Simon is 17, has a great group of friends, is popular at school and in his high school play. Life it seems is pretty good. But he has a secret, well actually two. Someone has discovered them both and is threatening to share them.

Simon is gay. He’s not ready to come out just yet, unsure of the reaction he will receive. After all, his family are just so over the top when he does something different than they expect. Not over the top mad – just – Wow, it’s such a big deal that he suddenly drinks coffee, or any other small changes he makes as he gets older. Telling them he’s gay would blow their ‘freakin’ minds.

The other secret? Simon has been emailing someone called Blue, and he is falling for him. No-one knows until a guy at school sees one of Simon’s emails to Blue. He decides to use this secret against Simon to try and get what he wants….

This involves one of Simon’s close friends, and he hates that. He hates being blackmailed even more, and rallies against it which in turn reveals everything. Why does getting older be so hard? Why does anyone’s opinion (except Blue’s) mean anything anyway?

He falls even harder for Blue as he struggles with his own new and real identity, inadvertently leaving clues for Blue to figure out who he is. Simon really wants to meet Blue but he remains distant. Simon lays down an opportunity for Blue to reveal himself. Will he take it, or will he lose Blue altogether?

A nice slice of teen realism, with no murders, crimes, thriller moments or fantasy. I loved Simon’s easy-going, friendly, family orientated character. A clinical psychologist in real life, Becky Albertalli has brought her characters to life on the page.

Simon is dealing with so much under his skin, as we all do as teenagers, but others have secrets too, things he’s never even thought about before.

His friends were also portrayed well, and I felt like I was actually hanging out with them in their favourite cafes and at parties. Winner of Awards, I can see why so many people love this book.

Author – Becky Albertalli

Age – 14+

(LGBTQ+, Gay, School, Secret, Friendship, Out of the closet, Coming out, Family, Growing up, Social media, Love, Romance)