Let me start by saying that I simply devoured this novel. I finished it in one day. It accompanied me on two planes and a train as I traveled home from New Orleans. On one of the flights we were told we had to power down all electronic devices for the last 20 minutes of the flight and it killed me, because I really wanted to read this book.
The premise of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a bit twisted. Teenagers can truly be cruel and just a tad sadistic at times. Somehow, though, this was one of the most adorable and heart-warming stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Albertalli's voice is natural and conversational with believable dialogue and evocative descriptions that hold brevity in high esteem. The portrait she paints is achingly realistic. Her characters are relatable, with just the right touch of unbelievable talent or ability. I think that any reader can find a piece of themselves - especially their insecure, awkward, naïve teenage selves - within these pages. I dare you to read this book and not fall in love with Simon and Blue.
The book certainly doesn't shy away from depicting issues surrounding sexual identity such as homophobia, self-doubt, and the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies the coming out process for many queer individuals. It also manages to provide meaningful commentary on other big issues like racism, body image, and social inequality while feeling 100% like a light-hearted, feel-good teen romance.
If I had to express my thoughts on this book in a single emoji it would be ^_^
Do you really need to know more than that to give this book a shot? I don't think you do...
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