Is 'Simon Sort Of Says' Based On A True Story?

I’ve been obsessed with digging into the origins of 'Simon Sort of Says' ever since I stumbled across it—partly because it feels so painfully real at times. The short answer? No, it’s not a strict true story, but it’s absolutely steeped in raw, relatable experiences that make it *feel* authentic. The author’s note mentions drawing from real-life struggles, especially around growing up with neurodivergence or feeling like an outsider, which explains why Simon’s voice cracks with such genuine frustration and humor. The scenes where he masks his quirks to fit in, or the way his family tiptoes around his meltdowns, ring true to anyone who’s felt different. But the plot itself—the chaotic radio show premise, the specific mishaps—is fictionalized. It’s more like a collage of truths than a biography.

What’s fascinating is how the book mirrors real-world dynamics without being bound by them. Simon’s town, for example, isn’t a real place, but the pressure of small-town gossip and the suffocating weight of 'being normal' are ripped straight from life. The author’s background in psychology leaks into the writing, too. Simon’s coping mechanisms, like scripting conversations or fixating on routines, are textbook examples of real neurodivergent traits, just amplified for narrative punch. Even the title’s play on 'Simon Says' feels like a nod to how society forces kids like him to perform on command. So while you won’t find a real Simon out there, you’ll definitely recognize pieces of him—in yourself, your friends, or that kid who always sat alone at lunch.

'Simon Sort of Says' hooked me because it dances right on that edge. Technically, it’s not based on a single true story, but it’s crammed with fragments of truth—like a mosaic of awkward adolescence. The author has talked in interviews about how Simon’s character is a Frankenstein’s monster of real kids they’ve met: the ones who stim under desks, who memorize dinosaur facts to avoid talking about their feelings, who weaponize sarcasm to deflect bullying. Even the absurdist humor—like Simon’s disastrous attempt to prove he’s 'normal' by adopting a fake interest in football—is rooted in real teen desperation. The book’s setting, though fictional, is a love letter to every nowhere town where everyone knows your business but never your struggles.

The radio show subplot is where the fiction takes flight, but the emotions it taps into are dead serious. Simon’s fear of being 'found out' mirrors real anxiety disorders, and his dad’s well-meaning but clueless advice ('Just try harder!') is a gut-punch to anyone who’s heard that before. What seals the deal is the ending—no tidy resolutions, just messy progress. Real life doesn’t wrap up with a bow, and neither does Simon’s story. That’s why it resonates. It’s not a true story, but it’s a true *feeling*, and sometimes that hits harder.