Charly

Charly

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93  ·  rating details  ·  6,042 ratings  ·  358 reviews
Meet Sam, the straitlaced computer science major from Brigham Young University. And meet Charly, the sparkling, quick-witted girl who steps into his world and turns it upside down.

Charly is for anyone who has ever been in love. It's for those who love to laugh- and those who need to learn how. It's a story of joy and spontaneity, learning and loving, and, most of all, grow...more
Paperback, 128 pages
Published May 15th 1987 by Shadow Mountain (first published May 1980)
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Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites by Chris HeimerdingerPillar of Light by Gerald N. LundCharly by Jack WeylandFire of the Covenant by Gerald N. LundPrincess Academy by Shannon Hale
Best LDS fiction
3rd out of 418 books — 330 voters
Pillar of Light by Gerald N. LundRumors of War by Dean HughesLike a Fire Burning by Gerald N. LundA Season of Joy by Gerald N. LundFire of the Covenant by Gerald N. Lund
LDS Fiction
6th out of 113 books — 72 voters


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Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)
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Donna Cook
I have a policy of not posting books I'd only rate with one or two stars, but I'll make an exception in this case. I'd hate for someone outside the Church to read this book and then judge me for it. This guy drove me absolutely nuts. N-U-T-S. Was this a story or an advertisement for the Church? The main character was so self-involved, chauvenistic and self-righteous it made me want to hurl. I'd feel better about it if I thought the author had any clue. This doesn't work as a story either. Over a...more
Alicia
This book is really good. It's sad near the end. I cried a great deal. But You'll find that it's one of the best books he has ever written. I'm sure you've seen the movie charly. This is the book to it, so if you have seen the movie, you know what happens, but trust me the book is tons better!
Bracken
I am quite embarrassed that I read this. For one, it is the sappy type of story that I usually try to avoid. Second, there were several moments while reading this that I felt like the author was portraying the LDS faith in such a way that members of the church only look at other people as targets for converting them to their faith. The characters, both male and female, where misogynistic. Comments like "I'm the priesthood holder here, therefore, you should do what I say" made me cringe. Sam, the...more
Laura
This book is an embarrassment. A tired formula wrapped in a cliche. It was absolutely nauseating. Now, I recognize that a romance must, in some way, be predictable -- romances are not really mysterious, you don't have to wonder who the "good guy" is, and we read it because we need to have something pretty and easy to understand; something "feel-good." But there are limits to predictability, and in this case, it was not only ridiculous but actually downright insulting. I mean, when I'm able to pr...more
02allisonm
this book wasa very good book by jack weyland it has 99 pages and is mostly intended for woman and girls the main charcters are sam and charly sam has brown hair and eyes and he is kind of tall charly has blue eyes and blonde hair and is kind of short and really pretty the main issue of this book is sam falls inwith charly a non morman girl so her cant really date or marry her because it doesnt fit his standers this book could only take place in utah for the relious reasons a short summarey is a...more
§ Rosie §
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Liz
I love reading the reviews on here after I finish a book. Everyone's comments made me want to remove the fourth star. But . . .

I'm not going to be one of those people who rants about how tear jerking and wonderfully romantic this book is. And it is far from realistic. But I won't complain about the writing either. From what I understand Jack Weyland is a Pysics professor at Ricks College (I don't know if he stayed on past Ricks, so that's what I'll call it). And I think to myself, for a science...more
03myrandas
I love this book it is now one of my favorites it is soooooo good because it is so funny I like Jack Weyland as an author I have already read 3 of his books! Sam is a serious guy but once he meets Charly everything changes and he is a different man. You can have fun and you don't have to be so serious all of the time!


Sam is just a normal mormon guy he just finished his mission. He started dating a non-mormon girl named Charly! He was just doing it for a favor to his dad then he actually started...more
Kelly
Dec 01, 2008 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Mia Maids, haha
Read it in high school or possibly junior high when it first came out-it was the "Twilight" for Mormon girls circa mid 1980s. I liked it back then. I doubt I would like it much now. But it was probably a much more worthwhile than the typical teen romance type books. (Even back then, I was never much into the genre. I was more into George Orwell and John Steinbeck. Maybe I'd be a perkier, less cynical person now if I'd read more Sweet Valley High.) Anyway, back to Charly, as I recall, it had a st...more
Lexi Lou
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Camille
This book was so short. A lot happened in a very short amount of time. I feel that the author could have expounded on many ideas and shown the story through time. The description was weak and I didn't believe Charly's conversion story. One second she didn't believe, then the next she did and was baptized. I really wish the author expounded on everything, this could have been such an amazing book. There were also times when I thought that both Sam and Charly were very disabled. Their minds and ho...more
Sharon
One of the most amazing and touching books of all time. This is my fourth time through, and the first time that I haven't cried at the end. Sam and Charly are the most wonderful people ever, and there romance is SO cute and special and unique. The style is easy to read and the time jumps don't bother me at all.
The only drawback is that if you aren't Mormon/LDS or at least familiar with their basic beliefs and culture, I can imagine it would be kind of confusing. It isn't trying to convert the re...more
Heidi
This is such a fun book. You love Charly because she is so fun and loves life and is full of life. Sam is a stick in the mud and she gets him out of his comfort zone by just being herself. She loves him and he will stop at nothing to let her know how much she is loved and needed.

I have read this book before and watched the movie. I knew what this was going to be like so I went into this book assuring myself that I would not cry and that I would be just fine. I bawled like a baby. I still feel h...more
Marcie
Sep 23, 2010 Marcie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: mormon teens
I'm giving this book 4 stars, because I really did enjoy it when I was 13 & Jack Weyland books are written for teens not adults. I'm pretty sure I would hate it now A. because as an adult with a different set of values, I think Sam is a jerk & B. I'm not mormon anymore. Having said that, I remember loving Charly, being totally engrossed in the story, & crying my face off at the end. It's also very short at only 90+ pages, which makes it an easy read for anybody. I remember thinking i...more
Carol
I'm very disappointed to see the reviews that others have given this book. I read it the first time back in high school I think, and I was extremely touched by it. Just after I got married, I read it again, and was very touched by it, and read it with more adult eyes. I got married late in life. As a two time cancer survivor, perhaps I can take that perspective as well. It's a good sweet story. Enjoy it, and feel the emotion the author put into it. Don't be disappointed, it's a good touching rea...more
Madeline
This is deffinatly one of the best books I have ever read. It's one of those books that make you laugh and cry, but it also teaches you how wonderful life can be if you are aware at how many blessings God has given you. I myself am LDS so I understood the book a little more, but anyone who enjoys books with happiness, friendship, reality, and a little bit of sorrow, this book is for you. I absolutely love this book, cause it can teach you so much within the 99 pages it is. I love you and will ne...more
Lacey
Why read a book in which you are told on the first page that the titular character dies unless the book is about other characters dealing with the aftermath of said death? I couldn't get attached to the characters at all because I was waiting for Charly to JUST CROAK ALREADY. Books that make me cry - GOOD. Books that try to tug on heartstrings until you cry because of actual physical pain caused by an overdose of sappy cheesiness - reason enough for book burnings.
Sariah
Classic LDS fiction. I first got this book when I was 12 years old. Got it for my birthday (or was it in my stocking at Christmas??) and read it within an hour. It's always been one of my all-time favorite stories. I laugh. I cry. Every single time.
My mom couldn't find my old copy, so for my birthday this year she replaced it with a new copy. I read it again within an hour. I laughed. I cried. I love this book, no matter how simple the writing or the plot it.
Shelleen
Nov 12, 2009 Shelleen rated it 5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Shelleen by: Sharene
Shelves: lds
Pretty sure this was the first Jack Weyland book I read. Anything that can make me cry or laugh out loud automatically gets as additional star (Otherwise this would be a solid four-star book). This made me cry and laugh a couple of times. Powerful. At least it was to me as a teenager. I guess I really should re-read these book as an adult but I worry that it would taint my memory of how much I enjoyed reading all the Jack Weyland books I could get my hands on.
Braylin Colvin
This is my favorite book ever!! its one of those sad feel good movies. the first part makes you happy but the ending is really sad. Jack Weyland is one of the best authors ever. He writes alot of great books. the second book Sam is even better than this.
This book is about lds people and i could relate to this. Charly is a really good person. she has some things that she is weird. Sam really cares about her.
Jackie
I remembered liking this as a young woman so I picked it up for 50¢. Didn't care for it as an adult. Corny and full of cliches and horrible stereotypes most of which are inaccurate. Sam is selfish and chauvenistic. I would hate for someone outside the church to read this and think that all Priesthood holders are that domineering. Anyway, I didn't like it much. Lame conversations and way too predictable.
Abby Degroot
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Melanie Cannon
Read this book as a teenager -- about 1984. It was the first of a two-book series (at the time) that I inhaled in a few days. Love, Marriage, Babies, Pre-mature Death. It had everything my little 16-year old self craved in a book. I heard it was a movie and decided to revisit it .. and found out there was a third installment. So, I revisited and still found myself swept away by the story.
Sandy
Meet Sam, the straitlaced computer science major from Brigham Young University. And meet Charly, the sparkling, quick-witted girl who steps into his world and turns it upside down.

Charly is for anyone who has ever been in love. It's for those who love to laugh- and those who need to learn how. It's a story of joy and spontaneity, learning and loving, and, most of all, growing.
Swgreath
I read this book when it was called "Flowers for Algernon". It has had an affect on how I look at handicapped people ever since. I think that it wouldn't be much different from anyone that could think and act well, then lost that capability due to an accident or stroke. I hope that if I ever have a disability, people will rememember that I had acceptable capabilties at one time.
Nancy
Charly is a unique young women. Sam first meets Charly, after he agrees to take the daughter of his dad's, new boss, out on a date. The family had just moved to Salt Lake City. Neither one of them wanted to go on the date. The story takes on us the story of their courtship, and life together. I have had this audio book for a long time, and it is still very emotional.
Bre Cregor
I read this as a young teenager. Of course I cried, and since the story so deeply imprinted itself on my fragile youthful psyche, I just had to give it a top rating, even though there is nothing about it which is particularly novel or brilliant as far as the art of writing goes.
But, I have to say, for me, it was life-changing.
I decided on a "path" because of this story.
Megen
This is the worst book I've ever read. I picked it up out of boredom one night at a young adult relief society sleepover and kept reading out of pure shock because of how bad it was. It was a train wreck--too horrible to believe and yet you somehow can't avert your eyes. Three words sum up this stinker--sappy & poorly written. I'm only admitting to having read it in order to save others from my sad fate.
Kelsi
This book made me cry. It is so sad how the book ends (not to give away too much or anything). But I enjoyed reading every page. It is a quick read--someone could read this in a day, maybe even in a few hours, depending on how fast they read. I would highly recommend this to someone who is looking for a quick, cute, lovable book to read.
Jenwatson
Read this book in High school or Jr High and totally loved it! It was the "Twilight" book back in my day for LDS girls. If I read it now, I don't know that it would be 4 stars, but I'll keep it there because I haven't read it for a really long time, I just know that during my teen-age years, it was a big book in my life.
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Charly (Hardcover)
Charly (Audio Cassette)
Charlie
151195
Jack Weyland is the best-selling author of young-adult fiction for the Latter-day Saint market. In fact, the modern genre of Latter-day Saint-themed popular fiction is one he is largely responsible for creating with his overwhelmingly popular novel Charly. His interest in fiction began with a correspondence course in creative writing taken during a summer at BYU where he was doing research work. S...more
More about Jack Weyland...
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