🎬 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧 (𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟖)

Love, Simon (2018) is a coming-of-age romantic drama based on Becky Albertalli’s novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. The film follows Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a high school senior with a seemingly perfect life—supportive friends, a loving family, and a bright future. However, Simon has a secret: he’s gay, and no one knows. While he’s comfortable with his identity, he struggles with how and when to come out. His journey of self-acceptance takes an unexpected turn when an anonymous classmate, “Blue,” posts online about being closeted. Simon begins an email correspondence with Blue, forming a deep emotional connection while trying to figure out his true identity.

Simon’s closest friends include Leah (Katherine Langford), his best friend since childhood; Abby (Alexandra Shipp), the vibrant new girl; and Nick (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), his easygoing soccer-playing friend. The group is inseparable, and Simon fears that coming out could change their dynamic. Meanwhile, at school, Martin (Logan Miller), an awkward and socially oblivious classmate, discovers Simon’s emails with Blue after using a library computer. He blackmails Simon into helping him get closer to Abby, threatening to expose Simon’s secret if he refuses.

As Simon navigates the pressure of being outed, he becomes increasingly anxious and starts manipulating his friends’ relationships to keep his secret safe. He subtly encourages Nick to pursue another girl instead of Abby, and he distances himself from Leah, who has deeper feelings for him. Despite his efforts, the situation spirals out of control, leading to misunderstandings and hurt feelings among his friends. Meanwhile, Simon continues his heartfelt email exchanges with Blue, falling for him despite not knowing his real identity. His search for Blue leads him to suspect multiple classmates, including Bram (Keiynan Lonsdale), a friendly soccer player, and Cal (Miles Heizer), a theater student.

Just when Simon begins to feel hopeful, Martin publicly outs him on the school’s gossip website, leaving him devastated. His carefully constructed world comes crashing down as he is forced to confront his sexuality on everyone else’s terms. His friends feel betrayed by his manipulations, and he is left isolated. However, with the support of his family—his open-minded parents (Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel) and his younger sister—Simon slowly regains his confidence. His mother reassures him that he can finally exhale and be himself, while his father expresses regret for not noticing sooner and fully embraces him.

Determined to take control of his own story, Simon posts on the gossip site, inviting Blue to meet him on the Ferris wheel at the local carnival. As he waits, it seems like no one will come—until Bram appears, revealing that he is Blue. The two share a romantic moment, finally sealing their connection with a kiss. With his secret now fully embraced, Simon rebuilds his friendships, and his final year of high school takes on a new, more honest chapter.

Love, Simon is a heartfelt and groundbreaking teen romance that offers a universal message of self-acceptance and the importance of being true to oneself. It remains a milestone in LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream cinema, providing a warm, humorous, and emotional story about love, identity, and the courage to be who you are.