Leah on the Offbeat

Leah on the Offbeat is a 2018 young adult novel by American author Becky Albertalli. It is the direct sequel to her 2015 debut, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and the third book in the "Simonverse," the shared universe where Albertalli's novels take place, which also includes The Upside of Unrequited (2017). The audiobook was read by actress Shannon Purser.

The story follows Leah, the best friend of Simon Spier, as she tries to cope with a range of personal struggles: friendships and romance, body image, sexuality, self-esteem, starting college, and the feeling of not quite belonging. Leah is the drummer in the band Emoji, and she has kept a secret from all her friends, including Simon, who is openly gay: she is bisexual. Only her mother knows. As her friend group begins to fracture, with prom and graduation approaching, Leah realizes she may feel more for one of her friends than she first thought.

Critics responded positively. Booklist praised Albertalli's voice, calling Leah's narration "funny, wry, and vulnerable," and outlets such as Hypable and Bustle highlighted the characterization and the portrayal of social anxiety. In 2018 the book won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction and was included on the American Library Association's 2019 Rainbow Book List. It reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list upon publication. Leah was played by Katherine Langford in the film adaptation of the first novel, Love, Simon (2018).

The book has also been controversial: it was permanently removed from libraries and classrooms in one Florida school district and temporarily banned, pending investigation, in two other districts in Florida and South Carolina.