Love Simon: Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Creekwood #1

by Becky Albertalli

The beloved, award-winning novel will soon be a major motion picture starring 13 Reasons Why's Katherine Langford and Everything, Everything's Nick Robinson.

'Worthy of Fault in Our Stars-level obsession.' Entertainment Weekly

'I love you, SIMON. I LOVE YOU! And I love this fresh, funny, live-out-loud book." Jennifer Niven, bestselling author of All the Bright Places

Straight people should have to come out too. And the more awkward it is, the better.
Simon Spier is sixteen and trying to work out who he is - and what he's looking for.

But when one of his emails to the very distracting Blue falls into the wrong hands, things get all kinds of complicated.

Because, for Simon, falling for Blue is a big deal . . .
It's a holy freaking huge awesome deal.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Fiction, Queer, Audiobook

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

Becky Albertalli is the author of the acclaimed novels Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (film: Love, Simon), The Upside of Unrequited, and Leah on the Offbeat. She is also the co-author of What If It's Us with Adam Silvera. A former clinical psychologist who specialized in working with children and teens, Becky lives with her family in Atlanta. You can visit her online at www.beckyalbertalli.com.
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(Photography by Decisive Moment Events)

Reviews

[Elle (ellexamines on TT & Substack) · Rating 5 out of 5]

in honor of me seeing the movie early and then seeing it again on a cheesy movie date: THE BEST MOMENTS OF THIS BOOK, NEW AND IMPROVED!!

🌷Simon putting Martin in his phone as “monkey’s asshole”
🌹I can’t believe “mom, pick me up, kids are drinking alcohol” isn’t in the book
🌷the Drarry fanfiction summer
🌹“there are some socks that shouldn’t be washed by your mom”
🌷the suck and dick nice weather typo, and Blue subsequently bringing it up, like, eight times
🌹the unfortunately correct representation of what high school theater is like. thoughts and prayers appreciated
🌷 “What’s a dementor?” she asks.
I mean, I can’t even. “Nora, you are no longer my sister.”
“So it’s some Harry Potter thing.”
🌹the entire chapter where Simon drinks a beer
🌷 "I take a sip of my beer, and it’s - I mean, it’s just astonishingly disgusting. I don’t think I was expecting it to taste like ice cream, but holy fucking hell. People lie and get fake IDs and sneak into bars, and for this? I honestly think I’d rather make out with Bieber. The dog. Or Justin.
Anyway, it really makes you worry about all the hype surrounding sex."
🌹thanks Simon this is the best quote I’ve read in my damn life
🌷 Simon going on a rant about all the different places they came from and how they all got here and Abby replying with “slavery, in my case”
🌹I still think Abby and Leah should have ended up together, especially after that one line about how they really were just "trying to impress each other"? why was that there if they‘re both Really Straight? [WOW im right about everything]
🌷I cant believe the post-presidency Barack Obama joke wasn’t in the book because that was fucking awesome
🌹all of Simon’s email titles. especially Reese’s are better than sex
🌷“Maybe you should stop having heterosexual sex”
🌹Blue being an asshole and attaching a picture of a Reese’s to an email
🌷“Partying harder than Blue’s mom since 2014”
🌹 Wednesday is gender bender day, which basically amounts to Southern straight people cross dressing.
🌷Simon thinking Blue dressing up like a cheerleader is cute, one chapter after they sarcastically intone the concept of ogling cheerleaders.
🌹 I am literally not joking, that actually happens in this book and it took me FOUR REREADS to notice it. that is the most next-level foreshadowing I have ever seen in my whole fucking life
🌷Leah dressing extra-feminine to protest gender bender day
🌹 “being secure in your masculinity isn’t the same as being straight” –somebody finally fucking said it!!
🌷Leah’s birthday haiku for Simon
🌹“le fuck”
🌷When Blue calls Simon cute and grammatical and Simon calls him that back. wow I love love
🌹 “...or we could do things other than talking. I mean, I’m just saying” –Simon being a smooth bitch
🌷did we all just forget that Simon ran a tumblr called Passion Pit OBSESSION
🌹the part where Simon and Blue touch hands oh my god !!!!!
🌷 “I’m glad you find me distracting. It wouldn’t be fair otherwise” –Blue being a smooth bitch
🌹Simon stealing Leah’s cut your eyes to the side strategy and using it on Martin
🌷Simon giving into the Martin thing and immediately internal monologuing “I hate myself. I hate myself” is the most relatable content
🌹Abby replying to Martin hitting on her with “I do like waffles. that’s why I got them”
🌷hashtag roasted
🌹Blue’s dad getting him a book by Casanova
the fact that Blue says “as you would say, freaking Casanova” and Simon immediately replies with “FREAKING CASANOVA” that’s so pure
🌷Blue being turned on by Simon’s sentence fragments
🌹 “who are all these cute guys that make you so nervous? you better not love THEIR sentence fragments”
🌷THE FACT THAT WE’VE ALREADY SEEN BRAM FREEZE UP AROUND SIMON IN REAL LIFE AAAAAAAH
🌹Martin singing at the Waffle House
🌷How sweet and soft Abby is after Simon comes out she freaking,, has him pull over and is so nice
🌹Everything Abby does in this whole book?
🌷 “she didn’t seem to believe me when I told her I’m not sexually active, so I guess that’s flattering”
🌹Simon calling his future inlaws “Ms. Every Time Including Oral and Mr. Let’s Read About Freaking Casanova”
🌷all the conversations about letting the walls down in this book are so freaking relatable. it really does feel like there’s no going back once you tell one person and I’m so impressed that Becky Albertalli managed to get that down.
🌹THE ENTIRETY OF PAGE 129
🌷a sophomore snuck into the chem lab and got his junk stuck in a beaker?
🌹Taylor getting more characterization than basic mean girl !! [make her Leah's love interest in Leah on the Offbeat. I beg and pray]
🌷Blue slipping a joke about how good Simon is at distracting him into his Upset Monologue
🌹 “It’s like he’s our age telling his parents he knocked someone up. Which is totally the straight person equivalent of coming out” –Simon being a freaking savage
🌷I don’t know about you but I can’t read the why is straight the default paragraph without thinking about OH GOD HELP ME JESUS from the movie
🌹and Blue replying with “the Homosexual Agenda” I’m freaking crying
🌷“You have me curious. Banana? Hot dog? Cucumber?” –a real thing Simon actually typed and sent
🌹“More like a giant baguette” –a real thing Blue actually typed and sent
🌷“I love your giant baguette” –a real thing Simon actually typed and sent
🌹Simon calling Blue “my Jewish-Episcopalian email boyfriend” in his internal monologue
🌷the fact that Nick likes to talk about social media as a vehicle for constructing and performing identity... a mess
🌹“Whatever the hell that means” —Simon
🌷 “Who would post something like that?” “Someone who doesn’t know that “anal buttsex” is redundant”
🌹“I’m pregnant”
🌷the fucking smiley face on page 171
🌹Simon calling Target “an office supply Justice League”
🌷 “one girl even confirms that Jesus still loves me”
🌹HERE IT IS GUYS. THE MOST ICONIC AND RELATABLE LINE FROM THIS WHOLE BOOK:

I’m just so sick of straight people who can’t get their shit together

🌷the fact that Simon says this about Bram, the most heterosexual of straights, the straightest, just call him Straighty McHetero
🌹AUDITIONS !! SIMON CALLING BRAM CUTE !! WOW IF PAGE 195 AINT A PAGE
🌷also Simon’s entire arc means the fucking world to me and I am so proud of him
🌹why does Simon get drunk so much in this book
🌷the Elliot Smith shirt !!
🌹Simon trying to crank Sufjan Stevens and it going about as well as you could expect
🌷the NOTE IN THE SHIRT
🌹ALL OF THE FERRIS WHEEL SCENE. PAGE TWO SIXTY SIX TO TWO SIXTY EIGHT IN THE US HARDCOVER EDITION WOW LOVE IS REAL 👏👏👏
🌷 “Bram’s gone too. how strange :)” —Abby being a savage
🌹“you’re THE cute guy” —BRAM BEING THE MOST ROMANTIC
🌷SHOUT OUT OUR ANNIVERSARY EVERY WEEK
🌹Bram’s dad using Casanova being bisexual as a reply to him coming out
🌷the fact that a 2015 bestselling YA novel used the word bisexual twice and it’s 2018 and I still feel like I have to recognize that
🌹the “happy two day anniversary!!!!!!!!!” text
🌷“don’t you dare cry” “what? no way” *has a full breakdown*
🌹WHY WOULD I WANT TO WATCH OTHER PEOPLE KISSING
🌷WHEN I COULD BE KISSING YOU

aaaaaaanddddddd most importantly
🌹in case you wanted one, here is a catalogue of every time They interact within this story and it is valid

that’s all, folks, thank you for coming to my Ted Talk !! please read this book it’s eight levels of purity, cleansed my soul, and made me into the lesbian I am today. also I technically read most of it from 4 am to 6 am on Jan 18 because priorities, and if that's not an endorsement, what is?

→ elise nitpicks her faves ←
Nick is lowkey there for added heterosexual romance drama, there is a reference to coming out being easier for gay girls that I think is an oversimplification, and that is literally it. I do my best to criticize things but my guy sometimes you just gotta accept masterpieces for what they are

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[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh okay, you I-told-you-so people. You were right. This book is so much fun that I baked cookies and listened to unfortunate nineties pop music.

No, really.

And I seriously didn't want to read this. I mean, why would I? I don't particularly like cutesy romances, LGBT or not. The cover is kinda sucky and not attractive. The title is an inside joke that only makes sense after reading the book. And, let's be honest, it's always easier to convince me to read books with phrases like "mind-bending twist", "dark secrets" and "twisted characters". The word "cute" doesn't draw me in.

But I finally took a chance on it and I concede - this book is wonderful. Just so so entertaining from start to finish. I actually snorted aloud (like the sexy beast I am) at some of the hilarious scenes between Simon and his friends. Simon is that perfect mix of delightfully weird and totally normal - he makes us laugh and roll our eyes, but we secretly recognize many of the things he thinks.

I giggled so much at scenes like this:

I take a sip of my beer, and it’s - I mean, it’s just astonishingly disgusting. I don’t think I was expecting it to taste like ice cream, but holy fucking hell. People lie and get fake IDs and sneak into bars, and for this? I honestly think I’d rather make out with Bieber. The dog. Or Justin.
Anyway, it really makes you worry about all the hype surrounding sex.

A few minutes later...

“Simon, how much did you drink?” asks Leah. I’m twisting the ends of her hair. Leah’s hair is so pretty, and it smells exactly like French toast. Except that’s Abby. Leah smells like almonds.
“One beer.” One most excellent, most delicious beer.
“One beer. I can’t even begin to express how ridiculous you are.”

I know this sounds extremely lame - but this book genuinely made me happy. It doesn't hesitate to portray the reality of homophobia in a high school in the South, but it's ultimately such an uplifting story about friendship, family and the sweetest romance I may ever have read.

You can read hundreds, perhaps thousands, of books about the difficulties of dealing with your sexuality and coming out - like the dark and powerful More Happy Than Not - and these are very important, but it was so refreshing to see a warm, fuzzy gay romance where the protagonist is supported by his friends and family.

Very funny and heart-warming.

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[chai ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is the most homely experience in the world. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was one of the early LGBTQ+ books that I've read. I was sixteen-years-old, three years removed from recognizing and embracing my own queerness, but I will forever associate this story with the genuine and inexplicable feeling of connection, the comfort of realizing the world stretches far longer than I'd imagined, and the first unfurling of something akin to freedom. This novel will always hold a soft spot in my heart.

[Jesse (JesseTheReader)]

This was a great read! Simon is a hilarious character and I loved reading through his perspective. I also liked that the story didn't just end right after the climax and how we got to see what happened past the big moment of the story.

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DO NOT KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS BOOK. AT ALL.

And the fact that I am the last person in the mapped universe to have read it is not helping me define my emotions.

https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...

In fact, it is actually only informing me that my feelings should be “THIS BOOK IS AMAZING IT IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER READ IN MY LIFE IT’S ADORABLE AND LIFE-CHANGING AND I AM GOING TO GIVE IT FIVE STARS AND BLUSH CUTELY WITH HAPPINESS WHENEVER MY MIND BLESSEDLY DRIFTS TO IT.”

And my feelings are definitively not that.

But they are also not, “This book made me feel nothing. I am emotionless. I am the void. I hated this book as I hate sunlight and flowers and the smell of cookies baking on an autumn day and anything capable of producing joy. Joy in others that is, because, as mentioned, I am fully immune to happiness.”

Closer to the second one, probably, but that’s because there’s something wrong with me.

I guess my feelings are that...this book is…(picture me literally gulping like a cartoon character, which is not something that people do in real life but people in books do all the time)...um...overrated?

I am prepared to be pelted with spitballs and rotten tomatoes and framed photos of Becky Albertalli’s face.

Here is what this book is, to me:
-occasionally fun
-quick to read
-decent
-impressively diverse

Here is what it is not, to me:
-life-changing
-equal in terms of magic-ness to a rainbow or a child laughing for the first time
-better than cookies (and how dare anyone even think it)
-worthy of even four stars

I liked the first half of this book. I liked it a lot, in fact. But the thing about (most of) the second half of this book is that it is literally the same as the first half, and that repetition is no fun whatsoever.

Also, I found the reveal of the crush-character to be really predictable.

Also, I found a lot of it to be brutally unrealistic. To the point of nonsense. (A good person doesn’t blackmail other people, and thus if you want to make a character blackmail another character, please don’t try to make the point of the conclusion be that long-term blackmail about someone’s sexual orientation including threats and, later, a brutal outing of someone can be something that a misunderstood but friendly loner does by mistake. That’s ridiculous and also f*cked up.)

Also, some of the characters are SO UNLIKABLE. (If Leah got hit by a car in front of me I’d hesitate before I called 911.)

Buuuut...it is really diverse, you guys. And like, pretty effortlessly diverse. And it’s not a long read, or a boring one. Is it annoying sometimes? Yes, it really is. And I have a lot of problems with it. AND IT’S NOT AS MAGNIFICENT AS EVERYONE SAYS IT IS.

But God, it’s so much better than The Upside of Unrequited.

Bottom line: Honestly whatever. That’s all I have to say. (I claim as if I didn’t just write a page and a half of opinions before it.)

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blog post

i wrote about why this book's movie adaptation is better (plz don't revoke my bookworm status) https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...

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currently-reading updates

i figured it was about time i give this book a try, so i sat down to read a few pages and SUDDENLY I'M A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH IT.

HOW IS THIS THE SAME AUTHOR AS ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR.

IS THIS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

WILL THERE EVER BE ANY RHYME OR REASON IN THIS MESSED UP UNIVERSE.

stay tuned to find out the answers to none of these questions because i have no goddamn clue

[Hailey (Hailey in Bookland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. Video review to come.

[Kai Spellmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

“White shouldn't be the default any more than straight should be the default. There shouldn't even be a default.”

The first time around, I liked this book. It was cute, it was fun, most of all it was real. I liked the story and the characters, but I didn't connect with them. For me, it was a nice book, but not an outstanding one and I really didn't get the hype about it. I had also figured out who Blue was after less than half of the novel, which kind of took the excitement away from reading it.
The second time around, I also liked this book. It was still fun and cute and real, but now (for some weird reason) more relatable. Emotionally, I was more invested than before, though. Most of all I connected with Leah. I have felt the hurt and anger that she has felt. I've been through it all.

Overall I must say that Becky Albertalli definitely knows her way around teenagers and their feelings. She understands what is going on in our/their minds - I'm technically not a teenager anymore - which is why this book is so perfect in that way. And why it's so popular.

I can't put my finger on why I won't give four stars. Maybe it's the writing? It is perfectly adequate for a high school novel, but I'm a sucker for a beautiful style. Maybe it's also that at this point I've read so many amazing queer stories that this one pales a bit in comparison. It sure made queer YA a lot more popular than it was before and I appreciate that. I like Simon vs. but I don't love it and I'd have to say the same about the film. I've yet to watch the show but annoyingly, Hulu isn't available in my country.

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[Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so damn cute and extremely sweet and incredibly adorable! XD

It tasted like a hot cup of coffee in early spring,
it felt like warm summer rain caressing your skin,
it was as beautiful as a colourful sunrise in September and
it smelled like a clear night sky in the middle of a cold winter night.

In short: It gave me all those awesome fluffy, cozy and happy feels!! ! =)))

I loved everything about “Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda”! From the bands and the music that was mentioned throughout the entire book right up to the "Harry Potter" and "Fruits Basket" references. And OMG Simon’s and Blue’s mails!!! Gosh they were so damn cute, they were argh! I can’t even say how much I loved those two!!! This book was just marvellous and as a Fangirl I really felt like I finally arrived in seventh heaven! *lol*

”I have to admit I like to imagine you as a kid fantasizing about junk food. I also like to imagine you now fantasizing about sex. I can’t believe I just wrote that. I can’t believe I’m hitting send.

I began to read this book and at some point realised that I couldn’t stop anymore. The mystery about Blue’s true identity pushed me to read on and even though I had my suspicions I still found great pleasure in collecting the hints and trying to make some assumptions. XD
I’ve to admit that this book got me hooked and I’m not ashamed to confess that I actually loved every second of it! ;-P

“Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn't be this big awkward thing whether you're straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I'm just saying.”

So yeah, now that I got this off my chest, I finally should be able to write my actual review!

The Plot:

Simon is sixteen years old and has a huge secret. He’s gay and he’s flirting with a guy who calls himself Blue and is more than just adorable. Well, that’s Simon’s opinion and I’ve to confess that I agree! He’s really damn cute! XD Anyway, Simon has never met Blue in real life and all they have ever done was to write very personal e-mails, personal e-mails that unfortunately end up in the wrong hands. Martin, a classmate of Simon accidentally stumbles upon them and since he has a huge crush on one of Simon’s friends, he decides to use them as leverage to force Simon to help him. Martin wants a date with Abby and if Simon doesn’t assist him, he’s going to out him to the whole world. What a mess!!! XD

The Characters:

Spoiler alert! You may stop here or continue to read at your own risk! ;-)

Simon:

”So here’s the thing: Simon means ‘the one who hears’ and Spier means ‘the one who watches.” Which means I was basically destined to be nosy.

I loved, loved, loved and adored Simon!!! Gosh that boy is such a precious cutiepie!!! He’s funny and he’s refreshingly honest (well except of his little secret of course)! I could understand him so well and I think in some way I found myself in him. I mean Simon and I have a lot in common and I guess that’s probably the reason why I liked him so much! XD I hated that other people made him feel so insecure and I could understand his wish to get to know Blue in real life! Jeez! I was at the same point when I got to know my husband and it was so damn easy for me to relate to Simon’s struggle! =) Still, no matter what happened to him, he always stood his ground and I truly loved him for it!! Simon is so brave and I swear when he told Martin his opinion about his post on Tumblr I was all like: YEAH! Damn right, tell him what he did!!! XD

“And you know what? You don’t get to say it’s not a big thing. This is a big fucking thing, okay? This was supposed to be – this is mine. I’m supposed to decide when and where and who knows and how I want to say it.” Suddenly, my throat gets thick. “So, yeah, you took that away from me. And then you brought Blue into it? Seriously? You fucking suck, Martin. I mean, I don’t even want to look at you.”

Still, it hurt to know that Blue was too shy to show himself and the fact Simon was so down made me sad as well! Gosh! I think Simon actually is the most relatable character I ever had the pleasure to encounter. *lol* Everything he thought and did affected me so deeply! XD
And I swear the moment Blue found out about Simon’s identity just took my breath away!!!

”Jacques a dit. Right?

I was all like OH. MY. GOD!!!! It was kind of unfair though. I mean Blue obviously knew who Simon was, but Simon actually had no clue who Blue might be! XD What made it even worse, was that he didn’t even know if his feelings were reciprocated, because they actually stopped to write mails right after Simon’s identity was revealed! Oh my poor Simon! It was so painful to read!!! =(((

”Obviously, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing here, but what I’m trying to say is that I like you. I more than like you. When I flirt with you, it’s not a joke, and when I say I want to know you, it’s not just because I’m curious. I’m not going to pretend I know how this ends, and I don’t have a freaking clue if it’s possible to fall in love over email. But I would really like to meet you, Blue. I want to try this. And I can’t imagine a scenario where I won’t want to kiss your face off as soon as I see you.
Just wanted to make that perfectly clear.”

This scene resonated so much with me! I actually once wrote a pretty similar mail as well! *lol*

Blue:

”I completely understand what you mean about feeling locked into yourself. For me, I don’t even think it has anything to do with other people thinking they know me. It’s more that I want to leap in and say certain things and do certain things, but I always seem to hold myself back. I think a big part of me is afraid.”

Oh Blue, he was so insecure and shy and somehow this only made him even more adorable! There were moments when he was so brave and then all of a sudden he was too intimidated by Simon’s mails to even give him his number. XD Blue had his own struggles to deal with and just too see how much those two tried to support each other and the way they fell in love. OMG! It was just too much! *lol* I loved so many things about Blue. His correct grammar, the way he expressed himself and the words he used! It was obvious he was a smart kid and *lol* I guess deep down within me I already knew who was behind his nickname! ;-P I needed to read it though! *LOL*

”And I do think you’re cute. You’re absurdly cute. I think I spend a little too much time thinking how adorable you are in emails and trying to translate that into a viable mental image for daydreams and the like.

“And the like…” Haha oh boy did that one sentence mess with Simon’s head! Truth be told, I wouldn’t have reacted any different, though. See, once again a moment where I could relate to Simon’s POV!!! XD

”P.S. I love the way you smile like you don’t realize you’re doing it. I love your perpetual bed head. I love the way you hold eye contact a moment longer than you need to. And I love your moon-gray eyes. So if you think I’m not attracted to you, Simon, you’re crazy.”

Awww… just Aww! I melted when I read that note and to think Simon found it so late and didn’t even know it was there!! Holy moly! It killed me! *lol*

Martin:

I didn’t like him! Yes, I know he apologised in the end but damn what he did was just soo freaking mean and horrible! I mean he outed Simon on Christmas!! Who would ever do such a thing? My poor Simon had to deal with all this on a day that’s supposed to be one of the nicest of the entire year!! And this just because a stupid oaf called Martin had a crush on his friend Abby and couldn’t accept that she wasn’t interested in him!! I mean! ARGH!! That boy didn’t even think twice about the consequences his actions would entail! And yesh, there were plenty of consequences for poor Simon!!!

Simon’s friends:

”But I’ve known Leah since sixth grade, and Nick since we were four. And this gay thing. It feels so big. It’s almost insurmountable. I don’t know how to tell them something like this and still come out of it feeling like Simon. Because if Leah and Nick don’t recognize me, I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”

They were amazing! Sure, sometimes I was angry with them because they didn’t understand Simon’s situation and thought everything was about them. I mean I understand why Abby was pissed but seriously, what was Simon supposed to do? He couldn’t really tell her that he was blackmailed by Martin and in the end nothing of what Simon did actually had any consequences for her. She chose Nick and Martin as well as Leah had to accept it. Period. And Leah? I know she felt left out, but it wasn’t like Simon could have done anything to stop Nick and Abby falling in love! *lol* I mean alone the thought is kind of ridiculous! XD
Still, no matter their feelings, they always stood up for Simon and I think that’s the important thing! You quarrel with your friends because you love them and when it comes down to it they’re always there for you! ;-)

“Did you just tell us you're gay?" asks Nick.
"Yes."
"Okay," he says. Abby swats him. "What?"
"That's all you're going to say? ‘Okay’?"
"He said not to make a big deal out of it," Nick says. "What am I supposed to say?"
"Say something supportive. I don't know. Or awkwardly hold his hand like I did. Anything."
Nick and I look at each other.
"I'm not holding your hand," I tell him, smiling a little.
"All right" - he nods - "but know that I would.”

Simon’s family:

”My dad invented the concept of Simon logic, and I can’t seem to outgrow it. It means whishful thinking supported by flimsy evidence.”

I loved how they interacted with each other! They were so open and amazing and I had to laugh about their strange family habits. I mean alone the idea of scavenger hunting on Facebook! That was hilarious! *lol* To be a guest in their house certainly would have been funny as hell!! XD And the way Simon outed himself to his family? Haha it was priceless!!! Sure his father made many jokes but in the end he still loved his son and he felt sorry for being so oblivious and careless! =)) Alice and Nora were darlings and I guess to have two sisters like that is actually more than just a blessing!

”Well, I’m just going to put this out there, in case the message got lost somewhere. I love you. A lot. No matter what. And I know it’s got to be awesome having the cool dad.”
“Ahem,” says my mom.
“Excuse me. The cool parents. The hardcore, badass, hipster parents.”
“Oh, it’s awesome,” I say.
“But rein us in if you need to, okay? Rein me in,” he says. He rubs his chin. “I know I didn’t make it easy for you to come out. We’re very proud of you. You’re pretty brave, kid.”

And the ending?!
It was perfect!!! I was so happy I grinned like a Cheshire Cat!!! I just couldn’t stop! *LOL*
Gah, it was so cute and adorable and the way Blue finally made his appearance!!! I think I actually died!!! XD

”The way I feel about him is like a heartbeat – soft and persistent, underlying everything.”

If you haven’t read “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” , you definitely should do it now!!!!
Drop everything you’re reading because Simon definitely will bring happiness into your life! ;-)
Just allow yourself to be enchanted! XD

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review contains *spoilers*.

If you love Oreos or waffles, boys kissing, and overall cuteness then please read this wonderful story, I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

This is the kind of book that I had to read in one sitting while eating the best snacks and listening to my current favorite song because it was just fun fun fun.
I’m still in a happy daze.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda follows sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier, who prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight.

“I actually think people would be cool about it,” Martin says. “You should be who you are.”
I don’t even know where to begin with that. Some straight kid who barely knows me, advising me on coming out. I kind of have to roll my eyes.”

Fun fact—I actually started this book a while back, but I absolutely hated Martin and I got so mad at his character that I had to put it down, and then I never picked it back up (unfortunately so).

“Did you—did you take a screenshot or something?”
“Well,” he says, “I wanted to talk to you about that.”
“Sorry—you took a fucking screenshot?”
He purses his lips together and stares over my shoulder. “Anyway,” he says, “I know you’re friends with Abby Suso, so I wanted to ask—”
“Seriously? Or maybe we could go back to you telling me why you took a screenshot of my emails.”
He pauses. “I mean, I guess I’m wondering if you want to help me talk to Abby.”
Seriously, why did he think that was okay in any way?

And Simon kept describing Martin as a goofy kid that everyone in their school loves, but Martin has some serious issues and needs to take a huge step back to reevaluate his life choices.
I mean:

“And then she looks up at me with raised eyebrows and a perfectly round mouth, and I can’t help but laugh.
“That was so bitchy of me. I can’t believe I said that.”
“It was super bitchy,” I say. “You’re like a stealth bitch.”
“What did you call her?” asks Martin.
I swear to God, that kid pops up out of nowhere and burrows into every conversation.
“It’s okay, Marty. We’re just messing around,” says Abby.
“Yeah, well, he called you a bitch. I really don’t think that’s okay.”
Says the guy blackmailing a kid to 'help' him date someone.
I seriously despised him. And after some time he, funnily enough, started reminding me of Gabe from The Office—remember when Gabe started obsessing over Erin? That’s how Martin sounded like when he talked about Abby.



I’m sorry, but I just can’t get over how uncomfortable he made me.
I feel like I need to go listen to some really relaxing music because Martin’s got me all riled up.
And maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but I was rooting for him to have a horrible ending. The way he handled Abby’s rejection was just completely disgusting.
To quote Simon, Martin is the biggest, most cavernous gaping asshole who ever lived. (And Martin's email at the end pissed me off even more.)



But on a much more positive note, Blue Bram and Simon were so cute and grammatical.

“I can’t believe Bram Greenfeld dressed up. Bram from my lunch table. He’s this quiet black kid who’s supposed to be really smart, but I’ve never heard him speak unless he’s forced to. He leans way back into the corner of the couch, shuffling the toe of one foot against the other, and I never noticed it before, but he’s actually kind of adorable.”
Subtle foreshadowing. I love it.
It was an absolute delight seeing Bram and Simon together at the start because SIMON HAD NO IDEA:

“No fucking thank you, Abby,” Leah says, in this sickeningly pleasant tone. Except her eyes are like crackling fireballs of rage. She stands up abruptly, pushing her chair in without a word.
As soon as she leaves, Garrett looks at Bram, and Bram bites his lip. Which I’m pretty sure is straight-dude code for Bram likes Leah.
And I don’t know why, but it pisses me the fuck off.”
Little do you know...
Foreshadowing in books usually gives me too much anxiety, but because I spoiled the ending for myself (I couldn't handle the not knowing the first time I started this book), I was just smiling throughout my whole reading experience.

“For one thing, both Garrett and Bram have been totally cool about the gay thing all day, which I guess I didn’t expect from a bunch of athletes.
Also, Bram is cute. Like, really, really cute. He stands a foot or so back from the fence, totally sweaty, with a white turtleneck under his soccer shirt. And he’s not really talking, but he has very expressive brown eyes. And light brown skin and soft dark curls and cute, knobbly hands.”
They are too cute.

Also, I loved Ms. Albright, she's moderately badass for a teacher. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading about a teacher in a book. But she was definitely a pleasant surprise.

“Then she walks over to me and squats down in front of my platform. “You okay, Simon?”
I feel myself blush a little bit. “I’m fine.”
“Okay, well,” she says quietly. “Just know that those assholes are getting suspended. I’m not even kidding. I will make it my hill to die on.”
YES!

Also also, I love emails in books so the interactions between Blue and “Jacques” were absolutely delightful (their emails about middle school memories still make me laugh):

“Honestly, though? I think the real reason I had girlfriends was because I didn’t one hundred percent believe I was gay. Or maybe I didn’t think it was permanent.
I know you’re probably thinking: “Okaaaaaaay.”
—Jacques

FROM: bluegreen118@gmail.com
TO: hourtohour.notetonote@gmail.com
DATE: Oct 19 at 8:01 AM
SUBJECT: The obligatory . . .
Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy.
(Eyebrows, butthole mouth, etc.)
—Blue”



Seriously, the cast of characters in this book were all so wonderful.
And there was this one part with Leah that cracks me up every single time

“And Leah’s also into slash fanfiction, which got me curious enough to poke around the internet and find some last summer. I couldn’t believe how much there was to choose from: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy hooking up in thousands of ways in every broom closet at Hogwarts. I found the ones with decent grammar and stayed up reading all night. It was a weird couple of weeks. That was the summer I taught myself how to do laundry. There are some socks that shouldn’t be washed by your mom.”
I seriously laughed out loud.


(And the email parts of this book kind of reminded me of A Cinderella Story and their interactions.)

“And then someone slides in beside me.
“Can I sit here?” he asks, and my eyes snap open.
It’s Cute Bram Greenfeld, of the soft eyes and soccer calves.
I loosen the seat belt to let him in. And I smile at him. It’s impossible not to.
“I like your shirt,” he says. He seems nervous.
“Thanks,” I say. “It’s Elliott Smith.”
I’m kind of hardcore grinning right now.

I'm really glad that we got to see those two get together and that it didn't end right there. But I was expecting for the book to have 10 more pages, so when I turned the last page in chapter 35 and saw Acknowledgments written, I was so let down. (And this particular situation has happened so many times, but it still gets me every single time.)

This story was just so good and I’m truly happy that I gave it a second chance.
Also, I’m really pleased that Martin didn’t get a happy ending.



*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*


This review and more can be found on my blog.

[Emma Giordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!! I'm so happy I finally had the motivation to read it. It was exactly as everyone described it; Cute, Fluffy, Healthy, a fast read, an *important* read, etc. I can clearly see why it's such an acclaimed novel for LGBT+ rep in the book community. I'm very satisfied with "Simon" and would recommend it to absolutely everyone in the world because y'all need this book in your life!

[She-who-must-not-be-named · Rating 5 out of 5]

"White shouldn't be the default any more than straight should be the default. There shouldn't even be a default."

I'm hardcore grinning right now. This story needed to happen and I couldn't be more thankful. I love this book so much it nearly undoes me. Every corner, every syllable, every page, every email of this book made sense. Every second I spent reading this book was worth it. This is the first gay romance book I've read and the romance was so cute I'm jumping and screaming my lungs out. Not really, but I hope you get the idea.

The story follows Simon Spier, a sixteen-year-old who has affluent friends, hipsters for his parents, and two amazing sisters. He meets a very distracting Blue and they get closer, confiding in each other, letting each other in over any secret except for the ones that may compromise their identity. That's right, they are clueless about each other's identity. As they open up to each other over a series of emails, Simon realizes that they fall into the wrong hands. Someone who threatens to reveal them all unless Simon holds up to his end of the bargain.

The fact that Blue's identity remained anonymous till the later part of the story kept me on the edge of my seat with apprehension. I enjoyed the romance so much, be it their conversations over email, or when they actually meet, I felt my heart pound so hard, it's a surprise I'm still sane. I want to talk more about it, but it is taking every ounce of control from me to suppress my over-excitement and not to reveal Blue's identity.
I love Simon's friends. They are hilariously awkward and reading about their interactions with each other was memorable.

The writing style is humorous. Laced with tidbits of sarcasm, it beautifully highlights Simon's thought processes, inane observations, and his feelings for Blue, accentuating the reading experience triple-fold as it is written in Simon's Point Of View.

Apart from all that, this book inspires those who are otherwise afraid to open up about themselves, be it their sexuality, interests, or relationships. Simon wants and deserves love, but he is fearful that if he opens up, his relation with his friends and family will change.
If you're LGBTQ+ or not, it will teach you how to be yourself and that we all deserve to love and be loved by another person. What started out as a cute romance ended on an inspirational note and everything in between was a heartfelt assortment of raw emotions.

All in all, I smiled, tear-ed, cringed, melted, yelled in glee, and "Aww-ed" all the way through the story and I'll never forgive the author because my jaw hurts. If you're looking for a cute story but also one that carries a heavy message leaving you deeply brooding on it, then look no further.

Also, the cover 😍 Something about Nick Robinson's smile is so personal to me

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3/5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

“Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn't be this big awkward thing whether you're straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I'm just saying.”

Look, this book started very slow for me. And I was very very hyped for it, for obvious reasons. Everyone has been talking about it for months, everyone is crying about it for months, there is a fucking movie about it, I mean, come on, I had high hopes. But for the first 150 pages I was a bit let down. I didn't feel the characters, the dialogue didn't speak to me, the pace wasn't the best, I expected more. But now let's talk about the last 150 pages, which I read in one sitting and finished the book.

This book follows Simon, a gay 16 year old teenager, who has been hiding his sexuality from the world for several years. When someone called Blue posts anonymously on the school's Tumblr blog about his sexuality, Simon finds his one true love. Their relationship will grow via email, but a goofy guy named Martin will jeopardize it after finding these emails and screenshotting them to blackmail Simon into hooking him up with one of his best friends, Abby, or else he'll out him. What will he do? Will love prevail? Will his best friends stand by him when he needs it the most? What will the world say?

Now, as I promised, let's talk about the last 150 pages. The pace quickened, lots of real shit was happening, I couldn't leave the book down! I was pleasantly surprised, because the first half of the book didn't do me much, the characters felt too one-dimensional for some reason, but oh man how I feel now. This book did an amazing job at not making Blue's identity obvious... I was confused till the last minute. The relationship between Simon and Blue was magnificent, their little jokes, their innuendos, their understanding of each other's situations, made them so real. I WANT A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THAT PLEASE LIFE.

Now, let's talk about Simon's close people. His parents, for a start. FUCKING EPIC. I don't know if parents like that exist anywhere but I want to be like them. I want to be as cool as them when I have kids. So strict parents, listen up. Loose and happy parents who let their kids live their lives, make happy children. I have lived through situations with friends of mine with strict parents and they end up badly. LET YOUR KIDS LIVE DAMN IT. YOU ALL WILL BE HAPPIER IN THE END. Anyway. Let's talk about his closest friends, Leah, Nick and Abby. At the beginning I didn't even remember their names. For real. But then I totally fell in love with them. Especially Leah. And the fact that there is a book about her MAKES ME SO HAPPY I HAVE ALREADY ORDERED IT. She deserves the fucking spotlight. His friends were so supportive of him and it showed so much in the book. Everyone wants friends like this. Simon, you're so fucking lucky I envy the shit out of you. But you deserve these friends. Cause you're an amazing cool bitch.

I believe this book did an amazing job with the LGBTQI themes. I'm not gay myself to understand the situations and the feelings throughout the process, but this book did good. And now I understand its popularity. I also enjoyed the diversity in race. Abby, Nick, Bram... amazing. ALSO TWO BISEXUAL CHARACTERS FUCK YES??? THIS WORLD NEEDS THE REPRESENTATION.

Right after I finished the book, I watched the movie. I was pretty pretty excited cause I had so many feels after the book ended. And I had heard such positive reviews about the movie adaptation, so I stayed up late to watch it. And I have to say this... I HAVEN'T SEEN A MOVIE COMING FROM A BOOK THAT'S SO DIFFERENT FROM THE BOOK BUT YET IN ITS OWN WAY AMAZING. Seriously, I won't even begin to name the differences, but they were so many it would takes hours. And I thought I would hate that, but it actually made the movie more of its own. It added something to it. I don't know how to explain it, but I loved the book and the movie alike. For different reasons each. And I'm so happy I picked up this book after so long and discovered the movie as well.

In conclusion, I loved this fucking book to pieces. It's not in my favorites self, but it will keep a special place in my heart and I will remember it for a long time to come. I'm so happy I get to live inside the Simon universe for another book... I can't wait for my order for "Leah on the Offbeat" to come. I hear Simon appears too? FUCK YEAH MAN MY BOIIIIII. So till the next one... K BYE!

[Grace (BURTSBOOKS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve been putting off writing this review for months because I don’t want to piss anyone off. I really just need to get this out in the open though, before the movie comes out because I know I’ll love the movie and I really don’t want it skewing my opinion of the book.

Simon vs the Homosapien Agenda is about a boy named Simon being blackmailed by his classmate(friend?). When the aforementioned classmate finds out that Simon is gay and in an online relationship with another boy, he uses it against him for his own personal gain… or something like that.

So, yeah when I first read this book I absolutely hated it and I still don’t like it at all but I do see the merit of this book now that I’ve cooled down from the initial rage. This is a fluffy contemporary about a teenage boy falling in love with another teenage boy and in a world where homosexuality is sexualized all the damn time that is a huge deal. So thank you, Becky Albertalli for that.

That being said, other than the fluffiness (which made me cringe half the time) this book doesn’t have much going for it. I mean yeah, its got diversity…. Even so, a book should not be considered good just because it’s diverse. It has to have… idk maybe good writing.

Which, unfortunately I don’t think this book has. It is overly casual, and bland and truthfully uninspired. This was the first book I read after finishing The Raven Cycle and say what you want about Maggie Steifvater but that woman knows how to write beautiful prose. So, because of that I came into this book with my expectations really high and I was let down. I don’t like first person POV most of the time and this was just far to casual for me. (HONESTLY, if I had to read another ‘I can’t even’ I was going to rip my hair out. What year is it 2012??)

Also, one dimension characters everywhere???? There are so many characters in this book and none of them are fully developed or brought to life…not even Simon. Who is Nick? Abby? Leah? I couldn’t tell you. Simon is basically reduced to his sexuality. I literally couldn’t tell you one other thing about him other than the fact that he’s awkward. Every teenage boy is awkward – I’m not impressed. These characters are just so flat.

Also this……. “I guess there are a few lesbian and bisexual girls, but I think it’s different for girls. Maybe it’s easier. If there’s one thing that Tumblr has taught me, it’s that a lot of guys consider it hot when a girl is lesbian.”

Yeah…. Apparently lesbians have it easier?????? Yes, because being sexualised by someone you aren’t even attracted to is just so lovely… wtf? Becky Albertalli wtf…?

Reading this line was what sent me on a downward spiral of rage throughout this novel. After this every little thing afterwards made me angry. If you’re gonna get away with saying shit like that, you better be spectacular.

Also speaking of girls…. Leah and Abby… Why? Why did we have to have them hate each other… Why did that storyline need to exist? What exactly was the point??????

To me the point of books is for authors to put words to the things that are impossible to explain and this book failed at that. There were no new ideas in this book, just reiterations of everything we’ve all heard before and maybe that would’ve been okay if the story was interesting, or the characters were compelling or the writing style was anything special but it wasn’t ….

Listen, there is no one more upset about me disliking this book than I am. I hyped this book up for years before I read it. I wanted to read this book before I even knew what the book community was and I really wanted to like it. Please, if you like this book don’t hate me. I’m so happy that you enjoyed this book and I wish I could’ve too. This is simply just my opinion. I’m really looking forward to the movie and to just forget I ever read this book and freak out over how great it is that this book is getting adapted because there is apparently no such things as gay main characters in the movie world so this!is!needed! Please don’t hate me…

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who does not typically like books set in high school, I absolutely adored this book. It is possibly the cutest romance I've ever read. And I think it is mostly because Simon and Blue feel in love with each other without knowing what the other looked like. They 100% loved each other for what's inside and that made it all the more beautiful.
Simon felt like a real person. His voice was so genuine and honest. And Blue is the most precious person ever.
I can definitely see myself rereading this in the future to re-experience all the cuteness

[April (Aprilius Maximus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

1.) Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda ★★★★★
2.) The Upside of Unrequited ★★★★
3.) Leah on the Offbeat ★★★★★
3.5) Love, Creekwood ★★★★

--------------------------------------------------

OMG THIS BOOOOOOOOOOOK

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

so when does the sequel come out bc i feel like i need 300 more pages of this

[Caz (littlebookowl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars... Maybe 5? I'm going to let things simmer and I'll get back to you on that, but OH YES THIS THIS THIS! Loved. So much. All of the things.

[Lara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to DNF after 20 pages. It's a book written by a straight person for straight people. A few things were major red flags and they made me angry as soon as I picked up the book. I only finished reading because curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to see how much worse it gets.

The first horrible thing happens right away. A straight kid reads Simon’s emails (where he talks about being gay), takes screenshots and blackmails Simon. And what does Simon do? He complies and then thinks ‘hey the kid isn’t THAT bad’ and starts thinking of him as a friend, while the bully blackmails him. Because that’s what you do when someone blackmails you into coming out, you become friends with them. (Can you believe this was written by a psychologist?!)

Then, this amazing paragraph: “I guess there are a few lesbian and bisexual girls, but I think it’s different for girls. Maybe it’s easier. If there’s one thing the Tumblr has taught me, it’s that a lot of guys consider it hot when a girl is a lesbian.” In what world is men fetishizing lesbians seen as positive? As if women have no troubles when coming out or don’t experience homophobia. This is such a ridiculous line I can’t even begin to explain how wrong it is and how angry it made me. All wlw that I know who read this were outraged at best.

Third problem I had was the fact that Simon approves of girls who like yaoi. That’s almost as bad as men fetishizing lesbians. No gay/bi men will EVER approve of straight girls who are into yaoi. Just as wlw don’t exist for the consumption of men, mlm don’t exist for the consumption of women.

Fourth, this part. It actually made me groan out loud because I couldn’t believe this comparison was made: “It’s like he’s our age telling his parents he knocked someone up. Which is totally the straight person equivalent of coming out.” - except not really because a grown woman getting pregnant is not the equivalent of a gay/trans kid coming out and getting beaten up on daily basis, having no rights as a straight/cis person, or possibly being murdered in some countries.

It couldn’t be more clear that the author is straight and based her whole knowledge on “how to be gay” on several tumblr posts (which she can’t go 5 pages without mentioning). I honestly feel sorry for “gender nonconforming kids” she had worked with for over 7 years as she proudly states in her bio. If her views on LGBPQ community are this skewed, I don’t even want to know what she thinks of trans and non binary folk.

Straight authors have no business writing coming out stories. If you’re straight, you can write LGBTQ characters in your stories, but for the love of everything, please don’t write ABOUT them being gay and about coming out. You have no clue. None. Zero. Please, just stop doing it.

[Ben Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just give this book a hundred stars...

[megs_bookrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

((Screams to the sky: Why did I wait so long to read this?!?!))
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was such a fun read!!



There really isn't too much I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. I think pretty much everyone knows the premise, so I won't reiterate that here.

What I do want to touch on is how this book made me feel. I have been in a long-term relationship for just over 11-years.



In the beginning, we were long-distance. A lot of our initial 'getting to know you' was perpetuated through virtual correspondence, mostly email.

I absolutely adored the use of mixed media in this, showing the emails between Simon and his love interest, known as 'Blue'.



It just made my heart sing reminiscing on that feeling you get when you see a new email has come through, opening it up to behold what the person you are crushing on has written.

Seeing the initial low-key flirting and how that grows more and more over time. It filled my heart.



UGGGHHHH! I just can't!



It was wonderful and I thought the transformation as they explored the boundaries of their relationship was really beautifully done.

I liked Simon's family a lot and in particular, I felt his relationships with his sisters were supportive, well-formed and great examples of kind sibling relations. I also enjoyed his interactions with his parents, in particular, his father.



As far as Simon's closest friends are concerned, I really enjoyed those relationships as well. At times I got a little frustrated with a couple of them, particularly Leah, for the way they were treating Simon.

I felt at times he was treated unfairly by them; held to a higher standard so to speak, but maybe that was just because I was so attached to him, I instantly took a Team Simon stance. He was like a sweet, precious baby bird I wanted to put in my pocket and protect from all harm. Is that wrong?



If you have read this book, you can probably relate. If you haven't read this book, what are you waiting for? 🌈💖

[✨ jami ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread update holy freakin hell how is this book so fucking incredibly cute? Everytime Blue was mentioned (but like, actual Blue) I'd be like fjghkf my sweet sweet soft boy !!! I love Bramso much. HE'S SO SWEEET.

I adored this book just as much as I did the first time and I read it in one sitting, again. So It is STILL an all time favourite. What a blessed book. Keeping my OG review bc it's actually good.

“Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn't be this big awkward thing whether you're straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I'm just saying.”

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH EVERYONE 🌈 🌈 🌈 and honestly could not have started it any better because this book is so cute and I'm gonna be emo for YEARS.



(By buffonia on tumblr )

I am, literally, two years late to this party and I'm embarrassed okay, I hate who I am as a person and I hate that I left this so long and I hate that I ever doubted it wouldn't live up to the hype because it did.

At this point everyone except me has read it, so I'm just going to talk about all the reasons it was great and why I loved it and maybe that will convince the last few stragglers like me to finally read this.

“The way I feel about him is like a heartbeat -- soft and persistent, underlying everything.”

First of all, this whole book is incredibly cute and it makes you feel all mushy gooey inside because the characters and their friends and family are just all so sweet and you're so happy for them when they have their good days and get their happy endings

It goes by so fast, it's so short and enjoyable and the mystery of "who is Blue?" kept me reading I cannot believe how addicted I got to this book so quickly.

But what I also liked about this is even though it's fun and hopeful and full of joy it's also really realistic and honest and relevant. It addresses some issues facing lgbt+ teens and why being a young gay person is still really hard.

I also liked the role straight allies played here and how it was shown just because you have good intentions or a gay brother or whatever it doesn't mean you can't do some really harmful and damaging things to the lgbt+ people around you.

I've never really read a book that dealt with outing people in the closet like this one and I'm so happy this book did that because I think that fear that someone you trust will out you before you're ready is really crippling. In my highschool experience, I saw so many people outed by those they'd trusted because people wanted to be edgy and declare who they knew to be gay and it's awful and I really like that Becky Albertalli took that fear and showed exactly why it's so important people DON'T OUT THOSE IN THE CLOSET.

I also think this really addressed so many little microaggressions lgbt+ people deal with and showed why lgbt+ fears about coming out are still so understandable. This book just did so many things so right for me? Because even though there was homophobia and hate when Simon was outed, there was also so much support and love and that was so nice to see too.

I liked that Simon brought up parenting and how heternormative most people's upbringing is and how we should consider what we're saying around our kids, what we're implying to them and how we're raising them.

I giggle, but it comes out too sharp. "The awkward moment when you realise you've been making gay jokes in front of your gay kid for the last seventeen years"

I've not seen ANYONE else mention this quote but it's so fucking true honestly ?


ON A SMALL SIDE NOTE: There was a small comment in this book which was pretty lesphobic. Basically, Simon says coming out as lesbian/bi/pan isn't as hard for girls because boys find lesbians hot. When I read that I thought it was a pretty fucking shit thing to say but it was since addressed by Becky Albertalli and she's apologised and so that was pretty good to see and I'm glad she learnt/moved on ect.


( by loserps on tumblr )

Moving onto the characters !. I love .. everyone?

Simon is really such a good, strong and resilient character? I loved his point of view and I never really found him exhausting or annoying. He's a really sympathetic character and he deals with alot of shit but he comes through it pretty gracefully and I liked that he took a stand where he needed to and he said what should be said and he's pretty nice and I don't know I just really liked his character? Also, his Harry Potter references made me so happy

Martin is sucj a fucking dick and I hate him but I liked the purpose he served and I think he was a well written character and a good example of why "having a gay relative" doesn't make you immediately exempt from doing shitty and homophobic things. there was an awful period of time when I thought he was Blue and I was so so done. So glad that was fake. Also, I liked he sent the apology and I liked it was left ambiguous on if Simon would do anything about it

Lean and Abby I liked individually but their relationship with eachother kinda annoyed me but I hope it gets cleared up more in Leah on the Offbeat

BLUE I love Blue! I loved who he turned out to be !! I just wish he'd been in it a little more as who he was actually and not as Blue. How he and Simon met up at the end was so cute, I loved the way he talked to him and how they were just really sweet together and I liked that he was really understanding tbh? And just overall YES I LOVE BLUE. I loved he was a poc and jewish too like yass

“You don’t get to say it’s not a big thing. This is a big fucking thing, okay? This was supposed to be—this is mine. I’m supposed to decide when and where and who knows and how I want to say it.” Suddenly, my throat gets thick. “So, yeah, you took that from me.”

I really freakin loved this, I wish I had read it back in '15 when everyone else was, but I'm so glad I've read it now. This really is one of my favourite lgbt+ reads and probably contemporaries in general. I am completely #SHOOKETH.

[jessica yeung · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is the equivalent of getting a hug from someone you deeply care about - warm, comforting, strong, and loving. my heart is so full.

and i know, no matter how many times i re-read this, it will forever feel like coming home. <3

↠ 4 stars

[mwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: THIS REVIEW HAS A SHORT STORY ABOUT MY LIFE.

When I was 10, I had just been moved to my 3rd primary school. I was also enduring some level of traumatic stress because the school had a rule against long hair. They chopped my beautiful black shoulder-length locks that had taken me endless trips to salons and hairdos that bordered on torture techniques to get it to grow that long. But, alas, that was the least of my worries. We were essentially starved. Having a plate of porridge at 6 am, a quarter cup of tea at 10.45 am, lunch at 2 and supper at 6. With puberty rearing its ugly head, I often felt like I could even eat the soil. Honestly, I don’t understand why growing out them tits and curves makes you so damn hungry. Anyway, life was odd. But there was one silver lining. His name was Joseph.

I was a troublemaker in this school. I had been rejected by 3 desk-mates because I talked too much and I slept through night preps. Eventually, I was seated with one boy whom I had never really spoken with since joining that class of 48 students. Joseph had the most gorgeous eyelashes I had ever seen. And the most infectious laugh. We were giggle buddies. Often getting into trouble together. Like when we stole raw maize to sustain us between those seasonal “meals”. If you wanted to know where I was, you needed only to ask Joseph. We were bosom buddies. Allies. Partners in crime. But Joseph was also my first crush.

Every time I saw him, I would break into a wide smile. My unique teeth-gaps were visible to all. Hell, you could examine my uvula. I had a similar effect on him. It was ridiculous. It was cute.
One moment that really stood out was when Valentine’s Day rolled around. Most of my classmates already had a Valentine. I was predominantly disliked so I didn’t expect to have one. But then I asked Joseph if he had one. And he giggled. That titter made my heart pitter-patter with delight[er?].

“Why, do you?” he asked.

I smiled. A uvula doctor needed only shine a torch down my throat from their house.

“Maybe?” I answered.

He wanted to reply but a teacher walking in for her next class stopped him. The day progressed with it’s usual drudgery. After lunch break, when I opened my locker, my books were covered in red flowers. I looked at Joseph. He smiled.

“Now I have one,” I told him. I almost kissed him but it was a Catholic school. And the class prefect once reported me for eating toothpaste in class. I decided against it. In the spirit of self-preservation.

But after that day, every time I would see Joseph, my heart would be all a-flutter. My tummy would roll. My palms would get sweaty. My spirit was buoyant. My flesh awakening. It was then that I realized that I had an affinity for taller boys with face bushes. That first crush… that first [dare I say it] love… there’s no other feeling like it. It’s like sunlight after a week-long storm. A cup of tea indoors on a cold rainy afternoon. That crisp feeling of sliding between sun-kissed sheets after a warm bath.



That’s what this book felt like. I am a big pile of warm gooey goodness after devouring it in one sitting. I can’t fully describe what it made me feel like. It was just beautiful. Moving. Amazing. Fluffy. It was like being wrapped in candy floss. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda is melted chocolate over a stack of fluffy pancakes. It’s like mama’s hug after a hellacious day. I just felt so… blissful. This book deserves its awards and more. Because this book is now Joseph of my library.

Read it, if you haven't already.



Reread completed Feb 28th 2020.
This book is still Joseph of my library.

[Cece (ProblemsOfaBookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread update 3/16/18:
I love Simon Spier so much my heart is ready to burst. Also, I’m now fully prepared to go see Love, Simon a second time

• • • • • •

Original review 9/12/16:
This was so adorable people are giving me looks on the train because I'm grinning in a possibly frightening level of happiness. I loved this.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update 1/15/18: Anyone else hyperventilating over the movie trailer?!! OMG!!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykHeG...

___________

I LOVED this book. Loved, with no ifs, ands, or buts.

I don't often read YA for a few reasons. For one, there is nothing I hate more than silly drama, and I feel like so often YA authors resort to petty fighting or similar antics to put a "twist" in their plots. That makes me grumpy, and a grumpy Heather is a low-rating Heather. I don't like to give low ratings.

However, this book has gotten SO much press, so I knew I had to try it. And I'm SO happy that I did.

One thing that is special about YA is when they get that first romance magic right, they get it right. There is NOTHING like young, innocent love. There is nothing like that feeling of your thigh or hand brushing up against someone while studying in the library; nothing like looking at the back of someone's neck in class, wondering how their hair would feel in your hands; and nothing like that first, chaste kiss.

I adore that first love, and I remember it well. This book captures young love perfectly and without condescension.

I won't go too far into the plot because I don't want to reveal any spoilers. I will say, however, that I loved being in Simon's head. I absolutely fell head-over-heels for him in all of his geeky, introspective, funny glory. I even loved all of the side characters. They were ridiculously well developed, and I thought that each and every one of them added to the plot.

This story perfectly captures both the feelings of falling for someone, and the stress and emotions that high school, that transitional time in your life, brings.

I loved it so hard, and it easily grabs a spot on my favorites list. I even bought paperback copies to gift to friends, that's how much I loved this story.

Oh, and one other comment. Spoiler-tagged.

I found it really interesting that the author made a character who was both 1/2 Jewish and non-white. That is actually pretty rare, though there are a number of mixed-race Jews, but it is by far a minority. I can count on my hands how many mixed-race Jews that I know, and I've been a member of many Synagogues in my time. I enjoyed that the author went there, though I wouldn't have suspected a non-white Jew either. But Abraham Greenfeld.... yeah, that name says "home" to me ;)

[Charlotte May · Rating 4 out of 5]

“People are like houses with vast rooms and tiny windows.”

I loved this! No idea why I seem to stay away from contemporaries because all the ones I’ve read this year I’ve loved!

Simon was a wonderful character. He is kind, sweet and hilarious! After seeing a post on Tumblr, Simon starts up an online email relationship with another person - Blue, that way both can keep their identities hidden.

This doesn’t last very long until another person finds out about these emails and uses them to blackmail Simon.

I loved the characters! They were real and flawed and believable. Leah was so relatable, I loved her and her self consciousness. I loved that Blue’s parents were both religious but when he comes out they are supportive. It’s so good when we get positive reps of religious people and homosexuality, they aren’t all ignorant bigots. So I liked that a lot 😊

Overall, I had great fun trying to work out who Blue was, and how everything would pan out. It was just such a lovely, feel good, read.

*********************************************

1. I don’t think I’ve ever cried happy tears at a book until now

2. I want to punch old me in the face for thinking I wouldn’t enjoy this!

RTC

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of my favorite quotes. :S

-“White shouldn't be the default
any more than straight should be the default.
There shouldn't even be a default.”

-“I’m too busy trying not to be in love
with someone who isn’t real.”

-“It feels like we’re the last survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Wonder Woman and a gay dementor. It doesn’t bode well for the survival of the species.”

-“The closest thing I’ve ever had to a journal
is probably you.””

If this beauty is any indication of how 2017 is going to turn out, I'm feeling hopeful!

"Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight"

^^The synopsis never really intrigued me. I've read nothing but magnificent things about Simon vs. Homo Sapiens Agenda. Everyone raves about it. Still, I was convinced It wasn't my cuppa tea.

Reasons?

1) It's a contemporary. There are a few exceptions but mostly I try to stay away from this genre.

2) "cute" and "adorable" are the most often used adjectives when it comes to describing SvtHSA. I am so not about that life!

3) The cover is kind of . . . not very prepossessing. What can i say, I have this horrible habit of judging books by their covers?

Having said all this, I want to go back and slap my past self for ignoring this precious bundle of rainbows and beautifulness for this long. Lock her in a room then guard the door till she finishes the damn book, so we can both fangirl over it... can I fangirl with myself? THAT IS THE DREAM!

_______________

I was reading all 1-star reviews on this (i don't know why I always do that) I noticed they are all written by lesbian or bi readers. Though I loved this book with all my heart, I do think they have a point.

[Lily (LilyCReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been a while since i last finished a book.
I think was just the book to get me out of a slump

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Reread (2018):
Not much to add. Loved this just as much the third time around! Still warmed my heart. The audio narration was really great for Simon, my only gripe is that the narrator read all the female characters in the same unamused sounding voice which usually didn't fit their emotions.

Original Review (2016):
This book was SO good. There are 10 million great things I could say about this book but here's the shortlist:

-It kept me up til 6 am to finish the whole thing.
-It made me cry 3 times. (Big deal because I am not a book crier.)
-I am actually heartbroken that these characters are not real and I am not friends with them.
-OTP status.
-Beautiful, beautiful first love.
-Heck yes, diversity! This book was representative and inclusive of sexuality and race.
-Fantastic portrayal of friendships. The friend group has many conflicts that resolved with characters actually apologizing and learning.
-AMAZING adult role models and interactions.
-Plot includes actual involvement in school activities beyond school just being a backdrop for the age range. Bonus: it's drama club.
-Real teen emotions without the extra dose of angst.
-Heavy dose of mystery due to the unknown identity of the person Simon is e-mailing with, which upped the pacing and investment.
- I'm already positive this book will be at the top of my Best of 2016 list.

As soon as I finished this book I IMMEDIATELY read it again! The ending gave a whole new meaning to some previous scenes so I picked up on many new details and got a fuller picture of the story. I love it even more the second time.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 2 out of 5]

update - november 2019:
I'm changing my rating because I constantly think about this book and how much I hate some of the content in it (like Simon's friends never really being challenged on their TERRIBLE treatment of him while he's being outed???) and frankly, I don't know why I gave this 4 stars to begin with, other than the hype and how lenient I used to be when reviewing books. :(

———

“People really are like houses with vast rooms and tiny windows. And maybe it's a good thing, the way we never stop surprising each other.”

People have been recommending this book to me for a solid year or more, and I've owned a copy since January, but I kept putting it off. I finally realized I had only put it off so long because it had been hyped so hard for me that I was scared I would be let down! I can safely say I wasn't.

PLOT ➳➳
It's hard enough being a gay teen, but being closeted, too? That's not an easy life. Luckily for Simon Spier, he's got an online penpal: another gay teen boy from his school, who he gets along swimmingly with. In fact, he might even be falling in love! The problem? He doesn't have a clue who the kid is.

SIMON ➳➳
Simon is a really enjoyable narrator in that authentic, teen sort of way: he's a little bratty at times, he can be incredibly self-centered, and some of his views on things are warped (see below), but at his core, he's got a heart of gold and he's such a fun perspective to read the story through. He made my heart ache a few times over his coming-out process, because I remember how hard it was to be a closeted, queer teen, and I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him everything would be okay. ❤

BLUE ➳➳
Blue, Simon's penpal, is such a cute little guy and I loved reading the banter between these two! Sadly, someone on twitter had spoiled the secret of who Blue was a freaking week before I started reading the book, dammit. I think I would have enjoyed it so much more if I'd been able to be wrapped up in the mystery of who the penpal was, but obviously, that isn't the book's fault.

FRIENDS ➳➳
First, there's my favorite: Abby. I don't know what it was about her character, but something about her told me right from the start that she was just going to be a really lovable character and a good friend to Simon, and I wasn't wrong. I lived for their little bonding moments, and if Becky Albertalli ever decided to write a book on Abby, I'd pick it up for sure.

Then, there's Nick: I don't really have anything to say about him, honestly. I know he was supposed to be one of Simon's best friends, but I never felt like he got any character development whatsoever and if he hadn't existed at all, I wouldn't have noticed.

Finally, Simon's last best friend: Leah. I have spoken to so many people who really adored Leah's character and are super excited that she's apparently getting her own book, and sadly, I don't get it. I felt like there was this immense amount of potential for Leah to be an incredible character, and none of it was taken advantage of. She was mean and petty throughout the bulk of the book, and while I did feel sorry for her from time to time, I mostly found myself wishing her segments would hurry up and finish.

I don't want to leave out two other characters I enjoyed so much, though: the Spier sisters. They were such fun little pops of weirdness and/or adventure in the book, and I wish we'd gotten to see so much more of them.

WHAT I LIKED ➳➳
The entire book is, from cover to cover, pure fluffy cuteness. There are so many little bits here and there that are sure to give you warm fuzzies and a smile. Simon would be a fantastic book to pick up to pull yourself out of a slump, because the quick pacing and the cuteness are sure to draw most YA readers out of their ruts.

The banter between Simon and Blue, as I mentioned, is flirty and fun and adorable and I wanted more, more more.

As a bonus for readers from the area, like myself, Becky did an impeccable job portraying the Atlanta metro! I loved how many names she used that I recognized immediately, and some of Simon's inner monologues about the city were so fun and relatable.

WHAT I DISLIKED ➳➳
Simon has some minor areas of being problematic here and there, but there's one specific moment worth highlighting:

"I guess there are a few lesbian and bisexual girls, but I think it's different for girls. Maybe it's easier. If there's one thing the Tumblr has taught me, it's that a lot of guys consider it hot when a girl is a lesbian."

This baffled me a little, but I thought, Oh, it's just the character talking, it's not like those are Becky's thoughts... or are they? It never gets challenged. It's frustrating enough in the real world to be told that bisexual women don't have hard lives (while we're simultaneously being shunned by both straight culture AND queer culture), but to see it in a book that's meant to positively portray queer characters is just sigh-worthy.

Another thing that irked me a bit was Simon's trip to the gay bar in Atlanta. Out of all of the experiences that he could've had, we choose to go with the stereotype of him being picked up by a beautiful, slim, flamboyant, white blonde man who gives him drinks without checking his age? Obviously, that's an actual scenario that happens, but if you're picking Atlanta - one of the most diverse cities in the nation - as your setting, you could really do with a little more diversity than that, right?

None of these are problems that were enough to make me dislike the book by any means, and I'm not trying to start any arguments or sway any opinions. These were just a few minor things that bugged me about the book, and they contributed to my lowering the rating a star.

FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
Was I disappointed in this book that had been so strongly hyped for me? No, not at all! Did I think it was as ground-breaking as many of my peers do? No, not at all. It's a cute story with some decent rep and fun characters, but I doubt I'll rush to reread it and it definitely doesn't make my "top queer contemporaries" list. I'll be sure to check out more of Becky's writing in the future, though!