Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

by Becky Albertalli

This is a 4.5 star book, but I’m upping it to Grade A+ status. Definitely a page turner, and I will probably read it again at some point.

Saw this on the Goodreads deal email, sampled it thinking I’d probably put it down, or at the most buy it and read it later, but couldn’t stop reading. Simon’s a hard character not to like. He’s quite funny and honest/blunt. He was a refreshing type of narrator and I felt like I knew him within a few pages, one of the reasons I couldn’t put it down.

This was quick read. I read most of it in one day. There was no stopping point, there weren’t any lulls—it kept going, which is refreshing compared to the last young adult book I read. The play stuff should have bored me, but it didn’t, because when it progressed the plot rather than distracted from it. There were a variety of characters, and their lives didn’t revolve around Simon, which I think is a great sign. In high school, and to some extent in life, we’re all the centers of our own universe, and I hate when books make the main character the center of everyone else’s. This book did a great job with the realism of that. The emails between Blue and Simon were also very distinct. I could see the two personalities instantly, which shows how good the writer is at developing these distinct characters.

I guessed who Blue was within the first 5 chapters. I didn’t know for sure though, and I almost doubted it toward the end. I put it together through on major hunch/clue, and so I didn’t feel it was predictable. That mystery kept the book going. And it was awesome that I was right!

I expected it to be cheesy, but it wasn’t. There were no over the top dramatic arcs. Characters were real, not walking plot devices. It was a great coming of age novel — a person trying to become comfortable with themselves. I really can’t think of any criticism for it, and Simon’s optimism is contagious. I enjoyed it a lot. Give it a read. Grade A+, top shelf status.


Confused by my grading scale, click here to find out how the grades relate to star-ratings you’re more used to seeing.