REVIEW: Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, lgbt+
Romance

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

ISBN: 0062348671

Format: Hardback, Paperback, E-Book,
Audio-Book

Release Date: 7th April 2015


Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Indigo
B&N, Book Depository

Website, Twitter, Instagram,
Facebook


Rating: 10/10


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. 

Review:

After almost 3 years, I've finally read it. AND I LOVED IT.

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a story about a gay 16 year-old boy named Simon. He's kept it a secret until his emails fall into the wrong hands and his secret is threatened.

I'd heard so many amazing things about this book and I wish I'd read it sooner. I kept putting it off and off until recently when I finally decided to jump in. Now I'm even more excited to see the movie coming out tomorrow (17th March 2018).

Simon is a wonderfully loveable character. I loved reading from his point of view and I never found him boring or annoying. He's a very sympathetic character who he deals with a lot of issues but he works through it gracefully and he wasn't afraid to take a stand. He loves Blue despite having never met in person but still throws himself out there; taking every day as it comes. Simon also makes mistakes like anyone but he is quick to apologies and realise mistakes that he has made.

Martin was a fantastically well written character who served his purpose fantastically. I found his actions predictable but it didn't ruin his character or how much I hated him. I'd love to have had more scenes with Leah, but she has her own book coming out later this year that I cannot wait for! All the character had flaws but that just made them seem more real and relatable. 

The book is a simple story but was so wonderfully written I couldn't help but fall in love with it. I enjoyed all the little references to Harry Potter, Fruit's Basket and Simon's obsession with Oreos. It was also wonderful to read a book with such great representation and diversity.

The mystery of Blue's identity kept me reading and reading until I was finished. All my guesses to who Blue may have been were wrong but I loved guessing along with Simon as I read. When he finally found out I was smiling and excited. I loved getting to read their interactions together after having only read emails between them. 

I can see why so many people loved this book and I'm happy to add it to my favourite books list. I only wish I had read it sooner. I imagine a lot of you have read this one already. But if you haven't, please pick this book up or go see the movie: Love, Simon.