Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

This review was originally posted on the Goldilox and the Three Weres blog. It took me far too long to read this book but I was the human personification of the heart-eyes emoji by the time I was done. This was absolutely adorable and perfect! I loved that it was diverse and so positive. It's kind of like a YA You've Got Mail but without the whole enemies to lovers subplot. The only problem I had with it was that it ended. I just want more Simon and Blue goodness! And maybe an oreo milkshake. I wasn't planning to read the whole thing so quickly but once I started I just couldn’t stop. And I can't begin to explain how happy I am that I read this book. It's one of those books that will make an impact on your heart and change your way of thinking. What I loved most about it was that the book was lighthearted while making that impact. Essentially the story is about a teenager that hangs out with his friends, has a crush on someone, and rehearses for the school musical. But it is also a deeply emotional book about a teenage boy and his struggle to remain himself without being stereotyped as the gay guy or having it be his whole identity. The story follows Simon throughout his year of coming out and finding love – two things he wasn’t really planning on doing anytime soon. Through a post on the school Tumblr page, Simon finds this guy who goes by the pseudonym, Blue, who happens to be gay and not out like him. They start to talk via email without having any idea about the other person’s identity. They start to grow closer and start sharing details of their lives that they haven't shared with anyone else. They’re so adorable and they have such sweet and hilarious conversations that I couldn't help but grin like a madman the whole time I was reading. Simon was such a lovable guy and so insightful already at his age about what he wanted and how he felt about himself. He was confident and comfortable in his own skin most of the time. Of course, he had low and high points throughout the book but how everything felt real. I can't stress enough about how well-written this book was. He also had some amazing friends and family surrounding him. Simon's family was everything! I loved their interactions with each other. One of the things I loved about this book was how positive and supportive both Simon and Blue's families were. The Spiers have totally made my list of favorite fictional families. I about died laughing when they were doing the Facebook Scavenger Hunt. I also loved Simon's friend group. It was large and diverse and wasn't the same old cliche we see in some YA books. Each character was well fleshed out and had their own diverse personalities. It was so refreshing not to see the same old nerd vs jock storyline we see all the time. I loved seeing the anime kids, theater geeks, cheerleaders, and soccer players sitting at one table and being friends. It was more reminiscent of how my high school was than any other YA I've read in recent years. Since most of the characters are high school age, there was some drama and a few fights but everything was worked out in the end. I seriously loved the romance in this book! Watching Simon and Blue fall in love via email was absolutely adorable! I kept trying to figure out who Blue was the whole time and I was right! From the first line, they interacted I hoped he would be Blue and I was so glad when he actually was because I didn’t want it to be anyone else. I kind of squealed when his identity was revealed and my ship was confirmed! I came out of this reading experience with a new favorite book, a go-to Pride rec, and a persistent craving for an Oreo milkshake that did not go away until I finally got one. PSA: You'll want to have Oreos or Reese's handy while reading this because Simon's sweet tooth will get you craving all the things. I really can’t recommend this book enough. I've already started buying copies to give to friends so they can read it before the movie (which I am 100% here for!) comes out. I loved this book so much! I can't wait to read the other book Becky Albertalli has written. She has become one of my auto-buy authors after just one book.

“White shouldn’t be the default any more than straight should be the default. There shouldn’t even be a default.”~ Simon Spier I’ve been hearing a lot about Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda over the past several months and it’s been on my wishlist for a while now. After learning that it’s going to be made into a movie called “Love, Simon”, I moved it to the top of my TBR list. This is an excellent story about a teenage boy who has to deal with the aftermath of coming out to everyone at his high school when another student finds out his secret and threatens to blackmail him. Here is the blurb: 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. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met. Incredibly funny and poignant, this twenty-first-century coming-of-age, coming out story — wrapped in a geek romance—is a knockout of a debut novel by Becky Albertalli. -- Never walk away from your computer -- Simon learned this the hard way. He walks away from his computer for just a moment, forgetting to close down his email program, which, unfortunately, gets into the wrong hands. Another student, Martin Addison, walks by Simon’s abandoned computer and discovers that Simon has been anonymously corresponding with a boy named “Blue” and the two have been discussing their lives, including being gay. Up to this point, Blue is the only one who knows that Simon is gay. Simon and Blue met via an anonymous Tumblr post and since then, have been emailing each other on almost a daily basis. Though Blue goes to the same school as Simon, neither of them know the other’s identity, thus creating a safe atmosphere to discuss those serious issues that they can’t so easily talk about with anyone else. Martin takes a screenshot of the emails and then blackmails Simon into getting his friend, Abby, to date him. -- The Blackmail Begins -- Holding up his end of the bargain, Simon invites Martin (who is seriously annoying, by the way) to hang out with him and Abby on several occasions, fearful that Martin will reveal Simon’s secret to the entire school. At this point of the book, even Simon’s best friend Leah doesn’t know that he’s gay and he wants to keep it that way — at least for the time being. Fearful that Blue would terminate his friendship with Simon if he found out that someone had taken a screenshot of their email, Simon keeps this new secret to himself as well. What worked for me in this book was that Simon didn’t struggle with being gay. He knew he was gay and fully accepted himself. He never tried to deny who he was. What he did struggle with was how his loved ones might potential react to the news. -- The Emails -- I loved reading the email exchanges between Simon and Blue, especially once they began to become more flirtatious. There was a teasing yet caring tone to their emails, leading to an amazing build-up between the two of them that wasn’t rushed or forced. It was obvious that has the days and weeks past, the connection between the two of the deepened as their friendship moved organically into something bigger. These two characters really came to life for me as their relationship blossomed and I quickly became enamored with the both of them, wishing and hoping for a happy ending for the both of them. As with any online relationship, there are the fears that crop up before we meet the person: Will they like us? What if they don’t find me attractive? What if I don’t find him/her attractive? All of these things run through Simon’s mind, making the situation all the more realistic, and I found myself having the same fears as Simon. As a ready, I wanted Simon and Blue to have their HEA. -- Coming Out Slowly -- As their relationship deepened (though it was still anonymous), they both decided that perhaps it was time to come out. First Blue to his family and then Simon to his friend Abby, leading them to discuss the fear and uncertainty they felt before finally letting the cat out of the bag. It’s apparent that it’s their feelings for each that gives them the courage to take the first steps in the coming out process. Luckily for the both of them, Blue’s parents were supportive as was Abby. Simon still not quite ready to tell anyone else though. He wants to come out on his terms at his own pace, though he does plan on telling his own parents soon. -- A Forced Coming Out -- Of course, Simon’s secret gets out (I’m not giving out any spoilers here – we learn this fact in the blurb), and everything changes for Simon. Within one day, everyone at school learns that Simon Spier is gay — and given that we know Blue is a student at Simon’s High School, it’s not too hard to figure out that he’s learned Simon’s identity as well. In fact, during an email exchange, Blue states “I think I know who you are”. Simon still doesn’t know the mysterious Blue’s identity, however, and it’s amusing to observe Simon as he studies the boys at his school, trying to guess which one of them could be Blue. He finally thinks he narrows it down to two boys. Now he just needs to figure out which one it is. Now I will say that there are some clues as to Blue’s identity sprinkled throughout the book through the author does a great job of throwing us off track and making it difficult to guess. I didn’t quite guess the identity of Blue as much as hoped. -- The Fallout -- Coming out is never easy, especially when it wasn’t your decision. We see this in the aftermath: friendships are strained (possibly lost) for good and relationships are threatened. The author did a fine job of portraying the possible fallout for a high school student being forced out of the closet. It was also cringe-worthy seeing that someone could be as cruel as Martin (though not surprising — he was a right jerk). Of course, Simon is devastated. Not only is he upset because his friendships are on shaky grounds, he feels robbed, resentful and violated. Coming out was something he wanted to do on his own terms, and because of his blackmailer, that decision was taken away from him . . .and then there’s Blue. -- The Big Reveal -- So do we eventually learn Blue’s identity? If we didn’t, it certainly would have been a frustrating book – the kind you’d throw across the room. Luckily, it didn’t come to that, and we do learn Blue’s identity — and wow! What a sweet scene! I’m guessing that it’d be difficult for many people to read this scene without tearing up. I know I was reaching for the tissues (but it a good way!). -- The Verdict -- I loved this book on so many levels, and it completely stole my heart. This book expertly showed the struggles that not just a gay teenager but that most teenagers go through on a daily basis. The book is told from Simon’s first-person point of view, and I found him lovable, funny, witty, intelligent, likable and brave; and though somewhat flawed (as we all are), he’s an all-around great kid. But most of all, I found him true to himself. I could relate to so much of what he was going through, and in this way, it felt that his character was genuine and believable. In fact, all of the characters in the book were well-rounded and realistic, and I enjoyed the dynamic between them. Simon vs the Home Sapiens Agenda is a sweet, tender and heartwarming coming-of-age story about friendship, first love, coming out and the power of friendship and family that has an appeal to everyone, both teens, and adults. I can tell you that this particular adult loved it. Though the book does deal with some tougher issues such as bullying, betrayal, and misunderstandings, the positive aspects well outweigh the negative. This book has definitely made my top reads list and is one of those books that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling at the end. A truly satisfying read. I definitely give this book 5 stars! This review originally posted on my blog at rogerhyttinen.com.

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. 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, 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. 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. 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 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.and Blue, as I mentioned, is flirty and fun and adorable and I wanted more, more more. 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. 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!

(Crying cause I lost the updated review cause my computer died...) TO THE ACTUAL REVIEW: It's been about six months since I originally read SIMON.... and... after all this time... it is still one of my favorite contemporaries and books of all time. It's just that absolutely adorable. This will forever be one of my favorites, because of the reality it holds in its pages. Because of the unforgettable voices. Because of the intriguing premise, and adorable romance. (Speaking of which, the romance is so adorable I My original review (which you will see in a second...) was just me flailing about how phenomenal this book is, and that's mostly what this is going to be as well. :) :D First of all, Simon's voice is absolutely unparalled. He is adorable, snarky, and hilarious. His speech is beautifully simple, and he is so real. And his reality makes me connect to him. Never had I felt like a character was thinking exactly what I was about humanity and everything else until I read this book. It was simply exquisite. One of my favorite aspects of this book are the familial and friend dynamics within. Reason being is I feel like I have met people in my life that represent each and every one of these characters before. The whole setting, everything about this book feels so much like home. Like my life. Like my school. Like everything I have ever known. The theatre was my theatre at school. Everything was familiar, and that made this book so super duper special to me. squealed like a baby pig... or someone opening up a present they didn't expect but really wanted.... or going to Disneyland for the first time... or eating an entire thing of Oreos (Double Stuf, of course.) This book makes you want to dance, to play around, to do everything fun in the world. To bake. To live your life. To treat others kindly. To make sure others understand what is socially acceptable, and what shouldn't be. This book has so many things going for it. And I can't think of one bad thing I could say about this book. It's just about time for a reread and I cannot wait. My signed copy is unique to me and one of my most prized possessions. I'm so thankful for Becky Albertalli and this book. Her writing is just that good, in it's simple realistic sort of way. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Consume this book. Cherish it. Original Review: AHHHHH. Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda is quite possibly my favourite book I read in 2015. it was adorable, and cute, and heartbreaking in a strange sort of way. I LOVED Simon. Adored him. omg. he is hands down one of the most realistic characters I have read in the looooonngggeeeeessssttt times. and I love him so immensely. He will forever hold a special place in my heart. This book deals with many aspects of LGBTQ life that I feel is extremely important that everyone is aware of and understands because without understanding, there is no way to fix issues that are ever present in todays society (and slowly lessening, but it still needs to be discussed) This book in general, is.just so beautiful, and it surprised me in the best ways... I didn't predict everything as I often do, and I didn't hate anyone's character. in fact Abby made me smile, Simon's descriptions of Cal made me so happy, Nick was overall simple and good. Leah, reminded me of friends in my life, and the connections were great. the relatability of this book is unlike anything I have ever read... I have felt so many of these things, been in a few of these situations, and it just feels like real life. Becky Albertalli is a phenomenal writer, and I will read anything she writes because if it is anything close to as amazing as this novel was, I am sure to love it. <3 so thankful I finally bought this, and read it completing it just 50 minutes before the new year. NOW I WANT OREOS!!!!! thank you , Becky... for this beautiful novel. OH AND I totally smiled cheekily, throughout the last 15% of the novel. like seriously, its that adorable.

this is a book i know will stay with me forever (or at least for a long long time). if you don’t already know, this is a “gay” book. even if you feel uncomfortable or somewhat opposed to people of LGBTQ, i still believe you should read simon vs. i’ve read other novels that are LGBTQ, but i’ve never read one that was as wholeheartedly and honest as simon vs. everything was so relatable. in other novels, it was clear and obvious the characters that were LGBTQ were sorta different: in the way they act, speak, dress, etc. etc. however in simon vs., that was most certainly not the case. after reading this novel, i’ve realized that people who are LGBTQ are just like everyone else. there really isn’t a difference between gays and straights, except the preference in gender; in the end, that’s all there is. reading things from simon’s perspective, we could also see how the LGBTQ community is generally treated. it was beautiful to see people who were incredibly supportive, but also people who were just downright awful. i loved every bit of that. it was completely genuine and true. we saw everything: the good, the bad, and the ugly. my favorite aspect of the novel was how casual simon and his friends spoke of being gay. they would often joke about it – but not in anyway i found insulting or condescending. people often make this a huge deal, which i suppose it is a big deal, but sometime it shouldn’t have to be a big deal. if you think about it, being gay/straight/etc is only a big deal because people make it a big deal. why should it really matter? it’s just a small part of who we/you are. i find it similar to a person’s race. for example, it’s not like you’re going to see someone and instantly judge them because of their race (if you do, then go away). the same should be said about a persons’ sexual orientation. simon was an extremely sarcastic and funny character, so i couldn’t help but smile and grin the entire time. no, seriously, i couldn’t read this book in public because i would (literally) laugh out loud and smile to myself. people were definitely giving me strange looks, but i have no regrets because i looooooove it so much! (eventually i resorted to happily reading in my room.) the main reason why i enjoyed this book so much was because IT WAS SO CUTE. the interactions between simon and blue made me want to squeal; i couldn’t help but root for them until the very end. the relationships between everyone were truly genuine and lovely and just.. *content sigh*. his family and friends were great and everything was <3. simon vs. the homo sapiens agenda was like a diary. because the writing seemed like this, there were parts i really enjoyed, but also parts i didn’t like. i loved how we could hear and see simon’s internal dialogue. i mean, he’s hilarious and very relatable. i got to connect with simon much more because i knew what he was thinking. but, there were parts in the beginning i was left confused. since simon already knows these characters, there’s no introduction. we meet everyone and it’s like an information dump and you’re kind of left stranded like, “what’s going on?” also, there are less descriptions. i don’t describe people in my head, so it makes sense for the writing to be this way. but, i found it hard to visualize characters, places, etc. it was a quick read, which has it’s good and it’s bad. it’s a wonderful book to read in between huge series because it’s quite tiny, but because of that you’re left wanting more. the book concluded wonderfully, but since it’s so short i feel like i need just *holds fingers .00001 cm apart* that much more. overall, i loved this book. it was honest; it was hilarious; it was adorable; it was so much more. becky albertalli created a true masterpiece from beginning to end. with a easygoing prose, the story was filled with love, finding yourself, and truth for the LGBTQ community. i’ve come to realize that many people are simply ignorant to the way LGBTQ people are it may not be their intention to be condescending or offensive; they’re simply oblivious to it all. i would recommend this book to… um, everyone. *whispers* go read it. originally posted on: http://www.twirlingpages.com/2015/04/23/review-simon-vs-the-homo-sapiens-agenda-becky-albertalli/

I love this book! I love Simon! I love Leah, Nick, Abby! I love the dog, Bieber! Okay, I love a lot of people in the book. Oh and I love Blue :-) ♥ I have said it once and I will say it again, I love when I finally read books that I have had for awhile and they just make my day! I was smiling and laughing and crying through this whole book. And there are so many excerpts from the book I want to add but I would have to write the whole book so I will just add one or two. lol. Anyway! This book is about Simon obviously. He's gay but hasn't told any one. He has a secret online gay friend that he talks to every day and slowing they are falling in love. But... they don't know who the other one is, they are keeping it a secret for now. They do go to the same school and are really close to each other, that is all they know. It is really sweet reading them email back and forth to each other and see what forms. Then one fateful day Simon just has to log onto his email at school and forgets to sign out of his gmail account. Yeah! This little dude named Martin reads it and saves it and blackmails Simon into getting him together with Simon's friend Abby. Of course Simon is speechless and hating on himself that he did not close his email. So a bunch of stuff goes on in that regard. Simon is in a drama class with some of his friends and they have rehearsals and stuff every day. They have so much fun. I want to have them all as best friends! Simon thinks one of the guys in the group is Blue but he's not for sure. Can you imagine going around school looking at people and wondering if that is YOUR person. I might add I was thinking it was one of two different people at one time but something happens, a brief moment and then I knew who Blue was and I was right! Woot! Moving on. I love how Simon and his friends are together. Nick he has known all of his life and Leah for several years, but he's only known Abby a few months but they get on so perfect together. --->EXCERPT<--- "Watching videos," I say. "Oh man. Perfect. I've got this song in my head." "If it's by the Who," I inform him, "or Def Skynard or anyone like that, then no freaking way." "I'm going to pretend you didn't just say "Def Skynard." I love messing with Nick. --->END EXCERPT<--- At one point it get out that Simon is gay and he is so upset as you can imagine. I mean, he really wanted to be able to come out when he was ready and to tell his family and friends on his own time. So he has to tell them a little earlier. He does get some jerks at school that start teasing him but some of the teachers and his friends shut that down real quick. I absolutely loved how they all came to his defense. You shouldn't have to be bullied anywhere no matter what it is but unfortunately, that is life. There are some sweet little revelations about each person in the book. I loved every one of them. I loved when Leah and Nora have their moment. I won't what they did but it was awesome. I was invested in each one of these characters. I loved the authors writing style. Simon had a way of talking that I understood. --->EXCERPTS<--- "Okay, well, I'm taking over your bathroom now. Time for the transformation." "Sounds good," I say. "I'll transform in here." Nora looks up from her book. "Simon. Eww." "It's a dementor robe over my clothes. I think you'll survive." "What's a dementor?" I mean, I can't even. "Nora, you are no longer my sister." "So it's some Harry Potter thing," she says. •••••• It's chilly and unnaturally quiet---if Abby weren't with me, I would have to drown out the silence with music. 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. ••••••• I ignore her. "I'm not leaving, bub. Because you're going to wallow. You're going to put on that playlist. What's it called?" "The Great Depression," I mutter. It's like all Elliott Smith and Nick Drake and the Smiths. I already have it cued up. "Right," she says. "The Great Depression. That romp. No way." "Why are you here?" "Because I'm your big sister and you need me." "I need to be left alone." "No way. Talk to me, bub!" she says. She slides toward me, squeezing in between my body and the wall. "This is exciting. We can talk about guys." --->END OF EXCERPTS<--- I just couldn't help adding a few more! So in the end we find out who Blue is and I was so excited for Simon. And so were his family and friends when they found out he had a boyfriend now. How sweet. ♥ I love you Simon. Your my book best friend. :-D

(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Same Sex Book Reviews. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars) One great thing about having a bunch of authors on my Facebook friend list is that a lot of them post links to books they’ve read and recommend. The other day, one of them posted a link to this book on Amazon. He stated if anyone hadn’t read this book, they needed to. OK, I figured, I usually get my books for free through our blog and then write an honest review on them. But this time, I hit one click. It was only $1.99, so I figured what the heck, not a huge investment. I’m glad I clicked on it, but I’m not 100% sure what all the hype is about. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, was an entertaining, young adult level book. We meet then sixteen-year-old Simon Spier, a gay, but in the closet, young man who has been corresponding to another teen on line via email. They use anonymous names and although they know they go to the same school, they don’t know who the other is. One day Simon leaves the computer too quickly and forgets to close down his Gmail account all the way. Another teen, logging onto the computer, sees the email history between Simon and the other teen, who goes by “Blue”, and prints it out. Simon has something the other boy, Martin, doesn’t have. Lots and lots of friends, and one girl in particular that Martin has a serious crush on. Blackmail ensues, and Simon works to have his secret not be released to the whole world. What follows is a coming out tale, with a little drama and a happy ending. That said, I did have some issues with this story, which have to push my rating down. As someone who went through the “forced out” process when a friend reported me to the military and it led to my public outing and eventual discharge, I had a LOT of angst. Granted he is 16/17 and I was 21, but I think I know what I’m talking about here. There is no way that a kid being outed to his entire school would be so calm about it. The instant acceptance by all friends, family members, teachers, and most of the student body was unrealistic and the bullying events were downplayed. I found it particularly unrealistic since it took place in Georgia, which isn’t known for its liberalism. This book reads like it is written for high school students, maybe to be read in class. It is too sweet, too understanding, and just too much. We’re in love and it is happily ever after doesn’t happen in the real world like it did in this book. I thought the book was good. I’m going to rate it 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. I liked it, and it showed above average writing, but it could have used some real life angst thrown in to make it a much better and more realistic book. It was too much rainbows and unicorns and cotton candy for me. Final opinion…too sweet and not really enough substance…kind of like those ABC After School Specials that used to run back in the eighties.

Everyone, aka Lindsay Ribar and Dahlia Adler, told me that Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was a Christina book. While I totally love this, it also makes me nervous. What if I let them down? And Becky’s a local author, so disliking her book could be totally awkward and angst angst angst. I worried for absolutely no reason, because freaking obviously Dahlia and Lindsay were all sorts of right, and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is just the cutest freaking book. First off, I love Simon. His voice is absolute perfection. I didn’t quite instalove on his narration, but I actually love that too. Simon takes time to open up to people. He’s not the easiest guy in the world to get to know, because he really doesn’t like having people all up in his business. While popular and friends with most everybody, Simon’s a bit reserved and judgmental. He’s a sweet guy, but he’s also stubborn and swears a lot, which also makes me love him even more. The reason Simon’s so secretive, even with his best friends, is his family. He loves them, but they’re also overwhelmingly interested. I empathize, Simon. He holds information back because people make such a big deal about it and it really makes him nervous. The family dynamics are truly perfect, though. The whole family is so loving, which doesn’t mean perfect obviously. The parents are very present and do things like grounding their kids. Also, the family traditions like Facebook status hunting and Bachelorette viewing are so adorable. Then there are the friend group dynamics. Simon’s closest friends have always been Leah and Nick, but, lately, Abby, a transfer, has become part of the group. It’s thrown off the dynamics in a big way, especially since Leah likes Nick, who likes Abby. Simon, in his typical way, is trying to avoid the drama getting to him, which in turn causes problems. Establishing groups of friends and actually giving all of them screen time is really tricky—there’s a reason most YA characters have a singular friend—but Albertalli really pulls it off. The tension between Abby and Leah is especially well-handled; it could easily have felt like girl hate, but it’s way more than that. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is framed around Simon’s email romance with a mystery guy he calls Blue. For about five seconds, I thought that was the guy’s real name and was doing some serious side-eye, but it’s all good. The rapport between Simon and Blue via email is super adorable. Though Blue doesn’t want to reveal his real identity, they also open up about a lot of stuff they don’t feel comfortable telling anyone irl. It’s so much easier to talk to people online, and that really makes their flirtation work. The two talk a lot about coming out. Simon‘s sort of about that, but I’d say it’s more about finding yourself in general. Simon and Blue do come out over the course of the book, but it’s not a huge deal. I also like that Simon talks about how revealing anything new about himself feels like coming out, and that really everyone should come out, because there’s no reason to assume someone’s straight either. Albertalli also touches on the way that casual jokes that aren’t meant to harm can really be upsetting in Simon’s relationship with his dad. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is most definitely a fluffy romance, but it is also designed top open eyes and make people consider how heteronormativity continues to be an underpinning of society. Simon, in trying to figure out who Blue is, checks out a lot of guys. I love this. He has someone he’s mentally chosen to cast as Blue in his fantasies, but he’s basically got minor crushes on several people. This is so true to my own teen experience and in YA characters are so often only into THE ONE. The dynamics in this book are just spot on. Also, I called the ship immediately and I was right and it was beautiful. Finally, remember how I mentioned Albertalli’s a local author? I actually even picked this book up free at Decatur Book Festival last August. Anyway, it’s set in Atlanta, which is a special pleasure for me. I particularly delighted in the comment that this one kid has a southern accent and how weird that is. People from most anywhere else are always asking why I don’t have an accent. The novel also reflects the diversity I’m used to seeing in my daily life. Similarly, I think the reaction to Simon being gay fit pretty well with Atlanta and what things were like in my high school. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is so good that I spent the last half of the book literally yelling AWWWW at it out loud. This is not necessarily normal behavior for me. *shoves Simon at everyone*

This book is beyond amazing, there aren't enough like it. The characters are all relatable and grounded, the writing is crisp and easy and perfectly captures the voice of the main character. The story is emotional and heartfelt, from sweet to funny to heartbreakingly sad to blissful. There aren't enough queer fiction books like this one. If I had found this in high school I would have felt a lot better about myself.

El libro es genial. Ya tenía la versión original, pero me encanto esta portada del póster de la película. La historia es muy hermosa y me ha dado mucha alegría al leerla. Sin duda alguna este es un libro que recomendaría mucho para todos los adolescentes. Estoy ansioso de que esté la preventa del Blu-ray para comprarlo. Gracias Amazon.

Útil

O livro conta a história de Simon Spier, um adolescente gay que ainda não se assumiu. Só um amigo virtual, que esconde sua real identidade através do apelido "Blue", que sabe de sua orientação sexual. Os dois se conheceram através do tumblr em que postam fofocas da escola em que estudam, ou seja, apesar de não saberem quem realmente são, sabem que convivem diariamente. Simon passa todo o tempo pensando em Blue e procurando pistas para conseguir identificar quem é seu amigo, por quem acaba se apaixonando. Achei interessante a Becky Albertalli ter escolhido alguém completamente imprevisível para ser o Blue, e de como tratou homossexualidade de uma forma natural e inteligente. Entrou para a lista dos meus livros favoritos. Foi lançado no Brasil pela Íntrinseca ( Simon vs. A Agenda Homo Sapiens ) e o filme será lançado no ano que vem.

Ok, but where has this book been before??? It is perfect and I would have been thrilled to have it in my life as a teen! The plot revolves over the email conversation between Simon and Blue, his incognito friend whom he befriended via Tumblr and developed a strong connection to. (Sounds familiar, eh?) They don't know each others identities but they go to the same school. Simon is being blackmailed by another classmate who wants to date a girl, who is Simon's friend. In spite of serious topics of coming out, discovering oneself, first love, social media, privacy (something which becomes more and more important in modern age) it is a very lighthearted novel, which gave me a warm feeling when I finished reading it. The plot reminded me of a book by German writer Daniel Glattauer called "Gegen Nordwind". It has a similar plot twist, in which a man and a woman start emailing each other by a pure accident and fall in love. The whole novel is constructed of emails and it is an adult fiction. "Simon" is a sweet YA book, which is a very easy read - I read it like in less than two days - and would definitely appeal to many teens (and adults). The ending was just perfect, and even though I sort of guessed Blue's identity before Simon, I thought that their first meeting was perfectly executed. Definitely worth reading. p.s. I initially got this book from the library but when this ebook was on sale - I just couldn't help getting it!