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

Becky Albertalli

Start date: June 1, 2018

Finish date: June 30, 2018

Discussion: Books of the Month 2019

Why we're reading this: June 2018 Book of the Month
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What Members Thought

Jun 08, 2018 Cyn rated it did not like it

Shelves: library-overdrive, ya-teen, reviews-comments, contemporary, tbrr, abort-abort-abort

DNF @ 32%

OOPS. I AM MAD. This book shouldn't make me mad, don't you think?

This book is advertised as 'light and fluffy'. And I suppose it is 'light and fluffy', I did enjoy what I listened to (the audio has a great narrator). But I was also under the impression that Simon Vs is genuine and realistic. This is not. This is a fuckin fanfic and I did not sign up for this. Although parts were somewhat enjoyable (some humor, emails between Blue and Jacques) some other parts were problematic BS. Ju ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

May 13, 2018 Demi Parker added it · review of another edition

could not put the book down and is there a film to this

4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 21, 2018 Maria A 🌙 rated it liked it

This was really cute.

It was sweet and fun and I think Becky Albertalli managed to write a great slice of life, coming of age story without coming across as a "how you do, fellow kids?". Seriously, I don't know how many YA authors fall into that "I know what Tumblr is! and what music the youths listen to! and look I know cool slang!" trap. Simon is a very well developed character, at first, I was a little unsure because he didn't elaborate on his feelings often, but he's also a teenager. I think This was really cute.

It was sweet and fun and I think Becky Albertalli managed to write a great slice of life, coming of age story without coming across as a "how you do, fellow kids?". Seriously, I don't know how many YA authors fall into that "I know what Tumblr is! and what music the youths listen to! and look I know cool slang!" trap. Simon is a very well developed character, at first, I was a little unsure because he didn't elaborate on his feelings often, but he's also a teenager. I think the book starts a little weak and unsure, but it grows stronger as it goes along. Perhaps I felt like that because it jumps straight into the main conflict and things move really quickly from then, so I was a little lost and even felt I really didn't know Simon very well.

I love the dynamic between the Spier family. It's very sweet to read about a gay kid with an openly supportive family and a just a close-knit family overall. I understand the importance of realistic representations of the challenges and discrimination LGBT+ people face, but I also understand how tiresome it is that most "gay" stories are torture porn, especially for young audiences.

And yes, the homophobia in this book is painfully accurate, but so is the love and support Simon gets from his friends and family.

Also, a thing I have noticed with YA is that many authors fall into the trap of "black and white morality" with the antagonist being obviously very evil and the protagonists being obviously the good ones. Fortunately, this book doesn't fall into that trap. Characters do shitty things and learn from their mistakes, they see things from other perspectives, they grow, including our main character. Martin, who is the antagonist, gets brief moments that reminds us he's just an awkward kid with a hopeless crush, but also the book doesn't want us to forget that what he did is to Simon is horrible, and Simon doesn't have to forgive his homophobic actions.

I didn't like Martin, even with his little moments of being reminded he's just an immature kid. But I do think he's an interesting character because we are so used to seeing homophobic, sexist characters being well....blatantly homophobic and sexist. Martin is not out there screaming his machismo, but he's more of a "nice guy" whiny kid who thinks blackmailing people and forcing a girl to hang out with him is ok because "poor me I'm so nerdy, and I have a gay brother so I can't be homophobic!". I didn't really buy his apology in the end, but I like that it opens a realistic opportunity for growth.

Abby was an incredibly sweet friend and my favorite of Simon's friends. I wish Nick had more of a personality but he was nice enough. I think it's a controversial opinion but I didn't like Leah and I don't understand why she's the one getting a spin-off book. Out of all of Simon's friends, she seemed the least supportive to me, because she made everything about herself. She's kind of mean (but I guess it was meant to be sassy?), insecure and lashes out to her friends. I understand her insecurity and I have been in situations like hers, but she was just so....sour all the time. I couldn't understand how she never apologized to Simon but he apologized to her? Granted Leah reminds me of a shitty "friend" I had, who started just like her, little insecure moments that soured the friendship and eventually escalated towards outright abusive behavior. So I guess my perception of her is tainted by my past or something, I just couldn't see a happy ending for her and Simon, unless it involves him and Abby and Nick ditching her when they go to college.

The romance was adorable and again when a lot of YA relies on "his eyes were so blue and his chest so wide ooohh I'm swooning" love at first sight romance, it was lovely to read a couple falls in love by actually talking to each other. I think the epistolary/email romance was better done than other novels cougheverythingeverythingcough. It was also adorably teenage-like, I mean getting excited just talking about sex? The nerdy awkward flirting? Ah, kids.

It was cute, I won't be reading the "sequel" because I can't bring myself to like Leah lol, but it was good. And the music mentioned is great too just saying. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2018 Kristina Cosy Novel Niche rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Finally after years I read a full book in French (translated of course) and I liked it ^^ cute, with minimum to no angst and with some positive messages. Can't say that it's my new favorite, but definitely recommend as a summer read ...more

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Apr 14, 2018 Rachael's Reading Corner rated it it was amazing

So good! I love the fact that I never figured out who Blue was, even though it was (apparently) pretty obvious who it was. Definitely a must read.

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2019 Sydney Scothon marked it as to-read

First thing let me just say wow i really enjoyed this book i loved all the characters in it i like simon and bram as a couple they are very cute and i think simons parents are hiliriaous and one more thing my favorite characters has to be leah and simon i just can't tell you how much i loved this book it amazed me in every chapter from the emails he gets to the point where he finds out who blue really is just wow ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 07, 2019 Denise Lauron rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved this book! It kept my attention from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down. I had the mystery man's identity figured out abbot halfway through, but even knowing, it was still a fun read. ...more

1 like · Like · see review