mild language consistent with teen conversational settings.

LGBTQIA characters5/5

Why this rating?

LGBTQIA characters and relationships are central to the story, with a sustained focus on Charlie’s gay identity, his relationship with Nick, and queer support.

Romance3/5

Why this rating?

Charlie and Nick’s romantic relationship is central, with affection, relationship worries, and kissing.

Frightening scenes2/5

Why this rating?

The intensity comes from internal emotional struggle rather than external scary elements.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Sexual content & nudity · 0/5Alcohol or drugs · 0/5Violence · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5

Why this rating?

Charlie shows great courage in dealing with his internal struggles and family dynamics.

Creativity & curiosity1/5

Why this rating?

Character-driven exploration of personal introspection.

Diverse representation3/5

Why this rating?

Includes LGBTQIA representation and handles diverse mental health experiences with care.

Educational value2/5

Why this rating?

Provides insight into living with mental health struggles and the importance of supportive siblings.

Kindness & empathy4/5

Why this rating?

Empathy, family care, friendship, and patient support are important parts of the story.

Positive messages4/5

Why this rating?

Strong messages support seeking help, respecting boundaries, accepting care, and treating mental-health struggles seriously.

Good role models3/5

Why this rating?

Characters demonstrate resilience and growth, though they are realistically flawed teenagers.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
How are identity and relationships presented, and how do they shape the characters’ experiences?
Which choice in THIS WINTER would you have made differently, and why?
Who changed the most in THIS WINTER, and what caused that change?

Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.