Part of Creekwood, book 1
First published 2015
Simon Spier keeps his sexuality private at his Atlanta high school. The sixteen-year-old junior channels his energy into theater and exchanges flirty emails with Blue, an anonymous gay classmate. When Martin discovers Simon's secret correspondence, everything changes. Martin threatens to expose Simon unless he helps him win over Simon's friend Abby. Simon agrees to the blackmail scheme, terrified that his secret will destroy his friendships and expose Blue's identity too. The coercion creates tension within Simon's friend group just as his relationship with Blue deepens. Simon must navigate Martin's manipulative demands while protecting both his own privacy and Blue's anonymity. His comfortable routine crumbles as he faces an impossible choice between staying hidden and risking everything for authentic connection. The pressure forces Simon to confront his fears about coming out and find courage he never knew he possessed.
Genres: romance, coming-of-age, contemporary, lgbt
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Atlanta
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Balzer + Bray
Content warnings: homophobia