Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I almost DNFed this book. It's a book for high schoolers about high schoolers, and since I'm nearing my thirties, it didn't seem like this book was for me. The writing felt too simplistic and not deep enough. It felt too childish. But I gave it a bit more of a chance when I realized more about what he was going through. I learned of the experiences and pain that contributed to Charlie's simplistic view of his day-to-day teenage life. And then book began to make so much more sense, and I began to see its beauty. I saw my own story and pains reflected in Charlie's and could see the experiences I shared decades ago as a teen reflected in Charlie's. This book captures the effects of Charlie's source of pain so well - better than I've ever experienced in a book, and I was feel so grateful to get to read such a beautiful story capturing and empathizing with that pain. I read this book in the form of an audiobook, and this will definitely be a book I'll be purchasing a physical copy of to read over and over in the future.

And to any young person reading this, who relates to the pain experienced in this story, I just wanted to pile on and remind you that there really is light at the end of the tunnel. What used to haunt you will lose its ability to hold you down. And you will be okay.

Content Warnings

schibi's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

holistichistorian's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My copy of The Perks of being a wallflower was given to me by someone I was once very close to and with whom I had a very complicated relationship with. I’m not entirely sure why they gave it to me, but I feel like it was because the main character reminded her of me, or our situation. In any case, I found this novel incredibly moving in ways I don’t think I can properly process just yet. It’s a book I hope to read again and again for the rest of my life. A truly good book is one which feels as if it were written specifically for you, as if the writer understood you in some way and wrote it in order for you to better understand yourself. Maybe that sounds like crap but that’s how I feel about this book. I’m going to go cry and talk to someone I love now.

So, I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.

Content Warnings

thebookworm_queen's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found this book difficult to read because it was too sad. I ended up taking a long break after the first 2 parts as the emotional turmoil the main character Charlie was going through was just too much. I had expected this to be a coming of age story about a young man who didn't quite fit in in high school and although that is part of the story the other part is darker and filled with some heavy topics that I found difficult to read through. So please read with care as I know this a popular book and for good reason, but it's not for everyone. Although I think there is an important message within this book I do think that the topics like abusive relationships, child abuse, suicide, & homophobia should have been discussed more in depth within the book and with more care for young readers.

Content Warnings

shogani_sumaru's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

More...