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annamorgan27's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual content
em_5460's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Very overhyped, didn't really connect with any of the characters. I didn't find the writing style to be very intriguing, not really much prose.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content
allweseeorseem's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Excrement, Homophobia, Outing, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
phantastic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing
20sidedbi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, and Bullying
Minor: Sexual content
coyodie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
merah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A major part of the story is about drama and theatre. Personally love that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Outing
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
fanboyriot's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Read For:
Slow Burn
Happy Ending
Email Romance
Heart-Warming
Email Romance
Heart-Warming
Friends to Lovers
I don’t know how I loved the re-read of this even more but I did. The emails were iconic and all the little things they talked about being mentioned later on, like the oreos for example.
This was just such a cute and funny read that I didn’t even know how comforting it was to read until years later re-reading it. The characters were so detailed and loveable. Simon’s humor was everything.
(First Person POV)
Spice: 🌶 (lightly mentioned)
Rep: Gay MC, BIPOC LI/SCs, Jewish LI, Bisexual SCs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, and Outing
Moderate: Hate crime, Body shaming, Biphobia, Homophobia, Ableism, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Fatphobia
elisweets's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I have very mixed feelings feelings about this book. It’s difficult because while I did enjoy some parts of the story and I do think Simon and Blue (don’t wanna spoil who it is) have very cute interactions, there is just so much wrong with the story and you can clearly tell it’s written from a white woman. I know the author is bi but the way certain things were handled scream straight author too.
1) There seems to be a lot of brushing fetishizing of queer individuals under the rug. For instance Simon stating it’s easier for queer girls because guys find it hot. He just kind of moves on from that as if that makes it okay and is a good thing. Also his friend Leah just LOVING gay guys and yaoi. Maybe possibly could be skipped over, but there’s just so much wrong in the book.
2) I fucking hate how she talks about Martin!! While he is blackmailing Simon and threatening to OUT HIM, Simon is like teehee maybe he’s my friend… like wtf. No that’s disgusting. Also how in the end he like “feels bad” for Martin and feels bad for being mad at him as if it’s not valid to be pissed someone outed you. I personally as a queer person feel like that is in no way written well at all. It would be one thing if Martin did it and realized how wrong he was in the end and like grew as a person because I do believe that can happen, but in now way should Simon have all those mixed feeling because I don’t know a single queer person who, if in that situation, would be like “oh he’s my friend.”
3) The just casual racist things were just weird. A lot of stereotyping. A lot of like forced wokeness. Idk that’s just what I got from it. There were moments where I was thinking in what world did a white women think it was okay to write that OR that it was needed in any way for the story. Like the fact that Blue was black is so awesome but then to make sure to say “white isn’t the default” feels very forced and a way to say “look I’m white but I’m not racist” I feel like she very much fails to explain any of the privilege that Simon has or have any TRUE diversity because the majority of the cast is just some white kids.
3) It’s a gay story for straight people. Not a gay story for the gay community. It’s all nice and packaged as any other teen romance book but the main characters are boys, but it still follows all the same exact structures.
4) The transphobia kills me with this one. The fact that Simon says he used to love dressing more feminine and he would get so excited to do it, but he would never get close to cross dressing now because like it makes him sick and scares him how much he liked it. Sounds like Simon is having a gender crisis. But that’s all that’s ever said about it really and seemed (a) not needed in the story because liking to be in “girl” is not inherently a gay trait if you’re a guy and it’s not a story about transness or being non-binary so eh (b) just super weird (c) like a weird “I’m gay but not that type of gay” thing and it made me uncomfy. Also just a lot of man in a dress jokes because apparently that’s funny.
All in all, it seemed very forced. A narrative to pander to straight people to show what “coming out” and “struggling” with sexuality is like, but it misses all the basics and is very much not well re-searched. I was very disappointed and I will probably never watch that damn movie either.
1) There seems to be a lot of brushing fetishizing of queer individuals under the rug. For instance Simon stating it’s easier for queer girls because guys find it hot. He just kind of moves on from that as if that makes it okay and is a good thing. Also his friend Leah just LOVING gay guys and yaoi. Maybe possibly could be skipped over, but there’s just so much wrong in the book.
2)
3) The just casual racist things were just weird. A lot of stereotyping. A lot of like forced wokeness. Idk that’s just what I got from it. There were moments where I was thinking in what world did a white women think it was okay to write that OR that it was needed in any way for the story. Like the fact that
3) It’s a gay story for straight people. Not a gay story for the gay community. It’s all nice and packaged as any other teen romance book but the main characters are boys, but it still follows all the same exact structures.
4) The transphobia kills me with this one. The fact that Simon says he used to love dressing more feminine and he would get so excited to do it, but he would never get close to cross dressing now because like it makes him sick and scares him how much he liked it. Sounds like Simon is having a gender crisis. But that’s all that’s ever said about it really and seemed (a) not needed in the story because liking to be in “girl” is not inherently a gay trait if you’re a guy and it’s not a story about transness or being non-binary so eh (b) just super weird (c) like a weird “I’m gay but not that type of gay” thing and it made me uncomfy. Also just a lot of man in a dress jokes because apparently that’s funny.
All in all, it seemed very forced. A narrative to pander to straight people to show what “coming out” and “struggling” with sexuality is like, but it misses all the basics and is very much not well re-searched. I was very disappointed and I will probably never watch that damn movie either.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Alcohol
theskyboi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Having seen the movie first, I think I was somewhat scared to change my perception of a story I considered to be flawless in its candid telling of the gay experience. However, by the end of page one, I already knew my fear would be displaced by the magnetism of Simon Spier and his very personal story.
Anyone who has had to come out to themselves before saying it aloud to others can relate to the feelings bubbling just below the surface in Simon's life as Martin threatens to expose his identity to the world. Simon, caught between love, family, identity, and fear, must endure Martin's blackmail for fear of losing his new email-penpal love interest: Blue.
As it differs from the film, the novel manages to capture the same magic, intrigue, and allure as Jacques and Blue try to find a romance worthy of coming out for. I found myself anxiously awaiting each email chapter, hoping for a little more of a glimpse into their flirting, reliving that rush of emotion that comes from digitally falling in love. Blue has a much more readily apparent style and identity in the novel than in the film, which made the ending so satisfying.
Simon vs. the Homo sapiens Agenda is the gay story I needed when I was in high school, yet reading it somehow gave me the chance to revisit some of that past turbulence and paint the memories with a brighter brush, dipped in every color imaginable. There is something to be said about YA fiction that can capture the adult heart. It goes without saying that this is a new literary classic worthy of every accolade possible, but I'll say it anyhow.
Anyone who has had to come out to themselves before saying it aloud to others can relate to the feelings bubbling just below the surface in Simon's life as Martin threatens to expose his identity to the world. Simon, caught between love, family, identity, and fear, must endure Martin's blackmail for fear of losing his new email-penpal love interest: Blue.
As it differs from the film, the novel manages to capture the same magic, intrigue, and allure as Jacques and Blue try to find a romance worthy of coming out for. I found myself anxiously awaiting each email chapter, hoping for a little more of a glimpse into their flirting, reliving that rush of emotion that comes from digitally falling in love. Blue has a much more readily apparent style and identity in the novel than in the film, which made the ending so satisfying.
Simon vs. the Homo sapiens Agenda is the gay story I needed when I was in high school, yet reading it somehow gave me the chance to revisit some of that past turbulence and paint the memories with a brighter brush, dipped in every color imaginable. There is something to be said about YA fiction that can capture the adult heart. It goes without saying that this is a new literary classic worthy of every accolade possible, but I'll say it anyhow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Biphobia and Sexual content