Very well done!
Well written, deep in feeling and emotion, accurate in its portrayal of a teen angst as identity looms. Spawned a beautiful film, but so much more detailed and sensitive.
It has been a long time since I have been in high school, but it seems like not much has changed. Lol. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, I loved the story and how it was told and I loved the ending. Please let there be more. Yes, it was slow at times, yes it was stereotypical, but such a great message. So many great quotes.
This book was just gorgeous :) Funny and sweet, with a cast of great people I fell in love with immediately (Martin somewhat grew on me as the story went on). I want to pull them out of the book and into real life <3
I'm gushing and rambling some haha but I honestly don't have any complaints with this book. Simon is one of the best MCs I've read this year. The side characters are beautifully drawn as well and the bond between them all is wonderful with some funny-awkward moments.
Simon's parents: So hilarious sometimes :-D
I loved watching Blue and Simon falling in love over emails *happy sigh* Re-read them a few times with a big smile on my face. I had a couple guesses who Blue could be but who Blue turned out to be took me completely by surprise. I like that I didn't predict who he was till he decided to show himself to Simon.
The thing with the T-Shirt at the locker... aaaw, so sweet!
Quotes:
Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn't be this big awkward thing whether you're straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I'm just saying.
White shouldn't be the default any more than straight should be the default. There shouldn't even be a default.
But I'm tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change, but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways. I get a girlfriend. I have a beer. And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe all over again.
It is definitely annoying that straight (and white, for that matter) is the default, and that the only people who have to think about their identity are the ones who don't fit that mold. Straight people really should have to come out, and the more awkward it is, the better. Awkwardness should be a requirement.
What's a dementor?"
I mean, I can't even. "Nora, you are no longer my sister."
"So it's some Harry Potter thing," she says.
I take a sip of my beer, and it's - I mean, it's just astonishingly disgusting. I don't think I was expecting it to taste like ice cream, but holy fucking hell. People lie and get fake IDs and sneak into bars, and for this? I honestly think I'd rather make out with Bieber. The dog. Or Justin.
Did you just tell us you're gay?" Asks Nick
"Yes."
"Okay," he says. Abby swats him. "What?"
"That's all you're going to say? Okay?"
"He said not to make a big deal out of it," Nick says. "What am I supposed to say?"
"Say something supportive. I don't know. Or awkwardly hold his hand like I did. Anything"
Nick and I look at each other.
"I'm not holding your hand," I tell him, smiling a little.
"All right"--he nods--"but know that I would.
----
Sorry haha, I could quote this whole thing... still smiling thinking about it. I need the audio-book for this ASAP :-D.
Highly recommend!
I'm gushing and rambling some haha but I honestly don't have any complaints with this book. Simon is one of the best MCs I've read this year. The side characters are beautifully drawn as well and the bond between them all is wonderful with some funny-awkward moments.
Simon's parents: So hilarious sometimes :-D
I loved watching Blue and Simon falling in love over emails *happy sigh* Re-read them a few times with a big smile on my face. I had a couple guesses who Blue could be but who Blue turned out to be took me completely by surprise. I like that I didn't predict who he was till he decided to show himself to Simon.
The thing with the T-Shirt at the locker... aaaw, so sweet!
Quotes:
Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn't be this big awkward thing whether you're straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I'm just saying.
White shouldn't be the default any more than straight should be the default. There shouldn't even be a default.
But I'm tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change, but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways. I get a girlfriend. I have a beer. And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe all over again.
It is definitely annoying that straight (and white, for that matter) is the default, and that the only people who have to think about their identity are the ones who don't fit that mold. Straight people really should have to come out, and the more awkward it is, the better. Awkwardness should be a requirement.
What's a dementor?"
I mean, I can't even. "Nora, you are no longer my sister."
"So it's some Harry Potter thing," she says.
I take a sip of my beer, and it's - I mean, it's just astonishingly disgusting. I don't think I was expecting it to taste like ice cream, but holy fucking hell. People lie and get fake IDs and sneak into bars, and for this? I honestly think I'd rather make out with Bieber. The dog. Or Justin.
Did you just tell us you're gay?" Asks Nick
"Yes."
"Okay," he says. Abby swats him. "What?"
"That's all you're going to say? Okay?"
"He said not to make a big deal out of it," Nick says. "What am I supposed to say?"
"Say something supportive. I don't know. Or awkwardly hold his hand like I did. Anything"
Nick and I look at each other.
"I'm not holding your hand," I tell him, smiling a little.
"All right"--he nods--"but know that I would.
----
Sorry haha, I could quote this whole thing... still smiling thinking about it. I need the audio-book for this ASAP :-D.
Highly recommend!
Unexpectedly Fun (Possible Spoilers)
I'm not sure what I expected when I decided I needed to read this, but this wasn't it. At the first few paragraphs I was disappointed. It seemed almost juvenile in how it was written. But the more I read, the more my mind changed.
This was a fun read; I couldn't put it down. I started it late thinking I would read a few chapters and then go to bed. But it didn't work that way for me. Here I am in the wee hours of the morning reviewing it because I couldn't stop reading until I finished.
I felt for Simon and wanted to murder Martin. But I also wanted to punch Simon. At the very least he should have told his best friend that someone was blackmailing him to get to her, but there wouldn't have been much of a story then. The blackmail debacle is what gave us time to get to know Simon and Blue as well as Simon's friends, who were important.
I hurt so bad when Martin outed Simon. I wanted to deep fry him, but I think we all knew it was coming. Martin was selfish and childish and could have been a good friend of not for his immaturity. All he cared about was what he wanted and I'm glad that Simon didn't forgive him in the end. Maybe he does somewhere down the line, like well into adulthood, but even that would be too good for him. What Martin did doesn't deserve forgiveness.
And as for Blue, I had a feeling all along that it wasn't Cal. For a half second I wondered about Nick, but when they described him having anime heart-eyes for Abby I knew it wasn't an act. In the end I suspected and even hoped for Bram because of the way Simon noticed him. He REALLY noticed him even if it was only in passing and that spoke volumes to me. I'm so glad it was him, and I'm so glad they worked out.
If nothing else this book had laughs and teaches the dangers of logging into private accounts on public computers. It should also teach people to think before you act, because there are some things you can't take back that could ruin other's lives. And the guilt is something you live with forever.
I'm not sure what I expected when I decided I needed to read this, but this wasn't it. At the first few paragraphs I was disappointed. It seemed almost juvenile in how it was written. But the more I read, the more my mind changed.
This was a fun read; I couldn't put it down. I started it late thinking I would read a few chapters and then go to bed. But it didn't work that way for me. Here I am in the wee hours of the morning reviewing it because I couldn't stop reading until I finished.
I felt for Simon and wanted to murder Martin. But I also wanted to punch Simon. At the very least he should have told his best friend that someone was blackmailing him to get to her, but there wouldn't have been much of a story then. The blackmail debacle is what gave us time to get to know Simon and Blue as well as Simon's friends, who were important.
I hurt so bad when Martin outed Simon. I wanted to deep fry him, but I think we all knew it was coming. Martin was selfish and childish and could have been a good friend of not for his immaturity. All he cared about was what he wanted and I'm glad that Simon didn't forgive him in the end. Maybe he does somewhere down the line, like well into adulthood, but even that would be too good for him. What Martin did doesn't deserve forgiveness.
And as for Blue, I had a feeling all along that it wasn't Cal. For a half second I wondered about Nick, but when they described him having anime heart-eyes for Abby I knew it wasn't an act. In the end I suspected and even hoped for Bram because of the way Simon noticed him. He REALLY noticed him even if it was only in passing and that spoke volumes to me. I'm so glad it was him, and I'm so glad they worked out.
If nothing else this book had laughs and teaches the dangers of logging into private accounts on public computers. It should also teach people to think before you act, because there are some things you can't take back that could ruin other's lives. And the guilt is something you live with forever.
