Leah on the Offbeat (Simonverse, #3)

by Becky Albertalli

[layawaydragon]

I don't get all the hate and dislike for this book, TBH. I wasn't happy with Leah's portrayal in Simon Vs. because it was clear to me there was more going on and Simon was too wrapped up to see it. I was excited to finally get to see from her perspective. I wasn't disappointed.

The only reason Leah and Abby seem so straight in Simon Vs. is because of Simon and heteronormativity. I mean, all those times she was supposedly jealous over Nick? Wrong person. Why does she overthink things with Abby? Because she's insecure and second guessing herself because Abby is too. It's a sapphic classic. It's so obvious and common. Like does no one else read w/w? I'm a baby in my nonstraightness but even *I* know that.

I get Leah and Garrett. I get Leah and her mom and the BF situation. I get the insecurity and protecting yourself and anxiety and fatphobia and falling for the wrong person. Does it suck? Yes. And it's not neat and clean like Simon Vs. Simon Vs. was great, don't get me wrong, but it was...clean cut like the suburbs. Leah is a mess trying to straighten herself out on the weird inbetweenness with her class, friends, fatness, family, and sexuality.

Just like those low raters don't get the raves, I don't get their rants. But it's w/e. I'm just saying to give it a shot don't write it off right away. And I'm personally insulted that people are basically saying Becky sold out and is pandering as if this is NOTHING like Upside of Unrequited but w/w. *eyeroll*


Notes While Reading:
>>"Did I just compare 'Don't Stop Believing' to meth? Yes, yes I did."
>>She describes herself as "fat Slytherin Rory Gilmore"
>>Mom is 35, Leah 18. That'll be me & my daughter.
>>School play is Joseph and the technicolor dream coat
>>Takes place a year after Simon Vs.
>>Nora is Simon's little sister
>> "My brain in an asshole" I know that sister! lol
>>Fuck Taylor. Or not...?
>>Waffle House reference & patronage hasn't aged well....
>>Nick & Simon going to Boston and New York for Spring Break
>>I feel you about being broke around people like this
>>Her & Abby going to GA
>>Damn, they don't even notice she's broke. That sucks. Also, relatable AF.
>>Yeah, no sitcom family here, thank gods.
>>Sexy mom is awkward. (and unlike the age, not going to be the same for us)
>>Leah is bi but not out to people except Mom.
>>Different last names!!!! YESSSS!! I can't remember actually reading this on the page before and I didn't realize how much it'd mean to me. YAY!
>>[Responding to Simon saying FML] "I can't fuck your life. I'm monogamously fucking my own life." LOL
>>Nora & HIM?!? NICE! Adorable. Awkward. Dooooomed.
>>Cute awkwardness w/ Garrett.
>>Anna's part Chinese, Morgan is part Jewish. Both part of the band.
>>Rebecca Lobe? I hope I heard that right. I'm going to look it up later.
>>Brunch w/ the boyfriends sounds painful
>>"I roll my eyes so hard my eyebrows hurt"
>>Oh NO nononononono, she's pulling the affirmative action bullshit. FYI: affirmative action actually helps white women most.
>>Yay Leah!!!
>>Wow Taylor, WTF?
>>Promposal. Of course.
>>Awwww Leah
>>Ewww every teen movie should not end in prom, Leah's mom.
>>"Can ambiguous social situations go fuck themselves?" LOL YES I feel that!
>>"There's nothing more toxic than a suburban HS in March." The hyperbolic funny way of speaking is usually fine, but esh, this is one time I wish she calmed it down. FLINT STILL DOESN'T HAVE CLEAN WATER.
>>Yep on the bi rant about w/w "action"
>>Yep, know that wanting feeling.
>>Ugh, yeah. Fuck dressing rooms & skinny MFers & fat shamers.
>>Oh no!!! The dress....
>>Poor Leah. Crushed.
>>"Embrace the suck, let your guts hang out" lol
>>"I want things to not suck & I don't think that's too much to ask"
>>Totally saw that coming. Not an actual emergency you privileged fuckers.
>>I'm w/ Abby on the long distance.
>>Dun dun dunnnnn.
>>Awww the wedding from Upside of Unrequited!
>>Awwww the drawing!
>>Ouch, their parting tho...
>>"Abby's eyelashes should have their own zip code."
>>"She's so wholesome it kinda pisses me off" Did you know that the term cute aggression describes the almost-overwhelming urge to do violence to an object that we find incredibly adorable? Sounds like Leah's got it bad, lol
>>Ugh, huggers.
>>OMFG!!!! Oh. MY. FuCKINg GODS!!!!
>>Fuck . Yeah, Abby that's fucked up.
>>Yeah, Cassie has a point.
>>Hahaha both stubborn AF.
>>OUCH.
>>All the college drama.
>>"Abby [Last Name I can't spell] makes me feel all kinds of things, nice isn't one of them."
>>Haha Simon. Awww Nora.
>>damn
>>Wow damn Leah that hurts.
>>HAHAHA love her Mom.
>>"Here's the thing though no one warns the babies." AWWWWWW
>>OMFG!!!!! LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
>>Awwwwwwww poor kiddies.
>>YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
>>AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
>>Really loved the narrator all the way through.