Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

by Becky Albertalli

This book got a lot of hype, but I have no idea how it went over with actual teens (as opposed to librarians and other people who work with teens). Gay story lines are popular nowadays, at least with the nerdy kids who hang around the library. I found the book to be okay but in need of editing (which is making me feel like a broken record lately).

A high school student who isn't quite out yet (though he does do theater) is communicating online with an anonymous boyfriend who also goes to his school. Whoever could it be? What if he gets it wrong and makes a pass at the wrong guy? How awkward! Meanwhile, some other guy finds out and blackmails him for help getting closer to his best gal pal.

Promising story ingredients, right? My complaints are that the happy ending happens to fast, some character actions don't seem realistically teenager-y, and the like. On a technical level the writing is good, but I think some higher level polishing would have resulted in a better book overall. Still, looking back on it now, I would definitely recommend this book — not like, "OMG, you have to read this," but like, "yeah, it's a good book."