Dear Friend. 
 It was hard to read this book, even after my therapist told me it would help. I mean, it did, but it also broke me. He said that I could make Charlie's story my own, because Charlie's story is my own. I saw the movie first, and at the movie theater I cried more than anyone else, because I connected with the story, because it made me remember - well, I already remembered, but it forced me to face my memories. The book was a different experience, because I can't forget what happened no matter how hard I want and try, but it made me realize that it's important to remember, that it's important I don't forget. 
 Because Charlie's story is literally my own- but my aunt didn't die. 
 Yeah, I know it's weird to mention this, especially in a review, but I was in a bad place for a long time and all I wanted was someone or something to connect. This book made me connect, and maybe my story and Charie's will help someone else. I hope it helps someone else. 
 My review. 
 The writing style is very unique, it is not something one can really miss. At first I would have described it as monotone, but as the story progressed I found that the writing helped a lot to tell the story and to represent Charlie - which was the main goal. They were supposed to be Charlie's letters after all. 
 Some parts in the book were hard to read, some were even hard to swallow, and the simple almost crude writing illustrated that. These were all sad stories. Sad characters, sad situations, but not 
 just 
 sad stories. 
 I didn't feel happy, or inspired or pumped up while reading this, on the contrary, constant sad smiles would appear in the corners of my mouth, as well as little frowns on my forehead. What I did feel was identified with many of the events that happened, and I believe this is what made the story so popular - almost everyone can feel identified with it at some level. 
 A lot of people thought this book was highly overrated, but this review is coming from someone that has been in Charlie's place and I can personally tell you that the book helps. I connected with Charlie's story in so many aspects and things that really made me wish I hadn't. In all honesty I wish nobody had to connect to them. But it helped, and I know it has helped a lot more people, and I hope it will help a lot more in the future. 
 There were only two things I didn't really like about the story. One, how Charlie was always crying. Not so much because he cried, but, the way it was written and placed made it annoying and awkward. Something would be happening and then a random 'I started crying' would appear, making the sentence and scene break. The second thing where the "It made me sad/I felt sad" a lot of the "sad's" would also appear out of nowhere and they would turn a sentence awkward. Apart from those two minor details the book was good. 
 The movie. 
 I would say that I liked the move more than the book, but it's hard because I don't think they are comparable, they are just different. The movie makes me cry every time, because it always makes me feel hopeful and happy and full of possibility. It's all in that line when Charlie says 
 "This one moment when you know you're not a sad story" 
 Because that is what the whole story is about. Sam, Patrick, Charlie's sister, his dad, his mom, his Aunt Hellen; everyone was sad and everyone had a lot going on in their lives, but they were not sad stories. The movie makes me realize that no matter what I've gone through in my life and how difficult things have been, I am more than just a sad story. 
 "You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And you're listening to that song and that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment I swear, we are infinite." 
 As cheesy as it sounds, the movie does make me feel infinite, it makes me feel hopeful. 
 The book makes me feel sad "but a hopeful kind of sad. The kind of sad that just takes time." I swear this is the last quote I use, but it fits. The book was a much fuller experience and a deeper insight, but it was also sadder. 
 At the moment I have a bit of book-hangover and it will take me some time to get over it. 
 As for technical aspects, I am in awe at the amazing job that Chbosky did at translating this book into a movie. How he wasn't afraid of changing things and leaving things out, but still captured the essence of the story. When I was reading the book I tried to imagine that the movie didn't exist, and how I would personally make it into a movie, and it's really hard. How the story is told and how things are shown is very unique and I had a hard time imagining it in the big screen, but Chbosky did it, and he did it wonderfully. *Insert BIG applause for Chbosky* 
 Now I will go watch the movie, cry with my dog, and then I'll probably call my therapist to tell him what I've figure out, and all the other things I haven't, and I hope he'll help me. And I hope this book helps other people. 
 I'm pretty sure this has been said a million times, but here's one more: You should read it.