Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Becky Albertalli
This book features a similar blend of humor, romance, and identity exploration among teens.
The Upside of Unrequited
A warm, funny contemporary romance about a chronically crushing teen whose real story is about anxiety, body image, and the quiet ache of a twin sister drifting away.
What It's About
Molly Peskin-Suso is seventeen, has had more crushes than she can easily count, and has never acted on a single one. She is fat, anxious, and convinced that keeping her feelings to herself is the only safe option. When her twin, Cassie, falls hard for a new girl, Molly suddenly feels left behind. The obvious fix seems to be dating the girlfriend's charming friend. The trouble is the awkward, sweet coworker she keeps finding excuses to talk to.
Albertalli writes in Molly's first-person voice, and it is the book's main pleasure: self-deprecating, observant, and very funny, with a vulnerable streak underneath. The setting is a busy, loving household with two moms planning their long-delayed wedding. It sits in the same world as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and a few familiar faces cross over. The romance matters, but the emotional center is the shifting relationship between the twins. It is also about Molly learning that being liked is not something she has to earn by shrinking herself.
Reading it feels like spending time with a friend who overthinks everything and says so out loud. The plot is low-stakes and fairly predictable, but the dialogue, family texture, and honest handling of loneliness keep it engaging. It's a quick, comforting read, best for people who want a character-driven love story rather than twists.
Read this if you…
- love funny, voice-driven romances with a soft, nerdy love interest
- have ever felt invisible next to a more confident sibling or friend
- enjoyed Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and want more of that world
Skip it if you…
- want a fast plot with real suspense or surprises
- find heavy pop-culture references and teen-slang banter grating
Key Ideas
- 1
Unrequited love as self-protection
Molly's endless silent crushes aren't just shyness. They are a way to feel something without risking rejection. The novel treats that habit sympathetically while showing its cost: she stays safe, but she also stays lonely and unseen. Her growth comes from deciding that the risk of being known is worth taking, which gives the familiar first-kiss plot more emotional weight than the premise suggests.
- 2
Twins growing apart
The most affecting thread is not romantic at all. Molly and Cassie have always been a unit, and Cassie's new relationship exposes how much Molly depended on that closeness. Albertalli captures the jealousy, guilt, and grief of a sibling relationship changing shape. Neither sister is cast as the villain, and the tension resolves through honest conversation rather than melodrama.
- 3
A fat heroine who isn't a lesson
Molly's body shapes how she moves through the world and how she guards herself. Yet the book never makes weight loss a goal or treats her as a makeover project. Her worry about being undesirable is portrayed as real but mistaken. The love interest is also not a conventional heartthrob, which reinforces the book's point that attraction is broader than the usual teen-romance script.
- 4
A loving, unconventional family
Molly's moms, their wedding plans, a baby brother, and a lively extended family give the story warmth and humor. Queer and Jewish identity are woven into everyday life rather than framed as problems to solve. Mental health is handled matter-of-factly too, including Molly's anxiety and medication. The result is a family portrait that feels lived-in, supportive, and refreshingly ordinary.
Limitations
The plot is thin and the romantic outcome is telegraphed early. Some readers find the middle slow, with a lot of hanging out and internal fretting. A few critics felt Molly's fixation on getting a boyfriend undercuts the book's self-acceptance message, and the love-triangle setup is lightweight. Its many references to 2010s apps, memes, and politics already make it feel dated. The cast is large, so some side characters, including Cassie's girlfriend, stay thinly drawn. Readers outside the YA romance audience may find it too gentle.
Questions Readers Ask
- Do I need to read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda first?
- No. The Upside of Unrequited is a standalone with its own cast. It shares a world with Simon, and a few characters from that book make brief appearances. Readers who know Simon will enjoy the cameos, but nothing in the plot depends on them, and you can read the books in either order.
- What age is The Upside of Unrequited appropriate for?
- It's aimed at teens around 14 and up and works well for adults who like YA. There is some swearing, drinking at parties, and frank talk about sex and crushes, but nothing graphic. Its handling of anxiety, body image, and LGBTQ+ family life is gentle and affirming, which makes it a common pick for school and teen libraries.
- How does it compare to Dumplin' by Julie Murphy?
- Both star fat teen girls and push back against the idea that they don't deserve romance. Dumplin' is more about confronting public judgment, with a beauty pageant and a stronger Southern setting. Upside is quieter and more domestic, centered on anxiety, family, and twin dynamics. If you want something cozier and more introspective, choose Albertalli.
- Published
- 2018
- ISBN
- 9780062348715
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Category
- Young Adult
Book details and cover from Google Books.
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