A review by kiwij96
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

challenging dark emotional lighthearted sad fast-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

4.5

A super easy read with the writing being in the form of letters. It follows Charlie's first year in high school after the suicide of one of his friends and how he copes with navigating a new school without his previous group of friends.

The story is emotional. Charlie has experienced a lot of trauma in his life but doesn't believe he has, and has desensitised himself to it by saying "other people have it worse". This eventually leads him into crisis after remembering a specific traumatic event. 

This is a story of friendship, first love, heartbreak and self-discovery. It is also one of trauma and mental health issues, and deals with some heavy themes at times.
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