Now I cannot quite remember where and how I stumbled across the LOVE, SIMON film trailer but that very moment was when I knew I had to know everything about this film. A quick Google discovery confirmed that the film by director Greg Berlanti was based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. The trailer felt simple and seemed like another high school story but with a gay character in the central role. It felt like many films that I’ve watched growing up but one that I didn’t get to see growing up.
After a quick visit to Waterstones, I bought my copy of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and rushed to finish the book before the film made its way to the UK. Surprisingly, I finished the book in a day! Now that’s quite a feat for me as I tend to take my own sweet time when it comes to books. The story of Simon makes an easy read. It’s a perfect read for the growing teen and for gay men like me who simply grew up without discovering characters like themselves in the books they read.
As Blue and Simon exchanged e-mails and fell deeper in love after every ‘Send’ button, it reminded me of the many hours I spent waiting for another Nepali gay guy to appear on Nepal News chat. Those hours we spent, telling our story without giving away too much reminded me of Simon’s story. Amusingly, the very friend who I happened to meet on Nepal News chat also attended the screening of my ‘confirmation story’ in London last month. Who knew how things would pan out.
With Simon being cruelly outed on Tumblr for his peers to read and smirk upon. I often worried about my sexual orientation shockingly making it’s way into the DM’s and Whatsapp of the unknown in a way that was beyond my control. The era of Nepal News Chat and fake profiles may be dying or dead already but apps like Grindr, Tinder and Hornet are no exception to fake profiles and hungry picture collectors.
Simon may have found the love he deserves but his chance to tell his story was savagely ruined by a fellow student. With the release of my confirmation story, what I did not foresee was the moment I took power and became my own voice to my unravelling story.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda makes a light-hearted read with many cute moments on an overall positive tone. It’s a book that comfortably finds itself nestled in high school drama and nothing more. I look forward to watching LOVE, SIMON and I cannot wait.
Will it be in theaters in Nepal?