Charlie St. Cloud

by Ben Sherwood, Richard Poe (Narrator)

In a snug New England fishing village, Charlie St. Cloud tends the lawns and monuments of an ancient cemetery where his younger brother, Sam, is buried. After surviving the car accident that claimed his brother's life, Charlie is graced with an extraordinary He can see, talk to, and even play catch with Sam's spirit. Into this magical world comes Tess Carroll, a captivating woman training for a solo sailing trip around the globe. Fate steers her boat into a treacherous storm that propels her into Charlie's life. Their beautiful and uncommon connection leads to a race against time and a choice between death and life, between the past and the future, between holding on and letting go — and the discovery that miracles can happen if we simply open our hearts.

Includes a note read by the author.

Audible Audio

Published November 5, 2010

About the author

Ben Sherwood is a bestselling author, award-winning journalist and founder of TheSurvivorsClub.org. From 2004 to 2006, he worked as executive producer of ABC’s Good Morning America during the two most successful seasons in the program’s history. Sherwood guided prize-winning coverage of the tsunami in Southeast Asia, the devastation of hurricane Katrina, and the presidential election of 2004

From 1997 to 2001, Sherwood served as senior broadcast producer and senior producer of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.

From 1989 to 1993, he worked as a producer and associate producer at ABC News PrimeTime Live with Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson.

Sherwood is the author of two critically acclaimed best-selling novels: The Man Who Ate the 747 and The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud. Sherwood’s books have been published around the world in 15 languages.

Charlie St. Cloud has been adapted as a feature film starring Zac Efron and was released by Universal Pictures in July 2010. The Man Who Ate the 747 is also being developed as a major motion picture and Broadway musical.

Sherwood’s latest book, The Survivors Club, is a non-fiction exploration of the science and secrets of who bounces back from everyday adversity and who doesn’t; who beats life-threatening disease and who succumbs; and who triumphs after economic hardship and who surrenders.

In January 2009, Sherwood founded TheSurvivorsClub.org, an online resource center and support network for people surviving and thriving in the face of all kinds of adversity.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Harvard College and a Rhodes Scholar, Sherwood earned masters degrees in history and development economics at Oxford University.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Karen Kehela Sherwood and their sons Will and Charlie.

Reviews

[Caylee Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. This was a reread for me. I’ve read and watched the movie several years ago and had forgotten most of the story. All I’d remembered was it was sad, and indeed this one is sad.

It’s a little twisted & paranormal but an interesting perspective on what might happen after death or near death experiences. Another book it reminded me of was For One More Day by Mitch Albom or the Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis.

I did watch the movie again immediately after reading today & I was very disappointed in how much they changed in the film versus how it actually was in the book. I actually found myself frustrated at some of the things they changed when they seemed so important to the text. This was a common case of “the book was better”.

🌶️ there’s one mildly open door scene. It’s veiled but emotionally charged & easily skippable.
🤭 I honestly can’t remember any explicit language. If there was, it was infrequent enough it wasn’t noticeable 😅
CW/TW: death, vehicle and boating accidents, suicidal ideation, grief, ptsd

[Kerisma Vere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't quite remember how this book ended up in my home but I think it was a meant to be kind of thing. I was both delighted and deeply moved by this sweet and compelling story of Charlie and the loss of his younger brother. It had such a nice mix of being grounded in reality but crossing over into the experiential and metaphysical realms. It was an easy read that I devoured quickly and it left me wishing for more. The way Charlie had closed himself off the world and protected parts of himself was deeply relatable to me. I was quite astonished by Ben Sherwood's ability to take heavy topics such as grief and loss and yet somehow leave me with an experience of a gentle and heart warming story. I have lent it out to a friend at the moment but I think this may be one of those books I come back to for a second read.

[Alexis Westphal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I watched the movie before I read the book and I loved both. Watching the movie when it came out, it resonated with me because I too have a very close friendship with my younger brother. Reading the book years later, I resonate with the parts on grief. This book has a beautiful message of taking your time to process grief but not giving up on living life either. Enjoy all of the beautiful parts of life and live it to its fullest, which cherishing the time we have with the people we love right now.
I definitely recommend reading this book!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I read on my phone!! OMG!! Loved it!!!