Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (Spoiler-Free)

Re-read 2021:

And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

This was so much more than I even remember it being. It washes over you and fills in the gaps that need filling. You need to hug Charlie. Maybe you need to hug yourself too.

A couple years ago at BookCon I was in line for a signing, and I happened to be in the line next to the one for Stephen Chbosky. His child FaceTimed him at that moment and he answered and said, "Honey, daddy's at work right now. Do you wanna see all the people who came to see me?" We all waved, and I didn't know it yet, but I think that's a moment when I really participated. I miss the little moments like those.

Feeling lonely is so rough. There's no easy fix. This book comes close, though. There will always be a Charlie out there. You won't always need him, but when you do he will always be there. Sometimes you'll be in the tunnel, sometimes you'll have your back to the wall at the party. But Charlie will always be there with you. Even if no one else is.

Read my original review from 2018 here.

Song I was reminded of while reading: Falling