Hello people! This is Pride Month, so I thought it was about time to do a post about some of the books I read which had LGBT+ main characters, secondary (important) characters and/or dealt with LGBT issues.
Tag: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
The ‘Spring has Sprung’ Book Tag
Hey hey hey! Here I am with another book tag, this time it’s The ‘Spring has Sprung’ Book Tag and I was tagged by The Orang-utan Librarian. Thank you so much! And let’s do this 😉 .
1. Flowers: Look on your bookshelves. What is the most beautiful book both inside and out?
One of my most beautiful books, inside and out, has to be Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon.
Just look at it, isn’t it gorgeous? And it’s such a good and sweet read 🙂 .
2. Grass: What is a book that you find that others like way more than you do?
Given the goodreads rating that Nirvana has, I would say that a lot of people liked it WAY better than me, considering that I rated the book 1 star… which I have to be honest and say that I don’t really understand how that’s possible… to each its own, right?
3. Rain: What’s a great book that lifts your spirits when you’re down?
The obvious answer here has to be Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, right? I read this book twice already, and I love love love it! It makes me happy. So much so that I even borrowed my physical copy to my bff. I hope she takes good care of my precious!
4. Dew: What’s a book that made you feel alive?
Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy’s Us surely made me feel alive. Maybe because my heart was actually hurting while reading this book. Maybe!
This book has it all: great dialogue, great characters, great story, great romance, huge heartbreak… perfect.
5. Storms: What’s a book that you found unpredictable?
Hmmmm, I would say that Anything You Want by Geoff Herbach was pretty unpredictable. There were definitly some things that I didn’t see coming at all. Also, the book was nothing like I expected, but it’s oh so good!
6. Rainbow: What was a book that you struggled with, only to be happy that you read it in the end?
Well, I struggled with Lady Midnight, but not because the book isn’t brilliant or because I didn’t want to read it, just the opposite. But it is a huge book, and my hands and arms would hurt when I had been reading for awhile. The book is heavy like hell!
7. Chilly Weather: What’s a book that you couldn’t finish or didn’t enjoy?
Perfect time to mention my last 1 star reading, and that was Lessons of the Heart, which is a YA/NA teacher/student romance. It was so so bad, and it had nothing to do with the forbidden part of it. You can check out my review of it HERE.
8. Warm Weather: What’s a book that you loved and wanted more of?
I wanted more of Adorkable for sure. Such a cute and good read. I wanted to see what happened after that last scene and what was in store for Sally and Becks, because they were so adorable together :D.
9. Green: What’s a book that you haven’t read yet, but really want to?
Actually, I’m saying one that I’m gonna start today, and that is The Rose and the Dagger, by Renee Ahdieh. I’ve had the book for a few weeks now, but I can only manage one physical book at a time, and I needed to finish Me Before You before starting this one.
10. Pink: What’s a book in which you felt a strong connection to the characters?
I felt a really strong connection to Isla and Josh, in Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. Maybe that’s why this was my favorite book of the companion series. There’s just something so great about Isla and Josh.
11. Purple: What’s a book that when you read it, you feel safe?
Not sure I fully understand this question, but hey, I’ll give it a try?! I think Attachments by Rainbow Rowell was a book that made me feel safe, maybe because I loved the story and it’s my favorite contemporary of Rowell’s. Have you read it? You should!
12. Orange: What book do you feel is intelligently written?
I didn’t want to repeat authors, but I kind of have to. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell is, in my opinion, one of the most intelligent written books I’ve ever read. I loved how the base of the book was known, but she twisted everything. I fins the magic system especially compelling.
13. Yellow: What book puts a smile on your face?
Ok, try to look at that cover and not smile… did you manage it? Big Rock by Lauren Blakely definitly put a huge smile on my face. It’s an amazing romance and I highly recommend it to everyone who likes NA romances.
I tag:
- Ari @The Daydreaming Bookworm
- Nathasya @Sweater Weather
- Shannon @Clockwork Bibliophile
- Ayunda @Tea and Paperbacks
- Lily @Pages and Tea
- Aira @Aira Reads
- Samantha @Dream by Day
- And YOU!
7 Reasons Why You Should Read Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (Becky Albertalli)
First of all I would like to say that this was a re-read for me. I first read this book back in May 2015, and I wrote a review for it at the time, that you can read HERE.
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 Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.
With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. 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.
1. Because of the Fangirling:
” “And because your glasses make you look like Harry Potter, right Simon?” One time. I said it once.”
“Wow, is that Katniss making out with Yoda?”
” “It’s a dementor robe over my clothes. I think you’ll survive.” “What’s a dementor?” I mean, I can’t even. “Nora, you are no longer my sister.” “So it’s some Harry Potter thing,” she says.”
2. Because it tells some basic truths:
“Talking to them is more exhausting than keeping a blog.”
“Nothing is worse than the secret humiliation of being insulted by proxy.”
“People are shameless when it comes to cake. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”
3. And then some more:
“I take a sip of my beer, and it’s – I mean, it’s just astonishingly disgusting. I don’t think I was expecting it to taste like ice cream, but holy fucking hell. People lie and get fake IDs and sneak into bars, and for this? I honestly think I’d rather make out with Bieber. The dog. Or Justin.”
“That was the summer I taught myself how to do laundry. There are some socks that shouldn’t be washed by your mom.”
“I actually hate when people say that. I mean, I feel secure in my masculinity, too. Being secure in your masculinity isn’t the same as being straight.”
4. Because there shouldn’t be a default:
“White shouldn’t be the default any more than straight should be the default. There shouldn’t even be a default.”
5. And everyone should have to come out:
“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.”
“Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn’t be this big awkward thing whether you’re straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I’m just saying.”
“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.”
6. And people are more than they appear:
“People really are like house with vast rooms and tiny windows. And maybe it’s a good thing, the way we never stop surprising each other.”
7. Because it will make you swoon like crazy!
“It was seriously like five lines, but it was grammatically correct and strangely poetic, and just completely different from anything I’d ever read before.”
“The way I feel about him is like a heartbeat – soft and persistent, underlying everything.”
“Then he smiles and I smile. And then I blush and he lowers his eyes, and it’s like this entire pantomime of nervous gestures. ”
And there are a lot more reasons to read this amazing book. On my first read I rated it 4.5 stars, but on re-read I bumped it up to 5 stars because this book made me smile and laugh and cry and I loved it even more than the first time around.
This time I noticed EVERYTHING about Blue, because I knew who he was (obviously), and I noticed so much more about all the secondary characters. So, if by some disaster you haven’t read this book yet, go and read it! NOW!
Book Traveling Thursdays: A Book I’ll Re-Read This Year
Hello, welcome back to another Book Traveling 
Thursdays, which a weekly meme created by Cátia @The Girl Who Read Too Much and Danielle @Danielle’s Book Blog. The goal is to share the covers of a book related to that week’s theme, which you can see at the Goodreads group, indicating the original cover, the one of your country, your favorite and least favorite.
This week’s theme is “Because some books stay with us forever!! Choose a book you want to re-read in 2016“. This is it! I’m finally using Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, because this one and Fangirl are the only ones I’m super sure I’ll re-read this year, and I already did Fangirl a few weeks back :D. I’ll warn you though, there aren’t many covers for this amazing book, so this will be a bit empty.
Original COver & Favorite Cover:
I absolutely love the original cover, it’s such a smart cover for this book :D. I like the hardcover a bit better than the paperback, because the red is more vibrant, but I love the overall design.
COVER FROM MY COUNTRY (PORTUGAL) & COVER FROM THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN (SPAIN):
Yeah… no cover for either Portugal or Spain… =/
LEAST FAVORITE COVER(s):
As I mention, there aren’t many different covers for this book, so the ones I like least are the german and the dutch editions. The german is pretty, but I don’t know… it doesn’t speak “Simon” to me. On the other hand, the dutch does speak “Simon”, but that’s mainly because it has an oreo on the cover :P, I just don’t like it much.
Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2015
Hello, welcome back to another Tuesday. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is:
Top Ten Best Books I Read In 2015 (you can do it by only 2015 releases, overall , by genre (top ten fantasy books I read in 2015), etc. however you choose to make your BEST list)
So, here we go… I’m choosing my 10 favorite books of this year… this is gonna be tough… But here we go, in no particular order, 10 books that made me super happy and glad that I picked them up this year… I would have a lot more in the list, but I didn’t want to repeat authors either…
I’ll do this in graphic form, because I talked of these books enough times to not have to repeat the reasons why I love them.
Top Ten Tuesday: Quotes from Books I loved this year
Hello, welcome back to another Tuesday. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is:
Top Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read In The Past Year Or So
Suddenly I’m very glad that I’ve been collecting quote posts and creating and inserting quotes images on my reviews for a few months, because it means that I have those made already. Sure, there are probably some great quotes that I’ve read lately that won’t be in here, not that they wouldn’t be in my top ten, but I’m just too lazy right now to go look for them 😛 – so this is the Top Ten of quotes that I had already collected, and posted, on this blog.
1. Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell
2. Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, Becky Albertalli
3. The One Thing, Marci Lyn Curtis
4. My Heart and Other Black Holes, Jasmine Warga
5. Attachments, Rainbow Rowell
6. More Happy Than Not, Adam Silvera
7. Crown of Midnight, Sarah J. Maas
8. You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost), Felicia Day
9. An Ember in the Ashes, Sabaa Tahir
10. Heir of Fire, Sarah J. Maas
Top Ten Tuesday: Movie Adaptations I’m Looking Forward To
Hello, welcome back to another Tuesday. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is:
Top Ten Book To Movie Adaptations I’m Looking Forward To or Ten Book To Movie Adaptations I Still Need To Watch
I’m gonna go with 10 Book to Movie adaptations that I’m looking forward to, even if it not in line to happen as of right now.
1
. Eleanor & Park (Rainbow Rowell)
This one is in the works! Dreamworks has the rights to the movie, and everything appears to be moving forward, but there still isn’t a director or any cast associated with the movie.
I think this will be a fantastic story for the big screen 😀 and I honestly can’t wait to see it (whenever that might be).
2. Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda (Becky Albertalli)
This was just announced the other day, this is definitely going to happen, well, at least the rights were sold, so, fingers crossed.
This is one of my favorite books of the year, so I’m super super super excited that it might make its way to the big screen. I can’t wait to start hearing something about the casting 😀 .
3. The Rosie Project (Graeme Simsion)
This will be a fantastic movie! Director Richard Linklater was attached to the project a while back, and so was the amazing Jennifer Lawrence.
I’m curious to see who they’ll get to play Don.
4. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (J.k. Rowling)
This one is so close, the first movie of the trilogy will be out in a little over a year.
The screenplay adaptation was written by J.K. Rowling herself and it stars the super talented Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander.
And, come on, Harry Potter universe!
5. Mockingjay (part 2) (Suzanne Collins)
It’s almost time for the last part of Mockingjay to hit the theaters and I can’t wait.
I think that The Hunger Games have been super well adapted to screen, and that is a rare thing.
So, I’m super excited to see the last instalment later this month.
6. Inferno (Dan Brown)
Confession time, I still haven’t read this book, but I read all the others of the Robert Langdon series, and I love them.
And I also liked the movies, they are always super watchable 🙂 .
So, I’m waiting on this one as well, scheduled to hit the screens in 2016.
7. Red Queen (Victoria Aveyard)
This book has been optioned by Universal Pictures and I hope they hurry up with it already, because I want to watch it badly!
Elizabeth Banks was even connected to the project, being pinned as director – and I would very much like to see that, because Elizabeth Banks is amazing.
8. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Ransom Riggs)
Again, I still haven’t read this book – it was on my TBR last month, but I failed, I just wasn’t in the mood for it.
I’ll try to get to it before the movie comes out next year, because I’m so excited about this adaptation… Tim Burton is directing, people!!!
9. Ready Player One (Ernest Cline)
Once again, this has been in my TBR for a while, and it will likely remain there for a little bit more. This movie is set for December 2017, so I still have plenty of time.
Steven Spielberg will be at the helm, and so far, the only actor attached to the project is Olivia Cooke (from Me and Earl and Dying Girl). I like her a lot, so I’m happy about this.
10. Angelfall (Susan Ee)
Now, this is more of a hope right now. Back in 2012 this book was optioned for a studio, and at some point had director and some cast attached. But it has been 3 years and no more news came up. At this point is safe to assume that it might not happen, at least not now. It’s a shame, because this would turn out to be an epic movie, Penryn is a true female hero, and I would like nothing more than for my newest OTP to be on the big screen.
Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda is coming to the big screen
*OMG OMG OMG I’M TOTALLY FREAKING OUT HERE*
Deadline announced a bit ago that FOX 2000 has acquired the rights to the Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda novel, by Becky Albertalli. People, Simon is going to become a movie!!! Who’s excited about this? (Besides me, obviously!)
I love this book so much, it’s one of my favorites of this year, and I think it could be an amazing movie, and I can’t wait to see Simon and Blue on the big screen 😀 .
“EXCLUSIVE: Fox 2000 has acquired a package for an adaptation of a popular YA novel that’s described as John Hughes-style coming-of-age, coming-out story. The studio bought Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, a debut novel by Becky Albertelli that will be produced by Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner (The Fault In Our Stars) of Temple Hill, and Pouya Shahbazian (Divergent) of New Leaf. The script will be written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger, who planned to pitch studios all over town, only to see Elizabeth Gabler’s division quickly take it off the table, preemptively.
The novel focuses on Simon Spier, a 16-year-old not-so-openly gay student. When an email written by Simon falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being made public. Change-averse Simon is forced to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out — in a way that won’t alienate his friends, compromise himself or ruin a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he hasn’t even met yet.
Fox 2000’s Erin Simonoff and Molly Saffron moved quickly to acquire the book, and New Leaf’s Chris McEwen will be associate producer. HarperCollins published the novel this year and it is set to roll out in 19 countries.“
#TackleTBR: Bookish Scavenger Hunt!
Hello people! I’m doing my second challenge for the Tackle your TBR Read-a-thon! Today’s challenge is hosted by Jess @Princessica of Books and it’s an ultimate bookish scavenger hunt.
I’ll give you a set of categories and you scavenge your bookshelves finding books that fit into those categories! Pretty simple and super fun 🙂.
A 2015 Debut Author’s Book!
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera were two amazing debuts this year.
Books that You Have Read at Least Twice!
I’ve read the Twilight series and the Harry Potter series at least twice… 😉
A Cover-Lust Book (a book that has a beautiful cover)!
I couldn’t really talk about gorgeous covers without including Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi, which is probably the most beautiful cover I own. Other covers that I love are My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.
A Book You Always Recommend!
Why haven’t you read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell or Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli? GO read them right NOW! This two books are amazing, and I’m always half-tempted to pick any of them up and re-read them…
Something on Your Bookshelf That is Not a Book!
I love my Hermione wand…
A Book That Has A Kick- Ass Butt Female Protagonist!
The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas has the amazing Celaena (though I like her new name better… my “Fire-breathing bitch-queen”). Then in The Wrath and The Dawn by Renée Ahdieh there’s the amazing Shazi. And Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is pretty amazing as well.
Bout of Books 14: What to Read Next Challenge
Here we are, for the last day of the Bout of Books 14 Read-a-thon.
Today’s challenge is hosted by Sarah Reads too Much and this is the challenge:
For this Challenge, you need to recommend 3 books (and only 3 books) that you have read this year that you think should be recognized as something great – something everyone should have on their TBR list for this fall. If you can, say a short little something about why you recommend these books.
I’m going for 3 books that not only did I read this year, but that also came out this year, from 3 different genres.
Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
I can’t praise this book enough. Everyone should read it, because not only does it has diverse characters and deals with issues of homosexuality and acceptance, but does it in a fun and light way, so that’s impossible not to have a smile on your face and fall in love with the characters.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
This New Adult Fantasy novel is just amazing. It’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast done in a most wonderful way. Sarah J. Maas is a master with her words and world building, and this book will leave you wanting for more. More story, more of the characters, more everything.
YOU’RE NEVER WEIRD ON THE INTERNET (ALMOST) by FELICIA DAY
This book, wow, all the love for this book. Felicia Day, the “Queen of the Geeks” pours her story, hard work and soul into this book, and the result is amazing. I loved to get to know her, I have a newfound respect for her and this is such an inspiring and acceptance driven book… you should read it.
My Tiny Obsessions 