Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Simonverse, #1)

by Becky Albertalli

The beloved, award-winning novel is now a major motion picture starring 13 Reasons Why's Katherine Langford and Everything, Everything's Nick Robinson.

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Straight people should have to come out too. And the more awkward it is, the better.

Simon Spier is sixteen and trying to work out who he is - and what he's looking for.

But when one of his emails to the very distracting Blue falls into the wrong hands, things get all kinds of complicated.

Because, for Simon, falling for Blue is a big deal ...

It's a holy freaking huge awesome deal.

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Praise for Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda:

'Worthy of Fault in Our Stars-level obsession.' Entertainment Weekly

'I love you, SIMON. I LOVE YOU! And I love this fresh, funny, live-out-loud book." Jennifer Niven, bestselling author of All the Bright Places

• ISBN10: 0062348698
• ISBN13: 9780062348692
• Publish Date: 7 April 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[readingwithwrin]

3.5 stars

“Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn't be this big awkward thing whether you're straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I'm just saying.”

For me, this book ended up falling flat. That could be because I was getting into a small reading slump though.

See reviews first on my blog

Simon is just a regular guy, he’s not out to many people he knows and he’s okay with this. Of course, he’s worried about telling them, but he’s also comfortable in his masculinity and isn’t afraid to be who he is for the most part.



“But I'm tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change, but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways. I get a girlfriend. I have a beer. And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe all over again.”



Now to having to get to becoming the wingman for the class clown, well this is what bothered me, he was literally being threatened to be outed. That’s not okay and in my opinion shouldn’t have been such a plot point.



“It's strange because, in reality, I'm not the leading guy. Maybe I'm the best friend. I guess I didn't think of myself as interesting until I was interested to Blue.”

Overall for me, not much of this story was memorable sadly. I really wanted to like and it enjoys it as much as everyone else did, but I just didn’t sadly. Simon had so many good points and his friends were great and extremely supportive, but it just seemed like another Contemporary high school story. I did like the mystery of who Blue was and I was always trying to figure out who he was the whole time Simon was.

[Nessa Luna]

Last year, this book was released and it almost instantly became one of the most popular books that year. I'd added it to my to-read list, but never really picked it up, not even when I found out I would be meeting the author, Becky Albertalli. This month I finally decided to pick up Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda because I had gotten rather curious after all.

Let me start off by saying that, while I did enjoy this book, I still don't get the hype that much. It's not an incredibly special book, in my opinion. I mean, sure the main character is gay, but other than that it was just a nice contemporary book. Maybe it's because I am just not that 'surprised' over gay people or something like that (I mean the majority of my friends are either gay, bi, trans, etc etc), and maybe I just only saw the typical contemporary elements that almost every book in this genre seems to have (sorry not sorry, still not a fan of contemp. books).

Simon was a very nice character, and I really liked his family. His friends were cool too, and I loved the tradition of having cake during lunch every time someone in the group had their birthday. As for Blue, I enjoyed the email exchange between him and Simon, and I honestly wish there had been more emails (say one or two emails, like the initial email and a reply, at the beginning of each chapter), but that is just me being a fan of books that aren't formatted in the 'usual' way. One thing I was rather indifferent about was the Oreo diet. To me Oreo's are like Maltesers, one or two are nice, but I cannot eat more than that in one go. I used to eat them almost every day a couple of years ago, and after a while I just didn't like them anymore. I honestly just don't really get people's obsession with these things.

There was one moment in the book where Simon was thinking about how Blue might be Martin, the very person that had been blackmailing him over these emails, and I promised myself that if that happened, I would put down the book and not continue reading. Thank the gods that this did not happen, and I was actually quite surprised by the end. Also a bit sad that Simon/Cal didn't happen, because I believe Simon did in fact have a crush on the guy until he found out that it wasn't Blue and that made me rather sad because I had been hoping it really was Cal in the end. Oh well.

The writing was very nice, and I honestly got through the book so fast, I believe I started it on the 25th and finished it the day after. So I guess this book kind of healed my reading slump, points for that! I think I'll pick up another book by Becky, although I am not 100% sure if I'll pick up a sequel to Simon, because this book was a really nice standalone, and I'm afraid a sequel might ruin the original story for me.

I recommend this book to people who love books by John Green, especially those that loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

My opinion on this book in one gif:

[nitzan_schwarz]

ALSO POSTED ON MY BLOG, AFTERWORDS!

Okay, so I admit I have been mostly hesitant to read this. I knew everybody and their dogs loves this, but I don't read too much LGBT novels (and maybe that's wrong of me), and so I was kind of afraid of this. I mean, what would happen if I didn't like it? *gasp*

But when it was on sale on kindle, I had to one click it. And then it was just a matter of time until I was in the mood for something I don't normally read, and so I opened it and... 

YOU GUYS, I LOVED IT SO MUCH! 

It was adorable! I was shipping Simon and Blue from the get-go (both e-mail Blue and who I hopped Blue was--and he was him!! Happiest happy dance ever!)

Simon was just funny and quirky and very teenager-y and real and he was such a strong person (I could never be this strong), and this whole story felt of first love and all the confusion and uneasiness that comes with it. 

And of course, there is the coming of age and coming out issues in this novel. I loved how this book didn't entertain the thought "being gay is wrong" for even a second. How it was never a matter of if but when with everything.

I loved the friendships depicted here and the familial relationship.

Honestly, this book has so much win and so much heart and so much soul in it and good and healthy relationships that are not perfect 'cause yo we're all human and it was so enjoyable!

This is the type of novel I feel like I would probably re-read when I need something adorable but also thought-provoking.  

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Old stuff
4.5 stars
Seriously adorable shit, right here.

[lizarodz]

Quite the Novel Idea http://quitethenovelidea.com http://quitethenovelidea.com/liza-reviews-simon-vs-homo-sapiens-agenda-becky-albertalli/As you know, our dear Bee loves Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. If you don't know this, then I assume it's your first time visiting Quite the Novel Idea, in which case, Welcome! In any case I listened to Simon because of Bee (of course!) and since both her and Rach have raved about it, I will keep this review short and sweet.

Simon  

Simon is SO sweet. He's in high school and if that isn't stressful enough, he's dealing with the realization that he's gay and trying to figure out what that entails. Specially in a conservative place like Atlanta.  He's well liked, has good grades, is active in drama class and has a group of close friends that are there for him.  Simon has a strong narrative voice, a clear personality, it is easy to get to know and love him.

Emails 

For a big part of the book is of the emails between Simon and Blue.  I love them.  They give the reader such an incredible insight to the inner workings of their minds. We get to know each of them as they know each other, we get to love them both and we want to see them be together.  They are so cute that there was no doubt in my mind that at the end, love would prevail.

Becky Albertalli's Writing 

This is Albertalli's first book.  Seriously. Her writing was fascinating and so full of the feels.  She captured Simon's feelings so clearly: the frustration, fear, uncertainty, anger, love, delight... She has so much talent, that I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! There are some difficult topics to tackle in this book, homosexuality, race, and bullying being the big two and she did it gracefully.

Family and friendship 

Simon's family is ever present in the story, which I love.  It makes the story more realistic, even if he thinks they are overwhelming in their "caring".  I also loved his relationship with his sisters and the fact that they had his back.   Nick, Abby, and Leah are Simon's best friends and support group.  I do have to say that Leah was a bit needy and got offended rather easily.  I think she realized that by the end.

Discovery 

I think Simon vs. the Home Sapiens Agenda is a book about discovery.  Not only of accepting who you are - quirks, personality and sexuality included - but also on dealing with difficult situations and believe me, Simon has quite a few of those.  Growing up and high school is not easy, and having to deal with "coming out" and what that entails in a conservative community is even harder.  I think that Simon did a lot of self discovery during the length of the book.

Romance

The romance between Blue and Simon is slow, real, growing, and plain adorable.



Although Michael Crouch has quite the list of narrated books, this is the first time I listen to one of them.  I really enjoyed the experience.  It's usually harder for me to hear male narrators making the female voices, but I think Crouch did a pretty good job.  I was never confused or wondering who was talking.  I also love that Crouch acting talent shines throughout the reading of the book, it's full of feeling, trepidation, wonder, and so many of the beautiful feelings that make Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda so special.

Overall, here are two words to describe this book: adorable perfection.This review was originally posted on Quite the Novel Idea

[layawaydragon]

My library hold finally came through and I blew through this in one sitting.

It was cute, very sweet. I felt really bad for Leah though. She was made out to be...like a problem but I totally understood the insecurity and worry. Given how now there's a sequel with Leah, it doesn't bother me as much as it would have if I'd read it when first pubbed.

Mostly, it really made me want to read Leah's story.

Don't get me wrong, Simon Vs. is great. Like I said, read it and one sitting and loved it. But I think given all the time I waited and the hype worked against me, where instead of fangirling, I'm just like....


Highlighted Quotes from Reading:

"I don't even know where to begin with that. Some straight kid who barely knows me, advising me on coming out. "

"My sister heard they [Chick-fil-A] donate money to screw over gay people, and I guess it started to feel weird eating there."

"But I think it's different for girls. Maybe it's easier. If there's one thing the Tumblr has taught me, it's that a lot of guys consider it hot when a girl is a lesbian."

"Nothing is worse than the secret humiliation of being insulted by proxy."

"Atlanta is so weirdly segregated, and no one ever talks about it. "

"So I guess you learn something new every day, because I really thought Jewish people came from Israel."

"Wednesday is gender bender day, which basically amounts to southern straight people cross-dressing."

"Simon means "the one who hears" and Spier means "the one who watches." Which means I was basically destined to be nosy. "

"My dad invented the concept of Simon logic, and I can't seem to outgrow it. It means wishful thinking supported by flimsy evidence."

"I'm just so sick of straight people who can't get their shit together."

[That whole lunch table scene is extra hilarious now that we KNOW.]

"A couple of the girls put some junk in my hair to make it messy, which is basically like putting high heels on a giraffe."

"But the curtains start to open. And I keep moving forward."

"I mean, that's my family. Everything's a freaking secret, because everything's a big deal. Everything is like coming out."

"But maybe this is a big deal. Maybe it's a holy freaking huge awesome deal. Maybe I want it to be."

[lisacee]

I love Simon. He's a realistic, smart but flawed character. I was rooting for him throughout this sweet story.

[Sam@WLABB]

I had heard soo many good things about this book, and they are all true!

I taught in a high school for over a decade, and I think this book would mean so much to so many.

[Rinn]

I made the mistake of starting this late at night, and then had to stay up far too late to finish it in one go. I read it in 2 and a half hours because I HAD to know who Blue was. I'm so glad it turned out the way it did!

[Joséphine]

Initial thoughts: This was such a great pick-me-up kind of book. If you're having a dreary day or are simply in the mood for a huge dose of a cute contemporary book, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a great choice. The narration of the audiobook was so on point, it was as though Simon was sitting just beside me, telling me his story. He was such a down-to-earth and genuine character. Plot-wise, I wished for more things to happen beyond the emails and blackmailing. Still, I thought it was an engaging book. Props for the depiction of a gay character without making it a big deal while still maintaining the importance this revelation had to Simon's life.

[Linda]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is one of the best YA books ever! I loved all the characters, they were so realistic. And I loved the dilemmas Simon and Blue faced with realizing they were gay.
This is a book I'm getting for the library at the school where I teach, I think every teenager should read it.

Story:

I don't think there's much I can say about Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda that hasn't been said before. Simon is just the perfect character in a young adult story. He's a little awkward. A little obsessed with himself and his own problems - even if he loves his friends and his family. And he's more than a little hooked on Blue, a guy from his school. Whom he doesn't really know, but then again, maybe he does. And he falls in love with Blue through a whole lot of e-mails.

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda tackles a lot of topics teens deal with in our day and age. There is bullying. Homophobia. Just the growing up and feeling awkward about it. Having strong friendships that suddenly appear a more fragile. Underage drinking. Social media that isn't always used for good. And I think the way these themes are dealt with are astonishing! Of course, I fell in love with the theatre teacher. Because she shut down bullies from the get-go. Plus Simon's parents were delightful in their awkwardness to see their children growing up.

I won't say more, apart from if you haven't read this yet, you really, really should! Even if you think YA isn't for you. One thing that really stood out is how authentic all the characters were, which just made the whole story seem real.

Characters:

Simon is the best male protagonist ever. He's funny - even when he doesn't mean to. And he asks himself a lot of questions about life, himself, being gay, and other things.

Nick is one of Simon's best friends, and I really enjoyed him, even if I didn't get to know him as well as I got to know other characters.

Abby is new to Simon's group of friends. And she's kind of amazing. She listens carefully, and she's loyal and supportive.

Leah is the friend who's a bit on the outskirts. She's in love with Nick. But Nick has a thing for Abby... However, there is none of the awful drama that could have come from this.

Blue. He was also an amazing character. Even if for most of the story, I only got to know him through his e-mail interactions with Simon.

Writing style :

First person point of view, from Simon's perspective. However, there are a lot of dialogues included, and the e-mails between Blue and Simon. The present tense makes everything that happens immediate, as if the readers are right there with Simon and his friends.

Feels :

*sighs* I can't even. All the feels, for sure!



And I'm seriously not in the mood to deal with my family. I probably ha e about an hour until dinner, which means an hour of trying to spin my school day into a string of hilarious anecdotes. My parents are like that. It's like you can't just tell them about your French teacher's obvious wedgie. You have to perform it.

That was the summer I taught myself how to do laundry. There are some socks that shouldn't be washed by your mom.

Honestly, the weirdest part is how they made it feel like this big coming out moment. Which can't be normal. As far as I know, coming out isn't something that straight kids generally worry about.