Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Published by: Balzer + Bray
Pub Date: April 7, 2015
Pages: 320
Format: hardcover | Source: purchased
Genres: young adult, contemporary, LGBTQ+
Rating:

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’ve been rereading more books this year and it has been such a joy! By a happy coincidence, I saw an archived post on Wendy @ Book Scent‘s twitter which was a reread review. I loved the format and thought it was something I could use too! I also found it on Lauren @ Bookmark Lit‘s blog, and they both got it from Kelly @ Belle of the Literati. I’m carrying on the borrowing tradition I guess!

When I First Read

This book swept the blogosphere when it first came out, which is when it crept onto my radar! I saw glowing review after glowing review from many friends and trusted bloggers, so a couple months after publication I picked up Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda on a trip to Barnes & Noble with my husband. I even got him to buy it for me 😉

What I Remember

Loving Simon and wanting to be part of his friend group! Loving the Harry Potter references and the adorable family Christmas traditions and the guyliner. Noticing how relatable the book felt- the high school experience and the friendships were SO real. And falling in love with the UTTER CUTENESS that is Blue and Simon!! I love how slyly flirty and humorous Blue is, and I love how nerdy and excitable Simon is. Those emails ❤

Why I Wanted To Reread

Because I love rereading contemporary romances, especially when you know the secrets and can spot all the little clues to the secret admirer’s identity! And because I really do love this book. So much of this book had universal themes of being a high school kid and discovering yourself, while managing to be cute and funny as hell. This is the kind of diverse book I love to read- gay characters, straight characters, black characters, white characters, Jewish characters just… LIVING. Being. Because that’s how life is. I liked seeing that books like Simon (or The Start of Me and You) can tackle a topic in a real, nuanced way but make it feel like it’s part of the character’s life, not the entire character. But for real- the cuteness and the shiiiiiip! I read to escape and I like lighter kinds of contemporaries- Simon vs. is a fast read that makes me super happy.

How I Felt After Rereading

That I wanted to read it again and that I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE MOVIE!!! AHHHHHH! It was somehow sweeter and funnier than I remembered, and still romantic and cute and gosh the last 30 pages of the book are too much in the best way. And OF COURSE I especially loved Simon and Blue’s emails and Simon’s descent into crush obsession haha. Their emails were adorable, open, raw, and so flirty! I loved watching Simon and Blue fall for each other while discovering who they were (literally and figuratively).

Would You Read Again

Absolutely. It’s a definite favorite and I’m so excited that we’re going to get Leah’s book next year as well! More of Simon and the gang!

Are you looking forward to the Simon vs. movie and more of the Simon-verse in the book world? Do you like to reread contemporaries? I’d love to know!