Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
This is the story of what it’s like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie’s letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.
Fict.it.ious 
Comments on: "The perks of being a wallflower – Stephen Chbosky" (29)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is an exceptional coming-of-age novel that captures the essence of the teenage experience with eloquence and sincerity. Through the unique narrative format of letters penned by the protagonist, Charlie, to an anonymous confidant, the story acquires an intimate and introspective quality, forging an immediate bond between the reader and the protagonist. Chbosky skillfully delves into the emotional depth of Charlie’s character, skillfully portraying his struggles with mental health, social anxiety, his past traumas, and the search for his place in the world. The novel beautifully explores the complexities of friendship and love, particularly through Charlie’s relationship with Sam and Patrick, who serve as guiding lights in his journey of self-discovery. While tackling profound themes, the book maintains a compelling sense of authenticity and relatability, resonating deeply with its adolescent audience. Its narrative charm, endearing characters, and the raw vulnerability of Charlie’s voice make it an immersive read. A remarkable 9.5 out of 10. This poignant and evocative novel is a timeless portrayal of the teenage experience that will continue to resonate with readers of all ages.
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I don’t usually mark passages in books, but this one made me grab a pencil to jot down some quotes. It only took me a few days to finish and I was besotted by it. There was so much to be inspired by, relate to and adore. The writing was so moving and powerful – it touched me in a way that only certain pieces of art can. I almost found myself tearing up (and I hardly ever cry!). Every single character in the book felt intensely realistic, I could relate to them no matter how morally ambiguous they were. Charlie’s story is so powerful that it still resonates with me. That’s what makes it so special for me. I was drawn to it due to my appreciation of the film adaption. However, with each new page I read, it soon became one of my all-time favourite books. It truly left an indelible mark – a feeling of infinite joy and contentment.
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This book is beautiful. It is a classic teenager read. I have probably read this book a million times and it never gets old. I love how honest and deep Charlie is and he will get you thinking about the good things and what really matters in life. It is such a deep book, and I love the insight into the innocence and naïvety of Charlie’s mind. It really did just keep me thinking and thinking. I loved the unique formatting of this book, as Charlie’s letters, and how things slowly get revealed to the reader through his letters. Drugs, abuse, child molestation, anything that would make people cry & be traumatizing for a teenager, it’s all here in overdose, injected wherever possible into every character’s life. It had me laughing, nearly crying, and gasping every few pages. It is a book that i think everyone needs to read at least once in their life.
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This book was such a great read.
It tells the story of Charlie, an outcast in the manic world of school, drugs and sex. As the blurb says, Charlie’s letters to his unknown pen pal are much more intimate and real than a diary. He meets Patrick and Sam at a football game. For me, they were what brought him into this vortex of society’s expectations and ideals. Charlie’s newfound friends Patrick, Sam, Alice, Bob and Mary Elizabeth bring him into their world and he meets many situations and people outside of his comfort zone. To me this book was an intimate story of loyalty, friendship and finding yourself in our warped and harsh world.
I found this book very sad. It was almost as if Charlie was too innocent for all the situations he was offered drugs, or having a romantic lover. It was a real and raw insight into the world as it is today, for teenagers in particular.
9/10
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Perks is one of those books you’ll pick up and never want to put down. When you lend it to a friend you’ll wish that you were them and got to read it all over again for the very first time. This completely beautiful story of Charlie is everything you’d expect from the high school journey novel- and more. It explores themes of friendships, relationships, breakups, drugs and parties. Perks really can’t be described as anything other then mind-blowing. You are taken on a journey that’s both emotionally triggering and disturbing. Its quirky nature gives you a greater understanding of the teenage mind and the mishaps that occur along the way that allow Charlie to grow and be shaped into a better person. A highly recommended novel for all teenagers looking for something that they can laugh and cry with
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The perks of being a wallflower is a great book about what actually happens in real teenage life today. It’s such a great book, it’s got a really interesting story line. It’s good for anyone who’s looking for a laugh, but it’s also a bit of a tear jerker. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I really wanted to keep reading. I’m someone who doesn’t really like reading, but I enjoyed this one a lot.I would recommend this book for people 11 and over.
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This book is absolutely amazing. It is so fascinating with such and interesting and unique story line. It is not like any book I have read before and it will definitely make you laugh and cry at the same time. The way this book intrigues you leaves you wanting more makes it hard to put down. The book features protagonist Charlie and the his experiences in high school and with his family. Some of the themes are quite deep and mature so for that reason I would recommend it for people aged 12+. I would rate this book a 7/10, but it is definitely something worth reading, especially if you enjoyed the movie!
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This book is an extraordinary read. The story of 15 going-on 16 year old Charlie really warmed my heart. During Charlie’s first few days at high-school, he meets Patrick who shows him that he is not the only Wallflower to walk the halls of the school. Stephen’s choice of words really create a bond between the reader and the character and keeps you wanting to read more. His abnormal choice of format really got me thinking about all the possibilities of what might happen in Charlie’s letters. While reading this book I refused to put it down it was that good. I definitely recommend this amazing novel.
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower was such a sad but amazing book. It’s based around a boy named Charlie and his difficult experience through high school with drugs, friends, depression and family issues. The structure makes you think he is writing a letter/diary to a unknown person. My favourite character would be Sam because she’s so sweet and positive. I would recommend this to anyone over 12 years and over and would rate it 7/10.
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Perks of Being a Wallflower would have to be one of the best book I have read because I just loved the story and all of the characters within it. Most of the time I just felt so sorry for Charlie because he had just been through so much but it’s good that he can just try and escape all of it by reading. It is one of those books where it really gets you to think as it doesn’t fully explain what actually happens. The book really made me happy, sad and angry within the last chapter. It really took me a while to get stuck into the book but it was all worth it in the end. The only thing that I would change would be that I should of read the book before I watched the movie as the book went into a lot more detail and their were a lot of things that happened in the book that didn’t actually happen in the movie which was a bit annoying. I really liked Sam and Patrick as they were really good friends to Charlie and they taught him so much and brought happiness to his life even in the hard times. They book contained a lot of strong themes so it is not a book for everyone. I would rate the book around 8.5/10
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower is told from the perspective of an adolescent boy as he writes in his journal. The writer, Charlie, is a freshman who does not have many friends. I thought this book was fantastic. I picked up this book, read 20 pages and didn’t want to put it down. I just wanted to keep turning pages and I refused to stop reading or do anything until it was done.
Stephen Chbovski is a talented writer who makes you truly care about the characters, like you are their friend on the journey with them. He does a good job of making you really attached to Charlie, you can understand his pain and just want to hug him! My favourite character is Sam, she is a close friend of Charlie’s who has gone through hardships and really helps him to get through high school.
I wouldn’t change anything about this book and I would recommend it to anyone mature enough to read it (around 12 years or older) as it deals with topics such as abuse and drug use.
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The Perks of being a Wallflower has got to be one of my favourite books! It is an interesting and quite relatable book (I guess), as it is based on the people in high school. When I first started reading this book, I just could not put it down! My favourite character in this book would have to be Charlie, not just because he’s the main character but also because he seems like an ambitious person. (Although he doesn’t really emphasize on his goals) This book is about a guy named Charlie and how he goes through the life and troubles of high school. Stephen Chbosky did a really good job at writing this book! I would recommend this book to those people who really like to read books and I rate it a 10/10 because this book isn’t really hard to love! 🙂
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This book by Stephen Chbosky would have to be one of my favourite books. I loved it because it wasn’t one of those typical books about high school that always end happily and everything goes according to plan, this is a book that goes deeper than that and into the life of Charlie and his struggles through life and high school. I don’t have a favourite part of the book because I loved all of it. My favourite character is Sam because she is so confident and I love how she doesn’t care what anybody else thinks about her she just lives her life and nobody else’s. I love this book and I love how Charlie is so innocent at the beginning and how he develops through the book and I loved going on that journey. I also thought that Charlie’s past was really sad and I really felt for him at the end of the book. I couldn’t put this book down and I recommend it for teenagers. I give it a 10/10 definitely!
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I really really really loved this movie, My sister got the book for christmas and read it in two days so she went to the movies and watched the movie and she said it was the one of the best movies she has ever seen. So i went and watched the movie and i just thought it was so adorable. I didnt get it very much untill i got the movie explained to me and now i understand what happened. This movies sound track is absalutly amazing i have the whole soundtrack in my itunes and i listen to it all the time. i would rate this 9/10
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I really really enjoy this book. I would have to say that this is the best book that i have read so far. I really like charlie but his story is so sad. When you start you reading the book, you can’t put it down.It draws you in. I would suggest that you read the book and then watch the movie. I would recommend this to anyone. It is such a good book and very well written. I would rate this book a 10/10! it is amazing:)
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This book is really amazing, I don’t know what to say! I adore this book so much it is written sooo well and you can’t stop reading. The Author makes you feel like Charlie is talking to you and you alone, and you just want to hug him or something. The book is really deep but also lovely at the same time! I would give it a 1000 / 10
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This would have to be one of my favourite books ever, and is a great coming of age read. Everything unfolds at the end, the book shows how cruel society really is these days. The book is really well written as well, I couldn’t put it down! The book is different to any other book I have ever read in a good way. Although it doesn’t have the most adventurous or interesting plot it really does make you think about your life, your actions and the way your actions affect people it also makes you think about those more quiet ones in your life and how they feel. I absolutely adore this book 10/10
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AHH OMG THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I’VE EVER READ AND ALSO MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE MOVIE!! where do i start?!? I absolutely love the way stephen writes this book, it’s so deep and lovely and you really feel like you’re charlie’s best friend when you’re reading it! It’s written in a series of letters from charlie that start with ‘dear friend’ which i think is cute because it feels like it’s adressed to you. I just love the storyline and all the experiences charlie goes through and the friends he makes and how he changes their lives in a positive way. He learns a lot of life lessons from them also and i think that the love story with charlie and sam in this is absolutely adorable! i just love this book to bits and i would recommend the book and movie to anyone and everyone! personal favourite ❤
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This is my favourite book, to be honest I don’t know how it could be, because there was not one moment in it that I was not crying. I do not normally get emotional in books or movies, except this book had me weeping. The reason I love it so much is because it shows what true friends are and how just being around them can calm you down and make you feel happy and safe. The book also combines many important aspects such as friendship and love, I think the love that Charlie shows towards Sam is just adorable, even though she may not pick up on it straight away you can really tell how much he admires her. This is the best book ever and also a good guide on surviving high school. Overall a great read and a personal favourite!
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This has to be one of my favourite movies ever, it has real meaning behind it and it just so smart and creative. Words cannot express how much I love it. When watching it a first time I didn’t really get the start bit but when you work your way through the movie things will fall into place and you will understand it though. Its one of those movies you never want to end but when it does end you are terribly sad. When I finished the movie I questioned the end a bit, it was finished but I think it would of been better if they explained what happened after it and put that little bit more of detail in so everyone is able to get it but overall I love it and I watch it all the time if you haven’t seen it try and find it and sit down and watch it and have a little cry (happy cry of course).
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The perks of being a wallflower is such an interesting book. I found it a really great book mainly because it isn’t all about caring about the popular people and there social status but about the people who are “unknown” among peers at school. Charlie the main character is socially awkward and is still finding his feet and friends. He meets two friends Sam and Patrick it is only when he meets them that he really lives a typical teenage high school life. The book covers abuse drugs alcohol and teaches you a lessons whilst making you really think. The book is written in a diary entry form by Charlie, I find this book really good because it is a new format of writing a book and also reading a new type of text. This book has been turned since into a movie, but as always the book is SOOO much better.
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The Perks of being a Wallflower is a great teenage book that talks about what every teenager today is faced with. It explores some really strong themes and is so beautifully written! It is in the format of a diary by a boy named Charlie. Charlie is a socially awkward and quiet teenager who is extremely smart and takes everything in. He finds some friends and they take him on the rollercoaster ride that is life and they encourage him to really live and make the most of every moment! I would recommend this book to people who can understand the themes that this book explores, so they can really take it in! I would rate it 10/10!
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Absolutely brilliant book. I really loved the form that it was written in; Charlie’s letters to his friends. I thought this gave the story a lot more of an edge and we got to learn a lot more about Charlie, through this books presentation.
My favorite character was Sam, she has a beautiful personality and is genuinely cares about Charlie. She is very carefree and down to earth, and despite her past, she is displayed as quite innocent in the novel.
Charlie, to me, represents strength. His ability to change his life, is incredible. Charlie has been through a lot, and this book portrays some of the difficulties and struggles, he and many other teenagers face growing up in this society. I believe that throughout the novel, Charlie begins to feel more equal. He is no longer the shy freshman. He as a character, and as a person, earns his own identity and learns to overcome challenges he may face. Charlie is a very resilient character, and I believe that he teaches the other characters, in particular Sam, to be resilient.
This book has a lot of hidden messages, and I believe every single one of them is important. Stephen Chbosky builded the characters identities brilliantly, and I can happily say that this is one of the best books I have read this year. The movie is amazing also, and I would recommend this book to people above the age of 13, because of the mature themes and references.
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Perks of Being a Wallflower is a Teen/young adult book written by Stephen Chbosky. It is displayed in the form of letters written by a teenage boy, Charlie. It covers many different topics such as abuse, drug usage and teen sexuality. It follows his path through High School, and how he copes. I really loved this book, because it had so many different thoughts, and it really delved into a teen’s mind. I would recommend this book for people who are mature enough to understand all the aspects, as it deals with very serious issues. It has since been made into a movie late last year, and I loved the movie very much!
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This coming of age novel explores the events and issues teenagers are faced with in society today. The Perks of Being a Wallflower describes the life of Charlie – a freshman at school, who is faced with challenges we all make during our lives such as making friendships and finding ourselves. Throughout the novel Charlie is also faced with more difficult challenges that many of us have never had to deal with. This confronting story is definitely an eyeopener into the lives of teenagers today. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is beautifully written. A story about loss of innocence and new beginnings takes you on an infinite adventure you will never forget.
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an interesting and very well written book. It is told through the perspective of Charlie, a young freshmen who offers a unique outlook on life.
I really enjoyed this book because it was a different writing style to what I am used to and I really enjoyed the change. I loved that it kept you interested and wondering right to the very last page. It was quite a mature read so I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone under the age of 13 at least.
This book has been one of the best books I’ve read this year and I would definitely recommend this to you if you love reading and are looking for a quick yet slightly challenging read.
I think the characters are very realistic and interesting and most of all are relatable because just like us they are teenagers trying to find their place in the world. I love all the characters dearly and feel as if they could be my best friends but my favourite by far would have to be Charlie. Throughout the book I felt as if I got to know him and I was very sad to see him go when I finished the book.
I can’t wait to see the movie and I really hope that it will be every bit as good as the movie.
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Perks of Being a Wallflower in one of my most favourite books I have ever read. It is so different to anything I have ever read and the characters are so special you wish they were real. The novel is about a young boy just going into high school and experiencing all the different types of emotions that come with high school. My favourite character was sam because she was really nice to Charlie and was a very understanding character. I would recommend this book to people who want a dense story about growing up. 5 stars!
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The Perks of being a wallflower is a great teen read that tackles many issues that teens are faced with from the transition from an adolescent to an adult. The book is centered around Charlie, a boy who is trying to figure out his life and follows his story of growing up in highschool. Charlie, writes letters as if they were diary entries. They started just before he started his freshmen year and each letter provides an insight into his life.
i recommend this book to people who are looking for a quick but good read.
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After reading the Perks I’m so emotional, in the last ten pages of the book everything just came together. I’m so depressed everyone is leaving and then what happens between Sam and Charlie that makes him realise that he has been molested by his aunt makes me faultier. I’m so confused right now with emotional overload. I can’t believe the ending; how could someone he trusted so much do that to him? And how for years he loved unconditionally. I love how his friends support him but also at the ned of the book before he has the mental breakdown his family starts to say they love him and make him feel more welcome. It makes me love my own family. This book also tells you to make the most of your life and that it’s your decison in where it goes as when in the book they give an example of the alcoholic father that has two sons and one becomes sucsessful and the other becomes a drunk. The same goes with Charlie that becuase he was molested and that the person who molested him was molested, doesn’t mean he will molester anyone because it is up to him and he makes his own choices. I am happy that nobody died because I thought that was going to happen and was dreading it. I just saw the trailer for the movie, but I don’t like it, Logan Lerman might be ok as Charlie if he doesn’t try to act cool but just be the character. I hate Emma Watson as Sam because this book is so unknown that I thought they might need unknown actors and she is too big, also I think as Sam as long hair but it’s short in the film, she should have grown it out.
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