It’s new, it’s critically-acclaimed, and it’s one of the sweetest YA books I’ve read in years. It’s SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA, written by my friend and critique group partner, Becky Albertalli.

I was honored to attend the launch for this book at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia, on Saturday night, and y’all: people love this book so much they came from EVERYWHERE. Miles and miles. Across state lines. Someone even came from Canada. SIMON is a sensation in the making.

While I was at the launch, I also snagged this autographed copy of SIMON, which Becky has given me permission to raffle off to YOU! 🙂

Filled with true-to-life teenage love, longing and Oreos, SIMON is more than a coming out story or even just an adorable love story (which it most certainly is). It’s also about family and high school (Becky’s memories of this time period are so cogent — she will have you trying to remember your locker combination). But most of all, to me, this book is about trying to get comfortable enough in your own skin that you can reach outward to love others. I think we all struggle with that at some point in our lives, which may be why this book is SO beloved.

If you have a special young person in your life or you just enjoy reading high-quality YA, leave a comment below for a chance to win an autographed hardback copy of SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA (U.S. and Canadian addresses only, please). I will randomly pick a winner at the end of this week.

If you just can’t wait, get SIMON here: Amazon link.

Here’s the official book jacket summary:

“A remarkable gift of a novel.”—Andrew Smith, author of Grasshopper Jungle
“I am so in love with this book.”—Nina LaCour, author of Hold Still
“Feels timelessly, effortlessly now.”—Tim Federle, author of Better Nate Than Ever
“The best kind of love story.”—Alex Sanchez, Lambda Award-winning author of Rainbow Boys and Boyfriends with Girlfriends

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Incredibly funny and poignant, this twenty-first-century coming-of-age, coming out story—wrapped in a geek romance—is a knockout of a debut novel by Becky Albertalli.

Enter up to once a day between now and Friday, April 17th. Good luck!!

And here is a lovely shot of our critique group Saturday night as well. Don’t we look uber-literary?

MJ Pullen

M.J. Pullen is a distracted writer and the mom of two boys in Roswell, Georgia, where she is absolutely late for something important right now. Her books include quirky romantic comedies and playful women's fiction. She blogs erratically with writing advice, random observations, and reflections on raising very loud kids and dogs. Join her Distracted Readers newsletter list for updates, free content, giveaways and more.