A review by hunterkat
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

emotional 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

The Perks of Being a Wallflower 5/5

“You can’t just sit there and put everybody’s lives ahead of yours”

“But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.”

“And even if somebody has it much worse, it doesn’t change the fact that you have what you have.”

This story is heavy. It contains a lot of heavy topics, like sexual content, abuse, assault, and drug use. But it’s an important story. It’s one that someone might be living right now. Maybe that weird, quiet kid in school just really needs a friend. Maybe they have a hard time “participating” in life for whatever reason.

This is a story about trauma, and grief, and friendship, true friendship. It’s a story about being present in life, even when it’s hard. It’s a story about making room for yourself in your own life. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is not an easy read. But I would recommend everyone who can to read it. Maybe it will make you realize that there’s something you’re not being present for, or that you’re not making enough room for yourself in your own life. Or maybe it will inspire you to forge your own path, no matter where you come from. And realize that your worries and problems are real problems, even if “others have it worse”. Make time for yourself. And be present for life, the good and the bad. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings