[Review] Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Rating: 5 stars

Format: HC

Release Date: April 7th 2015

Goodreads Synopsis:

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.

THIS BOOK.

Why haven't I read this book before? I picked it up after watching the Love, Simon trailer and it didn't not disappoint. Everyone loves this book and I have just joined the club. I stayed up to read this wonderful book and I can't wait for Leah on the Offbeat that's coming out soon.

Before I go rambling off, Simon vs. is the story of our titular hero Simon Spier, and how he hides the fact that he's gay from everyone he knows, except for his anonymous pen-pal, Blue, whom he emails back and forth. However, Simon is being blackmailed by Martin, and fears his secret will be revealed. Simon must also deal with the complicated friendship dynamics that are shifting during his junior year. Now he has to juggle the growing complications in his friend group, the blackmailing, and his growing feelings for Blue all in the midst of junior year.

This should definitely be a book that everyone reads. I'm someone who typically prefers fantasy to contemporary, and I've also struggled with contemps that took place in high school because I couldn't really relate to them anymore, but honestly Simon vs. captured a very timeless sense of humor and narration. It wasn't cliched at all. You're rooting for Simon the whole leg of his journey - feeling his frustration and confusion at what is happening around him, and wanting him to get his happy ending. And when he found out who Blue was... I swooned with the romance in this book, let me tell you.

All the struggles of high school and acceptance and figuring yourself out are brought up here and it's so so great because not too long ago I was in that position. Even if I wasn't, I'd still remember how complicated my crushes got or how I worried my friends would leave me. And the whole telling your friends vs. your best friends secrets... I TOTALLY GOT THAT.

"There's this huge part of me, and I'm still trying it on. And I don't know how it fits together. How I fit together. It's like a new version of me. I just needed someone who could run with that." 

I can't wait to see the movie and I can't wait for the sequel to come out so we can get Leah's happy ending too!