I Just Read The Book That "Love, Simon" Was Based On, And I Need To Get This Off My Chest

    Whether in movie or book form, everyone deserves a perfect love story.

    greenblue232
    by greenblue232

    Community Contributor

    BuzzFeed Community Team
    Approved and edited by BuzzFeed Community Team

    Everyone knows and loves the 2018 LGBTQ teen drama, Love, Simon.

    Movie Simon leaning against his car casually
    20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

    But not everybody knows that it's actually based off of a 2015 book by Becky Albertalli called Simon Vs. the Homo-Sapiens Agenda.

    the book cover featuring a nondescript boy with his hands casually in his pockets
    Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins Publishing / Via harpercollins.com

    Having seen the movie first, I can wholeheartedly admit that the book was much better. As with most book-to-movie adaptations, the book was much more detailed and included many things that the movie omitted. Here are some of my opinions:

    ⚠️WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD⚠️

    1. Wow they mention Chick-Fil-A's political views right away. Simon doesn't eat at Chick-Fil-A because they donate to homophobic charities.

    2. Aww he mentions Bram early on just as a random person. Cute.

    3. Simon has an older sister? What? Where did she go in the movie?

    4. Awkward-silence Bram. That's how Simon described him.

    Bram making awkward eye contact in the classroom with Simon
    20th Century Fox

    5. Simon's dog is named Bieber, how cute. Forgot about that.
    6. And now he's talking about making out with Justin Bieber.
    7. He just called Bram adorable!
    8. Everybody loves Oreo's, but I don't think anyone loves them as much as Simon.

    Simon pulling a package of Oreo's out of his pocket
    20th Century Fox/Austin Allie

    9. Taylor reminds me of this one girl I was friends with in high school. I hated her.
    10. OH MY GOD, SIMON AND HIS SIBLINGS ARE NAMED AFTER THE CHIPMUNKS! Alice is like Alvin and then Simon of course and Nora's real name is Eleanor? That's the girl chipmunk who dates Theodore in the movies.
    11. I'm loving novel-Bram. He's all shy and good at English, and he sounds cute. And, of course, he's cute in the movie, too. 
    12. This Blue storyline with his dad's girlfriend getting pregnant isn't in the movie, but it's kind of in Love, Victor with Mia's dad? Interesting.

    Mia's dad introducing his fiancé to Mia
    Hulu

    13. Wait, but the reference in the Creeksecrets post. Blue-job. Blue has to know that Simon is Jacques, right? 
    14. Simon thinks Bram likes Leah. What?!
    15. Also, Leah's crush on Simon hasn't been in here yet. That seemed like a big thing in the movie.

    Leah and Simon spending the night together and Leah looking wistfully at Simon
    20th Century Fox

    16. YES OF COURSE, BLUE KNOWS WHO JACQUES IS, AND SIMON AND BRAM ARE CRUSHING ON EACH OTHER IN REAL LIFE, TOO!

    17. Simon thinks he has good intuition but wow he really doesn't.

    18. "Jacques a dit" means Simon Says in French now that's clever.
    19. Wait Simon has a gay bar experience with his friends? This is such a fun scene. Again, it doesn't happen in the movie, but it happens in Love, Victor!

    Victor and Bram smiling at each other in the bar
    Hulu

    20. Bram's birthday is in January, around Martin Luther King Day. And Simon's was November 17th.
    21. It's not the iconic Creekwood Winter Carnival; it's just some random mall carnival.
    22. No, Simon, cranking up Sufjan Stevens does not solve anything.
    23. Bram Louis Greenfeld. Bluegreen. Smart.
    24. The Tilt-a-Whirl? Really? I like the ferris wheel a lot better. It seems way more romantic and less... vomit-y.

    Bram and Simon on the Ferris wheel together in the movie
    20th Century Fox

    25. There's a lot more suspense and anticipation in the movie while Simon is waiting for Bram.

    26. Abby is such a good friend. Leah isn't Simon's best friend; Abby is.

    27. Since when are Leah and Nora in a band together? That's random.

    28. Aaaand last thought: Simon and Bram are too cute together.

    Simon and Bram kissing on top of the ferris wheel and laughing together
    Hulu

    Bottom line: whether you've seen Love, Simon or not, Simon Vs. the Homo-Sapiens Agenda is a can't-miss read.

    Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins Publishing/20th Century Fox

    What were your opinions on the book vs. the movie? Let me know in the comments!

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