Title: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
Author: Becky Albertalli
Publisher: Penguin
Published: August 7th 2015
Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟
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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.
“WHITE SHOULDN’T BE THE DEFAULT ANY MORE THAN STRAIGHT SHOULD BE THE DEFAULT. THERE SHOULDN’T EVEN BE A DEFAULT.”
Simon vs. is Becky Albertalli’s highly acclaimed debut novel, a sweet and short contemporary about sixteen-year-old Simon Spier who is gay. Though the book follows a very simple plot, what it lacks in action and drama is made up for by its cast of flawed and completely adorkable side characters. Yet, ultimately, for me, it didn’t live up to its hype and I could not be more disappointed.
There is nothing bad about this book. The narrative voice is unique and realistic, with chapters alternating between Simon’s POV and his email exchanges with the mysterious Blue, whose anonymity definitely would have intrigued me more had I not accidentally spoiled myself beforehand. Regardless, I certainly would not have guessed who it was and still grinned from happiness at the cute Ferris Wheel scene near the end where all is revealed.
Overall, I think I was just expecting something more from this book. Less of the Oreos and more of everything else. That being said, I am quite excited for the movie because the cast is just perfect. Though, if you haven’t yet read it, I advise you to avoid all movie talk in case you accidentally find out who Blue is. I’m wondering if it’ll be that rare case of me enjoying the movie more than the book?
Simon vs. also reaffirmed my love for Becky’s writing (you need The Upside Of Unrequited in your life) and even though I have been anticipating Leah On The Offbeat before I even met Leah, I am even more excited now!
headscarves & hardbacks 
I hope that I end up enjoying the book. I really had so much fun with Upside, so I’m kind of worried that my expectations are too high.
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That was my problem exactly, especially after I read multiple Upside reviews that said “it was great but… it wasn’t Simon!”
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Aww. I’m sad you were disappointed but at least you adore Becky! Great review x
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