Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekwood, #1) by Becky Albertalli
Published by Balzer + Bray on April 7th 2015
Genres: YA Contemporary
Pages: 303
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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.

Catfairy’s Bookmix

Here is my Simon-spired bookmix!

Catfairy’s Homo Sapien Thoughts

Sadly, I had Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in my TBR list for quite a while and now I want to kick myself for not reading it! Frankly speaking, the movie pushed me to finally finish the book! Since I was invited to a private screening I sped through the book within less than a week! It wasn’t difficult to finish the book because Albertalli’s writing is just so utterly delightful from beginning to end! Simon Spier melted my little bookworm heart! He has such a vulnerable and sensitive spirit that you just can’t help falling in love with him! How can you not fall in love with someone who says, “I’m too busy trying not to be in love with someone who isn’t real.” Sigh…book boyfriend list for sure…

 

Catnopsis

I don’t know how to be gay in Georgia. We’re right outside Atlanta, so I know it could be worse. But Shady Creek isn’t exactly a progressive paradise.”

 –Simon Spier

Albertalli’s story begins when Simon Spier gets totally blackmailed. Martin, who is Simon’s theatre nerd classmate “accidentally” stumbles upon Simon’s email account which reveals that he is gay. Martin decides to make a deal with Simon and promises to keep his secret as long as he gets Simon’s friend Abby to date Martin. 

Things get completely awkward when Simon tried his best to hook Martin up with his friend Abby. And Simon continues to struggle with his hidden identity but finds solace with his best friends Leah, Nick, Abby, and most importantly Blue…

Blue is someone who Simon confides in and shares his innermost thoughts with because Blue happens to be gay as well. Although Simon hasn’t met Blue in IRL. He doesn’t even know his real name. His online identity is just Blue. Their relationship is strictly email and the only thing Simon really knows is that they go to the same school…

Simon slowly starts falling in love with Blue. Along with the struggles of first love he struggles with his sexual identity and wonders how he is going to grapple with his own reality and come out to his friends and family.

 

Catfairy’s Poppy References

Now I am not able to really compare this book to any specific pop culture references but I have been on a major Dawson’s Creek re-watch and last week I just finished watching Jack’s coming out episode! 

via GIPHY

I can’t help to think what a major deal when Jack came since they made it into a two-part episode! Dawson’s Creek was revolutionary to some degree because it was the first show on primetime television to feature the very first male gay kiss. We have come quite a long way since the year 2000!

 

Becky Albertalli’s Writing

 “I don’t like no endings,” I say. “I like things that don’t end.”

-Simon Spier

I am totally in love with Becky Albertalli’s writing and I will now officially consume everything she writes! The Upside of Unrequired and Leah on the Offbeat are definitely on my top TBR list! And can I just say how excited I am about Leah on the Offbeat especially because it is a spin-off of Simon vs. the Homo Sapien Agenda and I just ADORED the character of Leah! I loved her sarcasm, wit, and the fact that she plays the drums! This girl is a totally cool chick and I definitely want her to be my fictional best friend! Very interested to learn more about Leah and find out her story!

The characters that Albertalli created are so unique, honest, and have so much heart! She has a way of making you care about the characters in the book and the struggles that Simon goes through just makes you want to reach out and hug him…and maybe give him some Oreos too! (Btw they mention Oreos a lot in this book!)

After I was done reading this book, I just had this big smile plastered on my face and any book that makes me this happy is an oreo-tastic five star read for me!

FIVE CHARLIE CHUCHI STARS!

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