Now that it's been nearly three weeks since reading this book in one sitting, I have been able to clear up my thoughts on the plot and the writing, nearly reducing my rating to four stars - which does not mean that I didn't love this book. Maybe there simply was one flaw too many. But I said 'nearly': 'nearly' because writing this review finally convinced me that four stars are underrating this wonderful book. 
 The plot is pretty simple-structured and I won't repeat it here, because all of you can read the synopsis on the book's main page in case you are interested in figuring out what this is about. Whatever you may think before reading this book: trust me, it's not as weird as the title makes it appear. When I first heard of the book last year, the title made me question what the deuce this story might focuse on, and the cover did leave a lot of room for improvement as well. As time passed, I was able to appreciate the choice of cover style and title more and more, mostly because it was able to catch a place in my mind even though it wasn't even on my to-be-read shelf back then. By now, I sometimes scroll through my TBR and discover books I can't for my life remember when or under which circumstances I have added them, but then there was this book, where I only had to look at the cover and immediately remembered my initial, relatively bad, prejudiced opinion. 
 My interest was raised. Reading a whole bunch of raving reviews and recommendations only made it appear on my newsfeed more and more, and I finally decided in a very spontaneous way to figure out for myself if this book really works. If you are in a similar situation about "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" as I was, then I can only encourage you to read it as well. Because it does one specific thing pretty well: it works. 
 The main character, sixteen-year-old Simon Spier, is struggling to enter the world of adulthood with all the problems romance may bring into a teenager's life, and it's no typical way of entering, because Simon is gay and has to decide about whether or not to come out to his friends, his family, his school colleagues. But that's also what Becky Albertalli emphasizes: that being gay shouldn't be an an 'untypical way'. Everyone should have to come out, whether they are gay, bi, straight, or whatever. Because why should it be such a huge thing if someone comes out as homosexual? 
 "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." 
 "He talked about the ocean between people. And how the whole point of everything is to find a shore worth swimming to." 
 "I mean, I feel secure in my masculinity, too. Being secure in your masculinity isn't the same as being straight." 
 "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." 
 Three things stood out for me: the way Simon Spier was one of the most likeable protagonists I've ever had the pleasure to read about; the way Becky Albertalli talked about the problems of defining one's views on sexuality without over-using the topic or dragging on about it; and the way the romantic part of the novel was built up. The rushed ending of the novel lessened my enjoyment about it, and I caught myself skimming through some of the next pages while reading in order to find out about the next point when another email-exchange between Simon and Blue would be included. Because, despite all her efforts, Becky Albertalli did not quite succeed in making the 'real plot' quite as interesting as the virtual exchanges between the two main characters. On the other hand, every character was so well-developed, so fleshed out, with all their problems and all their own characteristics. 
 Ultimately, what can I possibly say about this book? It made me happy, and I can't really explain why it did. I was in a good mood for the rest of the day and still can't think of the book without grinning about the lovely things I remember about it. 
 Because, in its very own way, this refreshing novel was damn close to being perfect. 
 ~~~ 
 Initial reaction (January 17th, 2016): 
 If there ever was a story the words 'cute' and 'adoreable' might have been invented for, it must be this one. I didn't think I was going to be that invested into the story, but after spontaneously deciding to start reading it, I inhaled the words in something like four hours. It was as if I actually turned into Simon Spier for this time. Technically a four-star-rating, but it was the first time for years that I read a book straight through in one sitting, and just for that it deserves full five stars. 
 Full review to come ... when I have accepted that this story has actually ended. Which I currently can't yet.