** spoiler alert ** 
 Dear reader of this here review, 
 I hope my two star rating of this book -- which I know is a beloved teen classic to many -- does not offend. 
 At the end of the day, it's just my silly opinion after all. 
 The book wasn't horrible, though there were a few parts I took issue with, but it didn't quite live up to what I was hoping it would be, either. Honestly, I only read it in hopes it would be better than the movie, which I saw a couple years ago and realize my dislike of is greatly in the minority. I thought perhaps my distaste for it might have something to do with what I felt was not one of Logan Lerman's better performances and decided to give the book a go. 
 In short, while my not caring for Logan's portrayal of Charlie might have had SOMETHING to do with it, I realize I didn't entirely like the story on its own merits either. 
 While it is very much a "teen issue" book that does not shy away from dark subjects (indeed, some scenes are rather raunchy, particularly for an epistolary novel), with a positive enough overall message, it just didn't find a home in my heart the way it obviously has for the slew of other readers who love this book to pieces. 
 I had a hard time relating to Charlie. He wasn't unlikable, but he was annoyingly co-dependent for such an introverted person. I realize this is because once he discovers what it's like to have friends he doesn't want to let go of them, yet I dunno I felt it was still a little irksome to read about. Also, it occurs to me that this book ends (more or less) with Sam telling Charlie he can't just let people in life walk all over him and call that love, and he is told he needs to more involved in his own life many times in the course of the novel. So isn't that kind of a mixed message? The title is the PERKS of being a wallflower, and the story constantly points out that it's NOT okay to be one? 
 I'm not saying Sam was wrong, because she wasn't, Charlie was a living breathing doormat -- especially when it came to people he loved -- and things had to change but I dunno it just didn't sit right with me. 
 Speaking of Charlie and his passive issues, he cries A LOT. And while it's understandable what with his mental issues and childhood trauma of his aunt molesting him, it seems a bit of an over expressive display for a GUY. I know all guys aren't super macho, and some are very emotional, but a guy raised like Charlie wouldn't cry OPENLY this much, I don't feel. He might have to constantly RUN OFF and cry, if it were completely involuntary, but what MALE sobs in front of all his friends and family and enemies and basically anybody who happens to be around this much? Look, I cry a lot, I'm a very emotional person myself, more than almost anybody I know, and even I can't hold a candle to Charlie's constant weeping -- and I'm a GIRL! Seriously, if I didn't know better, I'd think this book was written by a confused woman who didn't know how guys react when they are emotional. 
 Now for Charlie's writing ambition.... Far be it for me to put down another aspiring author (even a fictional one), but nothing in the story or his letters to his unknown friend convinced me he was a talented writer. His teacher Bill might think he was the most talented person he'd met in a long time, but I certainly don't. Charlie reads a lot of good books (kudos to that, even though I agree with Mary Elizabeth on the To Kill a Mocking Bird is overrated front), so perhaps he will improve as he grows, which is entirely possible but unless there is a sequel I guess we will never know. 
 Speaking of Mary Elizabeth, I didn't like her character much. She was a horrible match for Charlie, which I guess was kind of the point, but still. 
 The one good point of this book for me is that it DOES have a lot of great quotes, such as "we accept the love we think we deserve" etc... which were surprisingly deep, so that's cool. 
 Do I recommend this book, however? Nah. If you're looking for a good example of an epic true-to-life story about the ups and downs of life told entirely through letters, read Love, Rosie (also known as Where Rainbows End) instead -- it's far superior to this one. And if you just want a novel about Teen angst and death, read Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume. 
 Best wishes, 
 Lucy