15-year-old, socially awkward, high school freshman Charlie was always watching life from the sideline. That was until a girl named Sam caught his eye. The movie “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” which has 19 winning awards with 50 nominations, a 2012 American coming-of-age drama film written, directed, and based on the 1999 novel by Stephen Chbosky, takes us through Charlie’s turning point in life, with some bumps along the way.

Charlie is a shy teenager without friends just entering his first year of high school. He misses his best friend, who had committed suicide a few months back. Charlie has a mental illness problem in his past and he enjoys writing letters to an imaginary friend ranting about his feelings to help cope. He wants to be a writer and enjoys reading books. His literature teacher, Mr. Anderson notices the joy Charlie gets from reading and writing and starts to give Charlie some books to read in his free time.

The first day of freshman year came and every freshman’s first thought came to Charlie’s head that day, where to sit at lunch. Discouraged at several tables, he’s welcomed by two smart and sympathetic seniors, Patrick, who is gay, and his stepsister Sam and they become best friends. Sam and Patrick introduce Charlie to their friends and they create a strong friend group. Charlie falls in love with Sam, but he lacks the self-confidence to date her. Through them, he meets the punk Mary Elizabeth who definitely is interested in dating him, and a pothead named Bob who pushes Charlie toward adventures most teenagers have once in life, and few should have twice.

The Perks Of Being a Wallflower is definitely a “binge-worthy” movie. Personally, if I could go back in time and watch this movie for the first time again, I would. The acting is phenomenal, the storyline is amazing, and all around this movie is perfect. After struggling with mental illnesses his whole life, Charlie felt a breath of fresh air walk into his life when he met Sam and Patrick. Charlie’s story reminds us that we accept the love we think we deserve. And for struggling teens around the world, Charlie’s story is for you.