Trivia: The novel was successfully adapted into the 2018 film Love, Simon. Albertalli deserves a massive amount of credit for countering the notion that coming out is no longer a big issue. Simon’s struggles highlight the emotional impact and insecurities of many LGBTQ youth who fear rejection. Simon’s parents are very liberal and progressive, yet he is terrified by the prospect of coming out to them. Albertalli, a former child psychologist, has an uncanny ability to tap into the angst and fear of a closeted teenager.
Frankly, it is the novel I wish I had access to when I was a closeted teenager. While not being the most ground-breaking piece of fiction available, this novel represents a major step forward in teen genre fiction. When I first read this novel, I’m not ashamed to say I was in tears by the end. Using the pseudonym of ‘Jacques,’ Simon begins an email romance with a fellow student he only knows as “Blue.” When Simon’s emails are discovered, he is blackmailed into helping a classmate or risk being exposed to the entire school, and lose Blue forever. The Homo Sapiens Agenda centers on Simon Spier a 16-year-old closeted gay teen growing up in Atlanta, Georgia.
I do not argue that these novels represent the absolute best in the genre, but I believe they are novels that every gay man can connect with on a deeply emotional level.įirst published in 2016, Simon vs. I have compiled a list of my 10 personal favorites which I return to time and time again. Throughout the years, I have amassed a large collection of gay fiction from obscure to mainstream bestsellers. They provided characters I could relate to since their experiences were so much like my own. They were founts of knowledge where I could learn more about LGBTQ experiences and the history of the rights movement. The less stringent censorship found in the publishing sphere allowed writers to explore a multitude of LGBTQ characters and themes through the lens of diversity.įor me, as for many LGBTQ folks, books were a source of validation and connection. I came of age in an era when there were no drag queen reality shows, before Will and Jack were making us laugh, and before playing LGBTQ roles became Oscar bait for straight actors.īooks provided representation that was sorely lacking in the media. With the flip of a page I could be whisked away to the Court of Versailles, attend classes at Hogwarts, visit Middle Earth, or travel to the far reaches of the galaxy to worlds I had never heard of.Īs a teenager, books took on even greater meaning as I questioned my sexuality. Growing up in a fairly small, conservative and economically depressed town, reading offered me an escape to places I otherwise could not go. For me, reading isn’t just a hobby or a way to kill a rainy Sunday afternoon, it’s something far more personal. It may not come as a surprise to you since I write for a living, but I love to read! If I’m being honest, there are days when I prefer books to people.
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