Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: Book review
Book title/Author: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Publisher/Year: April 7th 2015 Penguin
Genre: YA Contemporary
Series: No
Pages: 320
Source/Format: e-arc | NetGalley
(Thanks NetGalley/Balzer + Bray!)
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion.
*This review may contain spoilers!*
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.
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 review
This book was one of my most anticipated reads for 2015, and I was not disappointed at all. This book left me with the biggest smile on my face and it just made me so happy. It was a very cute book, but it also had substance, rather than just being fluffy.
Simon is very realistic and relatable, and it is a hard thing for an adult to write a teenager that well, but Albertalli managed to.
Every one of the reviews that I read about this book said that they had been able to guess who Blue was, but I have to admit that I had absolutely no idea who it was until I was told at the end. I liked that little mystery throughout the story as it built up the tension until you found out.
Simon and Blue's emails really showed their personalities and I loved how you as a reader could see how perfect they were for each other, while reading about them slowly figuring it out too. Their conversations were so intellectual and witty, and I know I'd want to be friends with them in real life.
One of my favourite things about this book was how family was a big element of it, but also how supportive they were towards Simon, as you hear a lot about parents being unsupportive towards their kids when they come out, and I'm glad it was the opposite in this case.
This book is a new favourite of mine, and I encourage everyone to read it.
Izzy
Simon is very realistic and relatable, and it is a hard thing for an adult to write a teenager that well, but Albertalli managed to.
Every one of the reviews that I read about this book said that they had been able to guess who Blue was, but I have to admit that I had absolutely no idea who it was until I was told at the end. I liked that little mystery throughout the story as it built up the tension until you found out.
Simon and Blue's emails really showed their personalities and I loved how you as a reader could see how perfect they were for each other, while reading about them slowly figuring it out too. Their conversations were so intellectual and witty, and I know I'd want to be friends with them in real life.
One of my favourite things about this book was how family was a big element of it, but also how supportive they were towards Simon, as you hear a lot about parents being unsupportive towards their kids when they come out, and I'm glad it was the opposite in this case.
This book is a new favourite of mine, and I encourage everyone to read it.
Izzy
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