By Becky Albertalli
“Sorry, I didn’t turn out to be much of a boy.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Sort of.”
“You’re an awesome boy, you’re like a ninja.”
- Page 250
Title: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
Author: Becky Albertalli
Publisher: Penguin
Book: Standalone
Genre: YA/Romance/ LGBT
Found: Booktube/ Film trailer
Rating: 5 Voodoos
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.
-Goodreads
I made it to the end without peeking at who Blue was!! I was tempted so many times but I’m so glad I didn’t look. I did sort of guess, which was nice.
Of course, once I’d finished the book I had to go back and read it again, knowing who Blue was, looking for any little interactions I’d missed (there were some)
This is another book, like Eliza and Her Monsters, where I’ve seen it around lots but I wasn’t really into reading it, then suddenly I find out more and I realise it appeals to me. This time it was the trailer for the film. I knew I needed to read the book before I saw the film and I really want to see the film!
I am NOT a fan of Martin. He should totally have known better and I’m a little sad that Simon went along with it, with regards to Abby – at the least he should have told her Martin had something on him – but you can debate ‘should haves’ forever, at least he crossed no lines and the way he did do it was well done, I thought.
I completely understand where Leah is coming from in regards to them going out without her and not telling her and weirdly I’d probably think her overly dramatic if something similar to that had not also happened to me. It is rather destroying but at least her friends tried to make up for it. She WAS being mopey, but that’s not the way to deal with it.
I think part of the charm of this book is that they fell in love over email. Plus it was hilarious and adorable how crushing Simon sort of melted when he’d been reading Blue’s emails. I also like that he didn’t let Martin touch this part of his life either.
Blue seems terribly shy and it’s a little frustrating. Of course we found out why when they meet, when they’re talking about it all. But of course, now I need a book from Blue’s point of view so that I can read about him falling in love with Simon. Because that would be amazing.
What I don’t get – not just in this book – is why characters explain things to the reader but don’t do the same with each other. It ALWAYS causes problems and it’s so frustrating! It’s not always big things either, just tiny little things sometime. Instead of “I gave him the last piece of bread.” How about “I gave him the last piece of bread because he had no breakfast.” Why do fictional people hold onto things like that?! Do people do it in real life and I just haven’t noticed??!
Obviously Blue was my favourite character, he was so mysterious for most of the book and I like mysterious characters. He was shy and adorable and I loved him because Simon did. Plus, I love how he described Simon in his note. I liked Simon too of course, but we were in his head and it’s just different.
Still not a fan of Martin.
I’m likely not the first to mention this, but it was nice to read an actual love story too. Generally stories involving gay couples are all about the sex, which is important but not vital and not suitable for everyone who needs or wants to read about more diverse people.
I’m looking forward to reading Leah on the Off Beat – not just for the follow up of Simon and Blue but also because I would like her to have some better luck.
But SImon and Blue better be in there lots!
