Review: The Lonely Hearts Club

The Lonely Hearts Club

By Elizabeth Eulberg

Publication date: December 29, 2009

My review:

Penny Lane has been in love with Nate for years so when they finally start dating one summer she is ecstatic. Unfortunately for Penny, Nate is not the sweet boy she thought she knew and the summer ends in heartbreak. Penny decides that she's through with dating until she graduates high school and The Lonely Hearts Club is born. Soon Penny's friends and the other girls at school are eagerly joining. The club isn't about boy bashing however. It is about remaining true to yourself and your friends and making wise decisions. As the club grows and the members gain self confidence it attracts the attention of some naysayers like the school principal and the boys at the school. Penny has other problems to deal with too such as Nate's attempts to get back together with her and her inconvenient attraction to Ryan, one of the most popular boys at school.

I found Penny to be a really likeable character with an engaging personality. She experiences a major heartbreak but she doesn't let that stop her and she decides to reach out to other girls who have experienced the same thing. I also liked the character of Ryan. He is such a sweet guy and so supportive of Penny. What I liked most about the book though was its focus on friendship. The girls experience personal growth as they spend time together. In one particular scene the members of the club attend the Homecoming dance together instead of going with dates. They have so much fun that other girls ditch their dates to hang out with the members of the club! As a Beatles fan I also enjoyed the many references to their music and how it inspired Penny. The Lonely Hearts Club is a funny and delightful story with a girl empowering message.