The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

Book Overview

"A timeless story for every young person who needs to understand that they are not alone." --Judy Blume

"Once in a while, a novel comes along that becomes a generational touchstone. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of those books." --R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder

This #1 New York Times bestselling coming-of-age story with millions of copies in print takes...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671027344
• ISBN13: 9780671027346
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: MTV Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Average Re-Read

I read this book in middle school and decided to pick it up again- young me would have given it 5 stars, however now it's only 3 stars. I am disappointed in the ending.

Coming of Age story and heartfelt read

I enjoyed the unique way it was written. It is a good story and a nice casual read that you can finish quickly and still get plenty of enjoyment out of it.

Have bought 5 copies

I’ve bought 5 copies for myself and for my friends, I love this book and even the good quality ones are super nice

One of the best books ever!!!

I completely support The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, being on the New York Times Bestseller list. My oldest brother showed me the movie when I was going through a really rough time, and it instantly became one of my all-time favorite movies ever. Recently, I read the book, and it is now one of my all-time favorite books ever. One day I was reading the book outside in the rain, and I swear, I felt infinite. Charlie's perspectives on high school, and life in general, are very unique and relatable to me. His whole life he has been struggling to fight his thoughts, which makes life very hard to enjoy. Once he starts "participating" more, he faces new struggles. but makes life-long friends along the way. The letters to an incognito "Friend" (which make up the entire book), go deep into Charlie's thoughts, memories, and experiences without being repetitive or cliche. Although the letters are about his life, he shows care for the recipient throughout the story. Charlie's experiences show how you can overcome a lot if you keep persevering through the hardships. My recommendation, if you are at a place where you can, is the read this book! :)

In love with this book

This is a beautifully written book that deals with ugly subjects. I love that its epistolary format and the accurate depictions of mental health. I loved this book as someone that struggles with PTSD and anyone else that struggles with their mental health or trauma will probably love it too.

Love love love

After seeing the movie dozens of time I figured it was finally time to read the book. It's just as fantastic, completely read it in one sitting.

Best book ever made

So Good Oml Go Read It.

It was alright

Okay, as someone who is very avid about books being better than their movie adaptation, I was disapointed. I had to push myself to finish this book. I found the characters uninteresting, and I couldn't to really care for them the way I did when I watched the movie adaptation. By no means is it a bad book, just boring. The movie execution is better.

Love the book

The book was broken when I got it pages were falling out

Was glad I listened to the recommendation to read this!

So the end surprised me, which I loved, but wow. It's quite sad, really. I'd love to see the movie. It's a quick ad easy read and I really found myself rooting for Charlie. It reminds me of my high school days and the confusion of not knowing who I was or where I belonged.

Good Book, Bad Quality

I really love the book, but the copy I was sent has a lot of stains on it. I don't think you can call a book good quality when it has stains. :(

Only read half of it

I got about halfway through before I lost interest. I guess there’s technically a storyline but it didn’t hold my attention.

Ahhh!!

Loved the movie so much , first time I ever watched it I cried. Now I’ve seen a million times it’s so beautiful I can’t wait to read the book:)

amazing!

Don’t even hesitate buy this book!!

Logan Lerman.

this book was very fun to read. Ill admit to watching the movie prior and I like how the book is from Charlie's POV, unlike the movie that is from an outsiders POV. One of my faves!

Not really very good copy

I purchased this and was hoping a clean copy but they send me the one with the drawings and mostly the whole book is full of drawings, notes and highlighter etc

My all time fav book

Includes so much emotion. Discusses depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses in such a relatable manner. I could reread this book over and over and still cry every time. Just honestly a beautiful book!

Amazing!

I read this book nearly a decade ago but it still holds a special place in my heart. It made me feel more secure in myself and for that I’ll always be grateful. The writing is simple yet beautiful and the characters are complex and funny.

Phenomenal book

I just finished reading this book and absolutely loved it. It is dark, yes, but in a sense that it is as realistic as a fiction book can get. The narration is such that it seems like you are Charlie and you are experiencing everything that he is experiencing. The story that unfolds is tragic and beautiful simultaneously, as this is the reality of life. The Perks of being a Wallflower has now become one of my favorite books and I already want to reread it. Despite what some might say, I truly believe that this book is a very important and thought provoking book for young readers and adults, alike.

made me cry

a great read about a boy navigating his first year in highschool with past trauma. chbosky does a fantastic job writing and really makes you feel like an anxious little freshman again.

what the hell happened

The book came absolutely destroyed. It’s at a point where it isn’t even readable and will have to go straight into the garbage.

we accept the love we think we deserve

this is my favorite movie. so of course i love the book

Beautiful

This book will always have a place in my heart. I watched the movie first and had to get my hands on the book. Both beautiful and sad.

Beautiful Book

I was extremely late to jump on the bandwagon to read this book. It was such a good, heart-wrenching book. It made me tear up over and over again as Charlie detailed everything going on in his life. You really get attached to the characters in the book and it was yanking at my heartstrings the entire time. It got very personal as Charlie is basically speaking directly to you. I 100% recommend this amazing book as well as the movie.

One of the best books ever written

This book is absolutely amazing and wonderful and perfect. The characters are relatable, the story is just so good. My only complaint is that it's not longer

Such fun

While there were some things in the book I didn't care for, and perhaps because I read this for the first time as an adult, it took me a while to get into the book, but I definitely see why so many people love this. And being a child of the 90's, it certainly brought up feelings of nostalgia in me.

EVERYONE should read this book!

I have known for quite a while that I should read this book. I finally bought it, and I am so glad. I finished the book in less than a day. It is short and sweet, and tells a truly amazing story. This book covers many sensitive issues, but as long as you can handle that, I can say this will definitely be a book for you. This will forever be a timeless classic.

Relatable

This book is a great read for any reader, but I think it's more aimed at teenagers and young adults. I liked the letter format of the book because it gives you the characters perspective which felt very genuine.

10/10

so much more detailed than the movie and explains a lot more events, the book is so much better than the movie . i would recommend reading it

Amazing

Estoy leyendolo apenas pero vino en una condición hermosa, bien cuidado y páginas casi como nuevas.

1/5

this book dealt with so many serious issues that i started to get bored whenever another one came to play. i’ve read too many wattpad stories to feel any emotion with books like this anymore. i don’t know, though. maybe if it were longer and chbosky would’ve gone more into death with each event, it would’ve been better, but at the same time i feel like that could’ve made it worse. the way this book is written is straight-up boring for the most part. i didn’t laugh, cry, or even feel the tug of a smile when reading. but i did loose focus a lot!!! i don’t remember the majority of the book because of how many times i just stared out into space while reading this. i never was excited to pick up this and continue reading. i was just forcing myself to finish a book that i wanted to understand the hype. the movie was better.

Amazing

Amazing

This Is Not A Review! This Is A Question!

im planning to buy this book but im wondering about the quality of the hardcover option. is it good quality or not?

Literally one of my favorite books

This book is amazing. It follows Charlie's life from an outside perspective, as he writes to us the things going on in his life. It's relatable and easy to understand but does delve into deeper topics. Additionally, it's easy to read without feeling childish. When I find reading to be nearly impossible from depression, I reread this book.

Great read

read this for a project and its so relatable and fun to read

❤️

❤️

Amazing

This book is so amazing. It is a great teen book!! I’m a teenager right now and it was awesome seeing the difference from now to then when the book was written in 1991!! This book is a must read

Great message.

Sometimes the only thing you've gotten in life is the love from your friends.

an essential read

endearing and tragic.

Amazing!

I literally could not stop reading this! I've recommended this book so many times since my friend let me (borrow) it!! She had to get a new one!!

<3

This is a unique case where I loved the movie just as much as the book. One of my favorite books of all time and I highly recommend it.

Beautiful story about a coming of age experience

A book that makes you think about life not only yours but those around you. Allows you to seek life through someone else's perspective. It includes love but the real kind of love. The love that's never ending

A true suprise

I wasn't expecting to love this- I had never seen the movie and had no idea of the plot. Man, oh man, this book is tremendous.

Best Book I ever read!

I don't usually enjoy reading. Most books are long-winded and boring and overrated, but I totally loved The Perks of Being a Wall Flower. In fact, I can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading a book this much! I actually LOOKED FORWARD TO the time I had alone with the book, and that almost never happens to me. Please check it out. Another short, snappy book I liked: The Losers' Club by Richard Perez. I think schools should throw out all those boring "classics" and start a brand-new list!

Startling, Gripping, and Absolutely Honest

I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, in April of my sophomore year at college. A friend lent it to me and I had read it within twelve hours. This book reaches inside of you and pulls everything to the surface. It is a beautiful and painful story about a 15 year old boy, Charlie, moving through his freshmen year of highschool. It is written in letter form to an unknown friend. Charlie is always completely honest, whether he is describing his first "beer" party where he witnessed a girl being raped by her boyfriend, or explaining masturbation and his excitement for this newfound "activity." Charlie is a wallflower who observes people and feels very deeply for the experiences occuring around him. His favorite Aunt Helen died in a car accident when he was six, and he holds himself accountable, and his best friend committed suicide a year before he began the letters. His English teacher realizes Charlie's potential and brilliance and asks him to try and participate, which Charlie agrees to do. He becomes friends with two seniors Patrick and Samantha and begins to experience dances, parties, the Rocky Horror Picture Show, pot, love, bad trips and sexuality. We feel exhilerated when Charlie describes his happy moments, and we are swallowed in pain when Charlie is overwhelmed by his depression. Charlie's realizations are eye opening for us, and we are so captivated and immersed in his life that his life and stories become a very real experience. This book is about moments, and being as much alive within each moment as possible. It is about looking around us at the world and the people and appreciating that we don't know what their lives are like, and the pain and happiness that they experience day to day, so we shouldn't judge them but accept them and appreciate them. A favorite section of this book, for me, was when Charlie describes the movie It's A Wonderful Life, and how he wished the movie had been about one of the less heroic characters so the audience could have seen the meaning that this person's life held. That moment is just one example of Charlie's amazing intuition. This book should not be limited to a certain "category" of people. I truly believe that it would be understood, appreciated, and loved by everyone aged 12 (+ or - a few) and up regardless of gender, race, sexuality, etc. This book changes you, if only for a moment, but you are not the same upon completion, and you become more appreciative of life then ever.

Going through the tunnel

When I finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chybosky, I sat there in a stunned silence. The book was strongly powerful in a manner that diary or letter style books rarely achieve. There is usually a sense of implausibility in those types of books that Charlie's character completely negated. When trying to describe Charlie the mind suddenly reels, he's honest. Completely and utterly genuine in his perceptions and most of his actions. Charlie is also and emotional basket case that somehow manages to attract a special group of friends to him. A group of voluntary outcasts that go through the same problems teenagers face everywhere. Sex, drugs, relationships and acceptance figure heavily into everyone's lives, despite their personal beliefs on those subjects. I would like to mention Stephen's portrayal of Patrick, I was pleased to see the sbuject of homosexuality treated in such a plain manner. It was accepted as a fact and only the feelings invovled in the situations were important. I would recomment this book to a wide range of people, old or young, straight or gay, conservative or liberal. It was a pleasure to read and I enjoyed it immensely.