Book Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

About The Book:

 

  Title: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

  Author: Becky Albertalli 
  Pub. Date: April 7th, 2015
  Publisher: Balzer + Bray 
  Pages: 303 

  Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance

  Rate: 4/5 stars

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:

My reaction to this book is an astounding AWWWE. It was soooo cute. I feel like I'm one of the last to read this book, so if you've read it already then you know what I'm talking about! This book has irresistible characters with a modern plot line. Becky Albertalli is extremely talented and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is undeniably a game changer for LGBT books. 

“Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, 

and it shouldn't be this big awkward thing whether your staring, gay, bi, or whatever"

I loved Simon. I wasn't a fan of the other characters in the book as much, but I just think that's because I loved Simon so much. He was quirky and crazy awesome and not only because he loves Harry Potter and Oreo cookies. I also really liked Simon's parents. I thought they were really down to earth yet at the same time cared about Simon and his life. It's really hard to find interactive parents in YA books because more often than not they are dead or die in a traumatic way to aid in the main character's development. I mean, am I one of the only ones who noticed that theme? The romance was so cute. You obviously don't find out till closer to the end who "Blue" is. But when you do, it's just one of the cutest things! I genuinely felt happy when I found out. The e-mails between Simon and Blue were one of my favorite things about the book, even though I feel like texts would have been more fun ;). But clearly that wouldn't have worked considering Blue was secretive. 

“He talked about the ocean between people.

 And how the whole point of everything is to find a shore worth swimming to. "

So I don't really know what else to say about this book! This is a book that you have to read for yourself to see what it's like. This book probably won't go in my book as a favorite for me but that's just because contemporary books are not typically my go-to genre. And the ones that are my favorite are usually very dark contemporaries. However, I still absolutely loved this book and I thought it was so adorable. Becky Albertalli handles coming out with the grace of a seasoned author. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a no-brainer for lovers of contemporary and refreshingly light for those impartial to contemporary. 

- Jocelyn