Character Relationship Map: Love, Simon

Characters

• Simon (played by Nick Robinson) — protagonist

  Closeted gay high school student who secretly emails a classmate known as Blue. He faces blackmail from Martin, struggles with coming out to his friends and family, and ultimately finds courage to pub...

• Emily (played by Jennifer Garner) — protagonist

  Simon's supportive mother who reacts with acceptance when he comes out on Christmas morning and provides comfort during his emotional struggles with friends and school bullies.

• Jack (played by Josh Duhamel) — supporting

  Simon's loving father who accepts his sexuality when Simon comes out on Christmas morning and offers comfort after Simon reconciles with his friends.

• Leah (played by Katherine Langford) — supporting

  Simon's childhood best friend who harbors unrequited romantic feelings for him. She initially believes Simon is pursuing Nick, but later confronts him about his interference before eventually reconcil...

• Abby (played by Alexandra Shipp) — supporting

  A close friend of Simon who reacts positively when he comes out to her. She later dates Nick after Simon's interference, but ultimately forgives Simon and joins his carnival outing.

• Nick (played by Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) — supporting

  Simon's childhood best friend who develops a crush on Abby. Simon lies to keep them apart to avoid Martin's blackmail, leading to a confrontation before the two eventually make peace.

• Ethan (played by Clark Moore) — minor
• Bram (played by Keiynan Lonsdale) — supporting

  A classmate who turns out to be Simon's secret online confidant Blue. After a misunderstanding involving another girl, he reveals his true identity on the Ferris wheel, and the two share a romantic mo...

• Lyle (played by Joey Pollari) — minor
• Martin (played by Logan Miller) — supporting

  A classmate obsessed with Abby who blackmails Simon to help him win her over. After his public rejection, he outs Simon's secret online but later shows a brief moment of kindness by buying him a carni...

• Nora (played by Talitha Eliana Bateman) — supporting

  Simon's younger sister who attempts to comfort him after his secret emails are leaked online, though he initially distances himself from her.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Lyle → Abby (Romantic Interest) — Lyle's interest redirects Simon's suspicion about Blue.

  At the football game, Simon discovers that Lyle is actually interested in Abby.

• Martin → Simon (Power Blackmailer) — Martin temporarily controls Simon through the threat of outing him.

  After discovering Simon's emails, Martin threatens to make them public unless Simon helps him pursue Abby.

• Nick → Abby (Romantic Boyfriend And Girlfriend) — A romance that develops after Simon's interference ends.

  Nick confides that he has feelings for Abby, and after the holidays the plot states that Nick and Abby are a couple.

• Simon → Nora (Family Siblings) — A close sibling relationship strained temporarily by Simon's shame and isolation.

  Nora is Simon's younger sister and tries to comfort him after his emails are leaked, although Simon initially shuts her out.

• Martin → Abby (Romantic Unrequited Interest) — Martin's one-sided pursuit drives much of the blackmail plot.

  Martin is infatuated with Abby and pressures Simon to help him win her over. Abby later says she does not share his feelings.

• Simon → Jack (Family Father) — A caring father-son relationship that strengthens through Simon's coming-out journey.

  Jack is identified as Simon's father and accepts Simon's sexuality after his Christmas morning confession. He later comforts Simon after the friendshi...

• Simon → Emily (Family Mother) — A loving and supportive mother-son relationship.

  Emily is identified as Simon's mother and accepts him when he comes out on Christmas morning. She later comforts him during his emotional struggles.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Leah → Nick (Social Friendship Circle) — Leah and Nick belong to the same longstanding friend group.

  Leah, Nick, and Simon are described as longtime friends, and Leah discusses her feelings about love with Simon in relation to Nick.

• Simon → Ethan (Alliance Shared Experience) — Their shared experience creates brief solidarity.

  Simon and the openly gay Ethan are mocked by bullies in the cafeteria and bond over the difficulties they have faced coming out.

• Simon → Lyle (Social Classmates) — A brief social connection shaped by Simon's search for Blue.

  Simon bonds with Lyle, a classmate working as the Waffle House server, and suspects that Lyle may be Blue.

• Simon → Bram (Alliance Online Confidants) — Their anonymous correspondence develops into mutual emotional trust.

  Simon communicates by email with the closeted classmate known as Blue, sharing personal details and forming a connection. Bram later reveals that he i...

• Simon → Abby (Social Close Friends) — A supportive friendship tested by Simon's manipulation and repaired through apology.

  Abby is one of Simon's close friends and reacts positively when Simon comes out to her. She later forgives him and joins the carnival outing.

• Simon → Nick (Social Childhood Best Friends) — A close friendship damaged by Simon's blackmail-driven deception.

  Nick and Simon are described as childhood best friends. Nick later confronts Simon about the lies he told regarding Abby.

• Simon → Leah (Social Childhood Best Friends) — A longstanding friendship complicated by Leah's unrequited feelings.

  Simon and Leah have known each other since kindergarten. Leah walks an intoxicated Simon home and later reconciles with him after confronting his lies...

Story Analysis

A closeted teenager moves from secrecy and coercion toward honesty, reconciliation, and openly accepted love.

Plot Progression

1. Secrets Behind Familiar Faces — Simon balances a loving family and close friendships with the fear of being openly gay. His anonymous emails with Blue offer intimacy and hope.
2. The Blackmailer’s Bargain — Martin discovers Simon’s emails and uses them to force Simon into manipulating Abby and Nick. Simon begins investigating Blue while his private fears shape his friendships.
3. Public Humiliation — Simon comes out to Abby but remains trapped by Martin’s demands. Martin’s failed public declaration ends in ridicule and leads him to expose Simon online.
4. Finding Courage Again — Simon receives acceptance from his parents but loses the trust of his friends and contact with Blue. Support from Emily, Jack, and Ethan helps him face the consequences honestly.
5. The Ferris Wheel Answer — Simon publicly apologizes and asks Blue to meet at the carnival. His friends reconcile with him, and Bram reveals his identity before they kiss on the Ferris wheel.