Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

4/5 Stars

This book is like a warm cup of coffee on a Sunday morning: calm, comforting, and cute.

I've been putting off reading this book forever, not because it centered around an LGTBQ+ couple but because I already saw the movie (and I have this weird thing about reading the books after seeing the movies), the cover isn't particularly attractive, and honestly a little sucky, and the title is wordy and doesn't come off as very fitting for the story. It wasn't until after I read the book that I actually understood the inside joke that is the title.

Before picking this book up, I was in a reading funk and must've started at least 4 different books and just stopped reading them after getting like 30 pages in, but this book was so entertaining from start to finish that it completely snapped me out of it, to the point where I blew through it in a day. It was so funny and charming that I actually caught myself laughing out loud.

This book just made me really happy but also made me really angry. How can there be people out there that protest this. Love. That's really all it is and there are upset and angry people who feel the need to tear people who are different down just because they are sad and lonely. I feel sad for homophobes because when I read this book, I was reminded of all the things that they are missing out on: love, acceptance, support, joy, inclusivity.

With that being said, this book also was not a blatantly inaccurate portrayal of how it must be for someone who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community to come out. Although I can never understand what they must go through having to come out, this book does not dismiss the hardships and the homophobia that exists in society.

Overall, this is an uplifting story about friendship, family, and perhaps one of the cutest, sweetest romances I've ever read.

Also, if you are choosing not to read this book due to the fact that it centers around a gay couple, hate to break it to you but that is your internalized homophobia talking and I feel sorry for you. <3