Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (Book Review)

The fact that I haven’t read this book by now is honestly kind of strange. But, it seems quite fitting that I’m reading it during Pride Month. The last book I read with an LGBTQ+ main character was The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and I loved it. Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda was the second book I picked up during last month’s trip to the library.

Fun fact: I love red book covers.

Goodreads 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

At the start of the story, I was a little skeptical. I thought I knew exactly where the book was going and exactly what would happen, turns out I was wrong. Though there were some parts I figured out early on, a lot of it was a total surprise. I loved the way this book is written, it felt so honest and frankly quite personal.

I got through the majority of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda in one day. It’s really hard to put down after you get a few chapters in. Trust me, it was a day well spent.

Towards the end, I was giggling like a school girl. This book was soo cute. Everything gets wrapped up so nicely, yet I wouldn’t mind seeing more of these characters. I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for Leah on the Offbeat during my next library trip.

Have you read this book?

Did you see the movie?

What are you currently reading?

What should I check out?

Let me know in the comments, let’s chat!