Dear Person Who Was Thinking About Reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower




A Review of The Perks of Being a Wallflower





When I think of high schools, my thoughts are pretty stereotypical. I think of those sappy romance novels that are boy meet girl scenarios. I think of the stereotypical “cool kids” and “geeks” and the “big” high school parties. Now when I first picked up The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I thought to myself, Okay, this is just another one of those books. I, of course, was mistaken. Yes, the book was just another boy meet girl book, but yet, it was more than that.

The book is narrated by a teenage alias named Charlie. Charlie describes vividly parts of his life that include drugs, love, sex, and parties. And it is all written in the form of letters. Okay. I know what you’re thinking. Stereotypical romance novel. But, wait my friends, this novel is one of a kind.

The story of Charlie begins with him telling an anonymous person about how his best friend, Michael had died the previous school year. This just made the fact that Charlie’s aunt died on his seventh birthday worse. Charlie’s aunt was the only person in the world who really understood him and Charlie didn’t feel like his could depend on his family to be there. To make matters even worse, Charlie was starting his freshman year of high school. Charlie soon befriends two seniors, Sam and her step-brother Patrick. Charlie writes about his time with his new made friends, with the parties, first dates, first kisses, being infinite and all the little stories in between.

I loved this novel. It made the other romantic novels mediocre. Maybe if you’re not into romance and the thrills of high school, it probably isn’t for you. I loved how relatable the book was with the mixed feelings about people and the losing and gaining of friends. I reminds me of the good, and sadly bad, times I’ve already have had with my friends. The author, Stephen Chbosky, brilliantly got into the mind of a high schooler and vividly explored the highs and lows.




Love Forever,





Me