On March 16, Love, Simon, the film version of Morris Award-winning Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, debuts in theaters. If you're looking for more charming LGBTQ romances, try these fiction titles for teens.
Author Becky Albertalli's friend Adam Silvera also writes touching romances. My favorite is History Is All You Left Me, a bittersweet story of Griffin, who's mourning the death of his ex-boyfriend, Theo. Although you'll need Kleenex while you're reading, Silvera mixes in funny moments of geeky fandom. Look for Albertalli and Silvera's coauthored novel, What If It's Us, in October.
Another dramatic novel, Printz Award winner I'll Give You the Sun, focuses on Noah, a gifted 13-year-old painter who's bullied for being gay. Like Simon, he harbors secret feelings for a guy, his next-door neighbor, Brian.
Unlike these weepy tales, a classic of LGBTQ lit, Boy Meets Boy, won over readers with its optimistic, light-hearted tone. It's perfect for Simon fans. If you haven't read David Levithan's books, they're all worth checking out.
In more recent books, characters have questioned with their sexual identities while still making us laugh like Simon does. In Ramona Blue, a high school senior develops feelings for her longtime guy friend, Freddie, even though she's one of the only lesbians in her small Mississippi town.
In another delightful story about gender fluidity, The Prince and the Dressmaker, Prince Sebastian longs to wear couture gowns even though his parents want him to find a bride. Our teen librarians adore this vibrantly illustrated graphic novel.
What's your favorite Simon readalike?
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