Title: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Author: Becky Albertalli

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 303

Release Date: April 7, 2015

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 Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. 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.

I FINALLY READ THIS ARE YOU PROUD OF ME??

You don’t have to answer that – I know you are.

I’m proud of me for finally purchasing this book in Target the other day and reading it. I always used the excuse of there never being a hardcover copy in the stores when I go (since my copy of The Upside of Unrequited is hardcover) but when I saw Simon in Target I felt this pull towards it and I couldn’t not get it.

Let me just say that Becky Albertalli did it again – but only better this time! I loved her other book and this book I found to be even more heartfelt and special.

Even though I knew who Blue was before reading the book (I mean, I was bound to find out with all of the promo for the movie and such – also I didn’t think I’d remember by the time I read this book came around), I still enjoyed this book as much as I would have if I hadn’t known.

I think I liked knowing who Blue was from the start more because then every time the character was mentioned by Simon I’d internally squeal and scream at Simon to notice it’s him. It made the overall reading experience more fun for me.

I loved the characters so much. Albertalli is great at making realistic characters and I was happy to see that the same applied to this book. I love Simon. I love Blue. I love Leah. I loved everybody. Hell, I even sympathized with the ‘bad’ guys.

I found this book to be hilarious but also really important. The line that comes straight from the book and into the movie trailer is one that has stuck with me – it’s one that I think everyone should hear and take to heart because it’s so important.

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

PRAISE QUEEN OF THE OREOS BECKY ALBERTALLI!

Seriously though, there was so much heart put into this book. And it’s a happy gay love story – it’s not sad (don’t get me wrong, I love Adam Silvera books with all of my heart and soul and will read them until my last dying breath, but you have to admit – they’re a bit depressing), the characters are relatable, the friendships are goals, and the ending wraps up so nicely but leaves you hoping for the future.

The only complaint I have is that I wasn’t given enough of the things I loved about this book. I felt like there weren’t enough Simon and Blue interactions – I would have liked to see their relationship develop rather than the book start when they’ve already fallen for each other. I shipped them with all of my heart but I wanted more of their interactions, especially after they figured out who each other were.

I still absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the movie to come out in theaters next month! Can one of y’all come and see it with me? I don’t think my family would want to haha.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Maybe I’m just being selfish here with wanting more of Simon and Blue, his family, his friends, his oreo obsession – but I really felt like the book fell short a bit. Like maybe if there were just 10 or so more pages that included more of this stuff I would be able to give it a full 5 stars.

Purchase This Book:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Have you read this book? Have you read Becky Albertalli’s other book? What’s your thoughts? Are you excited for the movie? Let me know!

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