Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli Published by Harper Collins on April 7th 2015
Pages: 336
Amazon-Indiebound
Goodreads
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.
My Thoughts:
Why did I wait so long to read this book? It was the William C. Morris Award Winner and was on the National Book Award Longlist. Plus, all my friends were raving about it. I have no excuse. It was a victim of the blackhole known as my TBR. We got a copy in for the library and I picked it up one day at work. I was just going to flip through it and maybe read a chapter or two. I didn’t put it down until I was finished. I simply couldn’t!
This book immediately captivated me. The voice is just incredible. I couldn’t believe how quickly I fell in love with the characters and the story in general.
Simon is just so adorable and honest. I loved everything about him. The emails between him and “Blue” were everything I adore about relationships in YA. These boys are really opening themselves up to another person in a very real way for the first time. Ugh, I’m getting all sappy just thinking about it but it is not a sappy book! It’s clever and sweet and just so, so, good.
As an aside, I can’t not mention the awesome adults in Simon’s life. I love, love, loved the drama teacher. I want to be a teacher like her! His parents were excellent as well.
In short, you just simply have to read this book.
Brittany
Literally all of my friends have been raving to me about this book for ages, so I know I have to read it soon! I’m so glad you loved it! Amazing review ^_^
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Morgan @ Gone with the Words
Yayyyy I’m so glad you finally read and loved Simon!! So easy to fall into those TBR black holes, I know the feel haha. It’s such a wonderful book, clever and sweet like you said. I loved the characters! I’ve been wanting to reread it, maybe now is the time 🙂