El Club de los Corazones Solitarios (El Club de los Corazones Solitarios 1)

Por Elizabeth Eulberg

Yo, Penny Lane Bloom, juro solemnemente no volver a salir con otro chico en lo que me queda de vida...
De acuerdo, quizá cambie de opinión dentro de unos diez años, cuando ya no viva en Parkview (EE.UU.), ni asista al instituto McKinley; pero por el momento, he acabado con los chicos. Son unos mentirosos y unos estafadores. La escoria de la Tierra.
Sí, desde el primero hasta el último. La maldad personificada.

Algunos parecen agradables, claro; pero en cuanto consiguen lo que buscan, se deshacen de ti y pasan al objetivo siguiente.
Así que he terminado.
NO MÁS CHICOS.
Punto final.
Nuestros lectores opinan...

«Un libro fantástico y totalmente recomendable en el que, en más de una ocasión, desearás formar parte de ese maravilloso club donde lo que verdaderamente importa es la amistad.

Los capítulos son cortos y la narración es increíble lo que hace que te enganche y devores el libro en un suspiro.»
Prácticamente magia
«En general, es una novela ágil y juvenil que recomiendo si quieres pasar un rato entretenido y para sobretodo despejar tu mente de toda la ciencia-ficción y fantasía acumulada a lo largo del año. Con temas bien mezclados como el amor, la amistad, el humor... que no dejarán que nos aburramos durante nuestra lectura.»
Literatura Youth Fantasy
«El libro es, en definitiva, una novela sobre la amistad, que también tiene su toque de romance y que es altamente recomendable para pasar un buen rato entretenido al son de canciones de los Beatles.»
Mi estante literario

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: ALFAGUARA IJC
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 2 feb 2011
• ISBN: 9788420494272

Elizabeth Eulberg

Elizabeth Eulberg nació y creció en Wisconsin, Estados Unidos. Más tarde tomó rumbo a la universidad de Siracura y luego se estableció en Nueva York, donde desarrolló su profesión en el sector editorial. Trabajó en el departamento editorial de Scholastic y posteriormente en Little, Brown, donde fue Directora de Publicidad Global de Stephenie Meyer. Las narraciones que más tarde contaría estuvieron durante mucho tiempo rondando en su cabeza. Eran historias entre alguna celebridad, ella y un "vivieron felices para siempre". Finalmente, recordando los libros que disfrutó de adolescente, decidió escribir. Así, ahora tiene publicados ¿Y si quedamos como amigos?, A dos centímetros de ti, Del material del que están hechos los sueños, El Club de los Corazones Solitarios, Mucho más que un club de chicas y Shelby Holmes es genial. Actualmente, vive dedicada a la escritura a las afueras de Manhattan con sus tres guitarras, dos teclados y una baqueta.

Vista previa del libro

Cubierta

www.megustaleerebooks.com

Índice

Portadilla

Índice

Dedicatoria

Declaración

Yesterday Love was such an easy game to play…

Uno

Dos

Tres

Come Together …you´ve got to be free…

Cuatro

Cinco

Seis

Siete

Ocho

Nueve

Diez

Once

Doce

Trece

Catorce

Quince

Dieciséis

Diecisiete

Revolution We all want to change the world…

Dieciocho

Diecinueve

Veinte

Veintiuno

Veintidós

Veintitrés

You´ve Got to Hide Your Love Away How can I even try? I can never win…

Veinticuatro

Veinticinco

Veintiséis

Veintisiete

Veintiocho

Veintinueve

Treinta

Treinta y uno

Treinta y dos

With a Little Help From My Friends I get by with a little help from my friends…

Treinta y tres

Treinta y cuatro

Treinta y cinco

Treinta y seis

Treinta y siete

Here Comes the Sun Little darling, it´s been a long cold lonely winter…

Treinta y ocho

Agradecimientos

Sobre la autora

Créditos

A mis queridos e incondicionales críticos,

en especial a Dav Pilkey,

la primera persona que me animó a escribir.

Todo esto es culpa suya.

Yo, Penny Lane Bloom, juro solemnemente no volver a salir con ningún chico en lo que me queda de vida.

De acuerdo, quizá cambie de opinión dentro de unos diez años, cuando ya no viva en Parkview, Illinois (EE UU), ni asista al instituto McKinley; pero, por el momento, he acabado con los chicos. Son unos mentirosos y unos estafadores. La escoria de la Tierra.

Sí, desde el primero hasta el último. La maldad personificada.

Algunos parecen agradables, claro; pero en cuanto consiguen lo que buscan, se deshacen de ti y pasan al objetivo siguiente.

Así que he terminado.

No más chicos.

Punto final.

intLONELYHEART2.pdf

Uno

Cuando tenía cinco años, caminé hasta el altar con el hombre de mis sueños.

Bueno, dejémoslo en «el niño» de mis sueños. También tenía cinco años.

Conocía a Nate Taylor prácticamente desde que nací. Su padre y el mío eran amigos de la niñez y, todos los años, Nate y sus padres pasaban el verano con mi familia. Mi álbum de recuerdos de la infancia está lleno de fotos de los dos: bañándonos juntos, de bebés; jugando en la casa del árbol del jardín trasero y —mi preferida— disfrazados de novios en miniatura en la boda de mi prima. (Poco después, colgué la foto con orgullo en la pared de mi cuarto: yo, con mi vestido blanco; Nate, con su esmoquin).

Todo el mundo bromeaba y aseguraba que algún día nos casaríamos de verdad. Nate y yo también lo creíamos. Nos considerábamos la pareja perfecta. No me importaba jugar a la guerra con Nate, y él llegó a jugar con mis muñecas (aunque nunca lo admitió). Me empujaba en los columpios y yo le ayudaba a organizar sus muñecos de acción. Nate opinaba que estaba preciosa con mis coletas, y yo pensaba que era muy guapo (incluso en su breve etapa de gordinflón). Sus padres me caían bien, y a él le caían bien los míos. Yo quería un bulldog inglés y Nate, un pug. Los macarrones con queso eran mi plato favorito, y el suyo también.

¿Qué más podría pedir una chica?

Para mí, esperar con ilusión la llegada del verano equivalía a esperar con ilusión a Nate. Como resultado, casi todos mis recuerdos tenían que ver con él:

Mi primer beso (en mi casita del árbol, cuando teníamos ocho años. Le propiné un puñetazo y, luego, me eché a llorar).

La primera vez que cogí de la mano a un chico (cuando nos perdimos durante una yincana en tercero de primaria).

Mi primera tarjeta de San Valentín (un corazón de cartulina roja con mi nombre escrito).

Mi primera acampada (cuando teníamos diez años, instalamos una tienda en el jardín trasero y nos pasamos la noche a la intemperie, solos los dos).

La primera vez que engañé a mis padres adrede (el año pasado me monté sola en el tren a Chicago para ver a Nate. Les dije a mis padres que iba a dormir en casa de Tracy, mi mejor amiga).

Nuestro primer beso de verdad (catorce años. Esta vez no me defendí).

Después de aquel beso, mi entusiasmo por la llegada del verano se incrementó. Ya no eran juegos de niños. Nuestros sentimientos eran auténticos, diferentes. El corazón ya no era de cartulina: estaba vivo, latía... Era de verdad.

Cuando pensaba en el verano, pensaba en Nate. Cuando pensaba en el amor, pensaba en Nate. Cuando pensaba en cualquier cosa, pensaba en Nate.

Sabía que aquel verano iba a ocurrir. Nate y yo estaríamos juntos.

El último mes de instituto me resultó insoportable. Inicié la cuenta atrás de su llegada. Salía de compras con mis amigas en busca de ropa para gustar a Nate. Incluso me compré mi primer biquini pensando en él. Organicé mi horario de trabajo en la clínica dental de mi padre adaptándolo al horario de Nate en el club de campo. No quería que nada se interpusiera entre nosotros.

Y entonces, sucedió.

Allí estaba.

Más alto.

Más mayor.

Ya no era sólo guapo, sino sexy.

Y era mío.

Quería estar conmigo. Y yo, con él. Parecía así de simple.

Al poco tiempo, estábamos juntos. Por fin, juntos de verdad.

Solo que no fue el cuento de hadas que yo había esperado.

Porque los chicos cambian.

Mienten.

Te pisotean el corazón.

A fuerza de desengaños, descubrí que ni los cuentos de hadas ni el amor verdadero existen.

Que el chico perfecto no existe.

¿Y esa adorable foto de una inocente novia en miniatura con el chico que algún día le partiría el corazón?

Tampoco existía.

Me quedé mirando cómo ardía en llamas.

Dos

Todo ocurrió muy deprisa.

Empezó como cualquier otro verano. Llegaron los Taylor, y la casa estaba hasta los topes. Nate y yo coqueteábamos sin parar... siguiendo la rutina de los últimos años. Sólo que, esta vez, por debajo del coqueteo latían otras cosas. Como deseo. Como futuro. Como sexo.

Todo lo que había soñado empezó a suceder. Para mí, Nate era perfecto. El chico con el que comparaba a todos los demás. El que siempre conseguía que el corazón se me acelerara y el estómago se me encogiera.

Aquel verano, por fin, mis sentimientos fueron correspondidos.

Quedamos un par de veces, nada del otro mundo. Fuimos al cine, a cenar, y demás.

Nuestros padres no tenían ni idea de lo que estaba pasando. Nate no quería decírselo, y me dejé llevar. Alegó que reaccionarían de manera exagerada, y no se lo discutí. Aunque sabía que nuestros padres siempre habían deseado que, en un futuro, acabáramos juntos, no estaba convencida de que ya estuvieran preparados. Sobre todo porque Nate dormía abajo, en nuestro sótano insonorizado.

Todo iba de maravilla. Nate me decía lo que yo quería oír. Que era preciosa, perfecta. Que al besarme se le cortaba la respiración.

Me encontraba en la gloria.

Nos besábamos. Luego, nos besábamos más. Y después, mucho más. Pero al poco tiempo ya no era suficiente. Al poco tiempo, las manos empezaron a deambular, la ropa empezó a desprenderse. Era lo que yo siempre había deseado... pero parecía ir deprisa. Demasiado deprisa. Por mucho que le diera a Nate, siempre quería más. Y yo me resistía. Todo cuanto hacíamos se convertía en una lucha constante por ver hasta dónde cedería yo.

Habíamos tardado tanto en llegar hasta ese punto que no quería precipitar las cosas. No entendía por qué no nos limitábamos a disfrutar del momento, a disfrutar de estar juntos, en vez de apresurarnos hasta el paso siguiente.

Y cuando digo «paso siguiente», me refiero al contacto físico.

No había mucho de que hablar sobre los pasos siguientes en cuanto a nuestra relación.

Después de un par de semanas, Nate empezó a decir que, para él, yo era la única, su amor verdadero. Sería tan increíble, aseguraba, si le permitiera amarme de la manera en la que él quería...

Justo lo que yo había imaginado durante tanto tiempo. Lo que siempre había deseado. Así que pensé: «Sí, lo haré. Porque será con él. Y eso es lo que importa».

Decidí darle una sorpresa.

Decidí confiar en él.

Decidí dar el paso.

Lo tenía todo planeado, todo calculado. Nuestros padres iban a salir hasta tarde y tendríamos la casa para nosotros solos.

—¿Estás segura de que es lo que quieres, Pen? —me preguntó Tracy aquella mañana.

—Lo único que sé es que no quiero perderlo —respondí.

Tal era mi razonamiento. Lo haría por Nate. No tenía nada que ver conmigo ni con lo que yo quería. Todo era por él.

Quería que resultara espontáneo. Quería que le pillara desprevenido, y que luego se sintiera abrumado por lo perfecto que era, por lo perfecta que era yo. Ni siquiera sabía que yo estaba en casa; quería que pensara que había salido aquella noche, para que la sorpresa fuera aún mayor. Quería demostrarle que estaba preparada. Dispuesta. Que era capaz. Lo tenía todo pensado, excepto la ropa que me iba a poner. Me metí a hurtadillas en la habitación de mi hermana Rita y registré sus cajones hasta encontrar un camisón de seda blanco que no dejaba mucho espacio a la imaginación. También le cogí su bata de encaje rojo.

Cuando por fin estuve preparada, bajé sigilosamente las escaleras hasta la habitación de Nate, en el sótano. Empecé a desatarme la bata, con una mezcla de emoción y de puro nerviosismo. Me moría de ganas de ver la expresión de Nate cuando me descubriera. Me moría de ganas de demostrarle lo que sentía, de modo que él, por fin, sintiera lo mismo que yo.

Esbocé una sonrisa mientras encendía la luz.

—¡Sorpresa! —grité.

Nate se incorporó del sofá como un resorte, con una expresión de pánico en el semblante.

—Hola... —dije con tono sumiso, a la vez que dejaba caer la bata al suelo.

Entonces, otra cabeza surgió del sofá.

Una chica.

Con Nate.

Me quedé petrificada, sin creer lo que veían mis ojos. Pasé la mirada del uno al otro mientras, a tientas, reunían su ropa. Por fin, agarré la bata y me la puse, tratando de cubrir la mayor parte posible de mi cuerpo.

La chica empezó a soltar risitas nerviosas.

—¿No habías dicho que tu hermana había salido esta noche?

¿Su hermana? Nate no tenía una hermana. Traté de convencerme de que existía una buena explicación para lo que estaba viendo. Nate no me haría una cosa así, de ninguna manera. Sobre todo en mi propia casa. Quizá aquella chica había tenido un accidente justo delante de la puerta y Nate la había llevado adentro para... eh... consolarla. O acaso ensayaban una escena de una representación estival de... Romeo y Julieta al desnudo. O tal vez me había quedado dormida y se trataba de una pesadilla.

Sólo que no era así.

La chica terminó de vestirse y Nate, esquivando mi mirada, la acompañó al piso de arriba.

Todo un caballero.

Tras lo que me pareció una eternidad, regresó.

—Penny —dijo, colocando una mano alrededor de mi cintura—, lamento que tuvieras que ver eso.

Intenté responder, pero no encontraba la voz.

Subió los brazos hasta mis hombros y empezó a frotarlos a través de la bata.

—Lo siento, Penny. Lo siento mucho. Ha sido una estupidez, tienes que creerme. Soy un idiota. Un idiota de categoría. Un completo idiota.

Negué con la cabeza.

—¿Cómo has podido? —mis palabras eran apenas un suspiro; se me contraía la garganta.

Se inclinó sobre mí.

—En serio, no volverá a ocurrir. Escúchame, no ha pasado nada. En absoluto. No fue nada. Ella no es nadie. Sabes lo mucho que significas para mí. Eres tú con quien quiero estar. Eres tú de quien estoy enamorado —bajó las manos por mi espalda—. ¿Te sientes mejor ahora? Dime qué puedo hacer, Penny. Lo último que quiero es herirte.

La conmoción se iba pasando, dejando al descubierto la furia que subyacía. Me aparté de un empujón.

—¿Cómo has podido? —espeté—. ¿CÓMO HAS PODIDO?

Esta última parte la dije a gritos.

—Mira, ya me he disculpado.

—¿Te has DISCULPADO?

—Penny, lo siento muchísimo.

—¿LO SIENTES?

—Por favor, para de una vez y escúchame. Te lo puedo explicar.

—Muy bien, perfecto —me senté en el sofá—. Explícame.

Nate me lanzó una mirada nerviosa; evidentemente, no había contado con que me sentara a escuchar lo que tuviera que decir.

—Penny, esa chica no significa nada para mí.

—Pues no daba esa impresión —me ajusté el cinturón de la bata y agarré un almohadón para taparme las piernas.

Nate exhaló un suspiro. Un suspiro en toda regla.

—Bueno, ya empezamos con el melodrama —ironizó. Entonces, se sentó a mi lado con los brazos cruzados—. Muy bien. Si no estás dispuesta a aceptar mis disculpas, no veo qué otra cosa puedo hacer.

—¿Disculpas? —repliqué entre risas—. ¿Crees que decir «lo siento» es suficiente para borrar lo que ha pasado? Creía que habías dicho que soy especial —miré al suelo, avergonzada de mí misma por haber sacado el tema a relucir.

—Pues claro que eres especial, Penny. Venga ya, ¿qué pensabas que iba a pasar? —la cara de Nate se tiñó de un rojo brillante—. A ver, las cosas son así: tú y yo..., nosotros..., nosotros..., bueno, es lo que hay...

No daba crédito a lo que estaba oyendo. El Nate de sólo unos días atrás había desaparecido y una especie de... bestia había ocupado su lugar.

—¿Me quieres decir de qué estás hablando?

—¡Santo Dios! —Nate se levantó del sofá y empezó a pasear de un lado a otro—. Esto es exactamente de lo que estoy hablando: mírate, ahí sentada, como cuando éramos niños y no conseguías lo que querías. Bueno, he querido estar contigo desde hace mucho tiempo, Penny. Muchísimo. Pero aunque tú creas que quieres estar conmigo, no me quieres a mí. Lo que quieres es a tu amor de la infancia. El Nate que te cogía de la mano y te daba besos en la mejilla. Bueno, pues ese Nate ha crecido. Y quizá tú deberías hacer lo mismo.

—Pero yo...

—¿Qué? Tú ¿qué? ¿Te has puesto el camisón de tu hermana? Eso son juegos de niños, Penny. Para ti, es un día de boda perpetuo, sin luna de miel, sin quitarte el vestido de novia, sin nada de nada. Pero ¿sabes qué? La gente practica el sexo. No es para tanto.

Empecé a temblar de arriba abajo. Sus palabras me golpeaban.

Nate negó con la cabeza.

—No me debería haber liado contigo. ¿Qué puedo decir? Estaba harto, y era mucho más fácil ceder a tus fantasías que enfrentarme a ellas. Además, lo admito, tienes ese toque de chica de clase media que te favorece. Nunca se me ocurrió que, al final, no era más que una provocación.

El estómago se me revolvió. Las lágrimas me surcaban las mejillas.

—Oh, venga ya —Nate se sentó y me rodeó con el brazo—. Grítame un poco más y te sentirás mejor. Luego, pasaremos página.

Me desembaracé a sacudidas y salí corriendo escaleras arriba.

Para huir de Nate.

Para huir de las mentiras.

Para huir de todo.

Pero no podía huir. Nate iba a seguir instalado en nuestra casa otras dos semanas. Cada mañana, tendría que levantarme y mirarlo a la cara. Observar cómo salía por la puerta, sabiendo que seguramente iba a verse con ella. Sabiendo que Nate tenía que buscar en otro sitio porque yo no era lo bastante buena para él. Nunca me vería «de esa manera».

Día tras día me recordaba a mí misma que era una fracasada. Que lo que había deseado durante años había terminado haciéndome sufrir más de lo imaginable.

Rita, mi hermana mayor, fue la única persona de mi familia a la que se lo conté, y la obligué a jurar que no se lo diría a nadie. Sabía que aquello perjudicaría la prolongada y estrecha amistad entre nuestros padres, y no me parecía justo que Nate también destruyera eso. Además, me daba vergüenza. No soportaba la idea de que mis padres descubrieran lo estúpida que era su hija.

Rita intentó consolarme. Llegó a amenazar con matar a Nate si se acercaba a menos de tres metros de mí. Pero incluso treinta metros habrían sido pocos.

—Todo irá bien, Penny —prometió Rita mientras me rodeaba con sus brazos—. Todos nos empotramos contra algunos badenes por el camino.

Yo no me había empotrado contra un badén, sino contra un muro de ladrillo.

Y no quería volver a sufrir ese dolor nunca más.

Tres

Me sentía perdida. Necesitaba esconderme. Escapar.

Sólo se me ocurrió un remedio para aliviar el dolor. Recurrí a los únicos cuatro chicos que nunca me fallarían. Los únicos cuatro chicos que jamás me partirían el corazón, que no me decepcionarían.

John, Paul, George y Ringo.

Lo entenderá cualquiera que se haya aferrado a una canción como a un bote salvavidas. O que haya puesto una canción para despertar un sentimiento, un recuerdo. O que haya hecho sonar mentalmente una banda sonora para ahogar una conversación o una escena desagradable.

En cuanto regresé a mi habitación, destrozada por el rechazo de Nate, subí el volumen de mi estéreo hasta tal punto que la cama empezó a temblar. Los Beatles habían sido siempre una especie de manta reconfortante que me aportaba seguridad. Formaban parte de mi vida incluso antes de que naciera. De hecho, de no haber sido por los Beatles, no habría llegado a nacer.

Mis padres se conocieron la noche en que John Lennon murió de un disparo, junto a un altar improvisado en un parque de Chicago. Ambos eran fans de los Beatles de toda la vida, y con el paso del tiempo decidieron que no tenían más remedio que llamar a sus tres hijas con los nombres de tres canciones del grupo: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Lovely Rita y Penny Lane.

Eso sí, mis dos hermanas mayores tuvieron la suerte de que les pusieran segundos nombres corrientes, pero a mí me otorgaron el título completo de Lennon y McCartney: Penny Lane. Incluso nací el 7 de febrero, aniversario de la primera visita de los Beatles a Estados Unidos. No creía que fuera una casualidad. No me habría extrañado que mi madre se hubiera negado a empujar para que yo naciera en esa fecha concreta.

Casi todos los viajes familiares tenían como destino la ciudad de Liverpool, en Inglaterra. En todas nuestras felicitaciones de Navidad aparecíamos recreando la portada de un disco de los Beatles. Aquello debería haberme incitado a la rebelión. En cambio, los Beatles se convirtieron en parte de mí. Ya me sintiera feliz o desdichada, sus letras, su música me suponían un consuelo.

Ahora, traté de sofocar las palabras de Nate con una explosión de Help! Mientras tanto, recurrí a

Comentarios para El Club de los Corazones Solitarios (El Club de los Corazones Solitarios 1)

[caitlinac · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I read this book in high school and adored it. I think there's always a point in a teenager's life during which they're fed up with trying to find a partner. I quite liked that girls banded together to say, "We don't need a boyfriend." Though just when the characters are becoming too bitter, cynical, and jaded, they realize that they don't have to avoid love just because most of the time it doesn't work out. I think this novel is particularly poignant because Eulberg explores the idea that, yes, love is hard. But finding the right person doesn't mean you are weak or need them, it just means you found someone who's your best, closest friend.

[princess0starr · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

This is one of those cases where I like the idea of the book in general, but once I sit down and read it, the course bugs me. A lot. I enjoyed parts of it, but the characterization and plotting are too problematic to ignore.

For the baby step that the premise takes forward—high school girls taking the time to reevaluate and spend on themselves instead of getting and keeping boyfriends; I can swing with this—it takes two humongous steps back past where we started. Every girl in this book ends up being a stereotype and their major problems still revolve around boys. There are some good scenes sprinkled throughout, such as the Lonely Hearts Club’s first public outing to Homecoming, or the Club leading a cheer for member Diane during an important game, and I liked these scenes. They felt genuine, and I got the sense that these girls were supporting each other and having fun while doing it. But for the majority of the book, there’s a massive lack of this show of friendship that it feels like Penny’s friends are friends of convenience. It also doesn’t help that throughout the book, the positive aspects of the Club are glossed over and subject to the writerly sin of telling not showing. For example, one of the many friends in the Club is mentioned having an eating disorder/body image issues. Halfway through, it’s revealed (and I paraphrase heavily), “Oh, well, Kara’s going to a weekend-long program to take care of her 'problem.' But enough about that, Penny, let’s talk about you and Ryan.” This isn’t even touching the fact that every girl in the book is, by default, SWASP, so there’s not any mention that some girls in the club may not feel like dating boys because they like girls, or aren’t interested at all.

The major conflicts that pop up are largely the product of high school sexism—it’s mentioned that the principal favors the boys’ teams over the girls’ and he reacts to complaints from the boys about the club. (Also interesting that no female teachers get in on this, now that I think about it. They’re definitely mentioned, but the only involved member of the administration is the principal.) Unfortunately, the whole sexism angle is boiled down to “Well, that’s because men think women can’t live without them!” Um…bit more complicated than that, especially since it feels like it’s stripping away years of social change between the sexes. (There’s a moment when someone calls Penny a feminist. Cue hollow laugh from me.) I kept thinking throughout the whole time I read this that Eulberg wanted to address issues like sexism, and feminism, but decided to shove the romance angle down the reader’s throats instead.

The big contribution to this is the characterization. I did generally like Penny. She recognized when she screwed up, she makes mistakes and has to deal with most of them (I do wish that she would have come clean about her relationship with Nate to her parents), and she realizes that she’s grossly misjudged people. Penny’s a little hard to like initially, but throughout the book, she grows into a normal teen girl who I could seen myself have related to if I read this when I was fifteen. I also really liked Diane—she’s my favorite character mainly because she has the biggest character arc . Aside from two cringe-inducing lines (including the nonironic “I’m eating complex carbs!” Really?), I liked that she wanted to do things for herself and supporting her friends. That said, all of the other girls in book are portrayed as gossipy, vindictive, boy-obsessed with very little personality or characterization. This is not helped when Penny’s so-called best friend Tracy is characterized this way. Her reaction to Penny swearing off boys is to automatically tell her that she’s crazy and after joining the Lonely Hearts Club, declares that all of the club members will end up old maids. All of the freshman girls are nothing more than vapid stereotypes who are labeled sluts, and as I mentioned before, there’s not really a variety of girls mentioned in the book aside from medium popular and jocks. (Ethnicities and varying sexualities aside, where the hell are the unpopular girls and the nerds? We exist, damnit!) The boys aren’t much better, aside from our main love interest Ryan and one minor character, every male is a crude, perverted, budding misogynist, which is supposed to be shocking to Penny.

And the whole Beatles thing is a gimmick. The beginning does show Penny as being a fan, but honestly, name-dropping names and famous song titles/lyrics don’t make the character a fan. Show me why this family loves the Beatles, not just being rabid name-droppers. (Hell, if you want to impress me, name a song like “I’m Looking Through You,” not “I Am the Walrus.”)

There’s a good idea and concept to this, but it’s completely wasted. There could have been so much more that Eulberg could explore, but she just pounded out 280 pages of meebling romance while she sticks her toe into the baby-end of the issues pool. If you just want to read the mindless romcom, that’s fine, I actually did like the romance plot between Ryan and Penny. But because she does bring up and promptly ignore a lot of the larger issues that could have been explored, you’re honestly better off reading something like Sister Mischief or The Bermudez Triangle or Beauty Queens (yes, I’m still shamelessly shilling).

[sjkessel · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Eulberg, E. (2010). The Lonely Hearts Club. New York: Point.

285 pages.

So, when I first saw an ALA preview of this book during an online talk, I really wanted to read it. Then, after the book came out, it got lost in the mountain of books I was equally excited to read. Until now.


Appetizer: So, after walking in on her boyfriend Nate in a state of, umm, undress with another girl, Penny Lane (named for The Beatles song) reflects on her other past relationships and decides to swear off boys for her two remaining years of high school. It doesn't take to long for other girls to see the appeal of Penny's Lonely Hearts Club and the club grows becoming a force within the school, creating tensions with some of the boys and other girls.

Adding to the pressure is the fact that Penny is close with one of her friend's ex-boyfriends, Ryan, and thinks he may want to be more than friends. But being the leader of the Lonely Hearts Club isn't the only thing potentially stopping Penny from pursuing a relationship with Ryan. She also needs to know if he is different from other guys. If he's worth the risk of heartbreak.

It could just be that I happened upon The Lonely Hearts Club just when I was just in the right mood to read a romantic comedy, but I was greatly entertained.

I sat down to start the first few pages last night and got immersed. The book is light and fun and I didn't want to stop reading.

I liked that it dealt with girls finding support from their female friends and considered that the risks of taking a chance on liking a guy. It's one of those happy escapist books in which annoying ex-boy and mean girl types get yelled at.

It made me want to run out and start a club with all my local female friends. But then I went through the list in my head and realized that every. single. woman. I know in Columbus is either in a serious relationship or married. Massive fail.

So, instead I had to satisfy myself with listening to a bunch of Beatles songs on repeat. I hadn't done that since...middle school? So, that was fun.

There's a lot of fun, humor and a bit of subtle commentary about gender roles and they way girls are treated in relationships as well as on the pressure girls receive to have sex for the first time. For example, when two friends break up, Penny wonders why the girl is treated as "damaged goods" and as a victim while her ex-boyfriend is congratulated on being free once again.

I actually could have used some more of the gender and sex cultural commentary throughout. I was reminded of that one episode of Sex and the City, in which Miranda says something to the effect of, we are four awesome ladies, but all we do is talk about guys!

And I kind of got that vibe with The Lonely Hearts Club. These girls decide to band together to focus on themselves, their own goals and identities, (and while one character in particular does follow this empowerment vibe) most of the girls' meetings STILL revolved around guys, like discussing how Penny was going to have to face Nate the Ex once more during Thanksgiving break.

I also did have a little trouble keeping a lot of the secondary characters straight. Eulberg tended to introduce a lot of names without describing the characters. And since I have trouble with names when a person is standing right in front of me, no way in hellz could I keep these characters straight.


Dinner Conversation:

"When I was five years old, I walked down the aisle with the man of my dreams.
Okay, make that boy. He was five too.
I'd known Nate Taylor pretty much since birth" (p. 5).

"He wanted me. And I wanted him. It seemed that simple.
Soon enough, we were together. Finally, really together.
Only I didn't get the fairy tale I was hoping for.
Because guys change.
They lie.
They stomp on your heart.
I found out the hard way that fairy tales and true love don't exist.
The perfect guy doesn't exist" (p. 7).

"A girl.
With Nate.
I stood frozen, not believing my own eyes. I looked between the two of them as they fumbled for clothing...
The girl started giggling. "I thought you said your sister was gone for the evening!"
His sister? Nate didn't have a sister. I tried to tell myself there was a good explanation for what I was seeing. There was no way Nate would do something like this to me. Especially in my own house. Maybe this girl had been in a car accident right outside and Nate had brought her inside to... um, comfort her. Or they were just rehearsing a scene from a summer production of...Naked Romeo and Juliet" (pp. 10-11).

"Lonely. Hearts. Club.
In theory, it may have sounded depressing. But there wasn't anything depressing about the music.
No, this Lonely Hearts Club was the opposite of depressing it was alive.
The answer had been in front of me all along. There was a way to stop getting cheated on, lied to, and used.
I would stop torturing myself by dating loser guys. I would enjoy the benefits of being single. I would, for once, focus on me. Junior year would be my year. It would be all about me, Penny Lane Bloom, sole member and founder of The Lonely Hearts Club." (p. 19).



Tasty Rating: !!!!

[thehidingspot · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I picked up Elizabeth Eulberg's THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB just when I needed it most. I was going through a difficult breakup and was pretty disillusioned, much like our main character Penny. She's completely given up on the opposite sex and is determined to start anew - without a boy to complicate things.


Penny swears off boys, and highly encourages that her friends do so too, but this book isn't really about a woman, or girl, scorned. It's about being true to who you are, about doing things for you, and about realizing who your true friends are and being faithful to those relationships.


It's easy to lose your identity when you're in a relationship, to blow off your friends because you'd rather spend all your time with him, to slowly make someone else's interests your own. THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB celebrates individuality, strong girls, and healthy relationships with a quirky main character leading the way. Penny doesn't sit around and mope after her heart is broken, she's proactive. She looks around her and she sees how destructive her peers are to themselves, all in the name of boys. Eventually, Penny comes to realize that it isn't necessarily boys that are the issue... and, even though, deep down, many girls are aware of the truths Penny and her friends learn, it's comforting to see the characters achieving this realization and making the same journey many of us will take ourselves.


I enjoyed Penny's character, but was thankful for the secondary characters as well. I think most girls will identify with our main character, but, if not, they'll definitely find something in common with one of her friends. Not only does this allow for a deeper connection between the characters and the reader, it allows Eulberg to demonstrate how the lessons The Lonely Hearts Club members learn apply to every girl.


And we can't expect our heroine to swear off boys forever, can we? Her blossoming romance is adorable and I found myself rooting for the boy in question!


I believe every mother, daughter, and sister should take the time to read this book. I haven't sworn off boys forever, but I'll be entering my next relationship with the lessons from THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB in the back of my mind.

[skaohee · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Penny Lane is a quirky and fun girl who had the cutest little relationship with her parents' best friends' son. And everything was going well until he was a jerk! Now Penny Lane is heartbroken and has sworn off boys. And when other girls who are in similar situations hear about her ban of the boys, they want to join in. So what will come from all this girl power? Is it all too much?

This book is so cute. I adored Penny Lane throughout the entire thing and although she is a little oblivious to the world around her, I found her endearing. Can I also say THANK YOU to Ms. Eulberg for making girl characters who, in some situations, could have been bratty but weren't. From the ups and downs of relationships, friendships, and high school live in general, Ms. Eulberg got the overall feeling of a heartbroken teenage girl PERFECT.

And while this is definitely more character driven, I know that I was waiting for that "big moment", the one where realization dawns on Penny Lane and the story is wrapped up perfectly.

If you're a fan of feel-good books, this is one to read!

[xnirvanafreakx · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

It didn't take me very long to read through this book, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It was cute and funny, and I loved reading about Penny Lane's life. Everything from her Beatles' obsessed parents, to her boy drama and decision to start The Lonely Hearts Club. At the beginning, I thought that too much was introduced at once. There were so many different boys and girls being talked about, and I wasn't quite sure which were the main characters. But as the book went on and some of them were talked about more in-depth than others, I really liked the feeling the novel had. While it is cute and fun, I think there's also a great meaning behind it. A must read for any girl who's ever had her heart broken by a guy.

[sithereandread · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB, by Elizabeth Eulberg, was an adorable reinvention of teenage girl-power with a bit of The Beatles in the mix. Penny had her heart broken by her long-time love and vowed never to let it happen again. With the strength of her friends at her side she became who she wanted to be and not what she thought guys wanted her to be.

I absolutely adored this book! Any female who has ever had her heart broken can find relief in the idea of giving up men altogether. But banding together with girlfriends and taking a look on improving oneself can be the best gift those men can give you.

The main girls in this book were fantastic. They were strong independently but became an unstoppable force when brought together by a common goal. Penny just wanted to survive her first heart-break, but a small conversation with an old friend sparked a movement that changed everything. Tracy and Diane were the best side-kicks. Tracy was always there to make me laugh with the crazy remarks she had about everything and everyone. And Diane was an inspiration by changing her high school image for herself, even though it caused social suicide. I truly admired the theme of friendship in this book. Penny and Diane's friendship was non-existent and then one day it was back to how it used to be. This situation shows a true friendship and it was marvelous to experience. And the camaraderie that the girls created was inspiring. They were always there for each other and molded their club to be a positive influence on those who needed it.

The relationship between Penny and Ryan was delightful. Just when she gave up guys, a really great one came into the picture. The choice between swoon-worthy Ryan and her girlfriends dangled heavily over her head.

The background for this whole book involved The Beatles. Personally I am not a huge fan of The Beatles, but how Penny idolized them and connected them into her life was irresistible. The recreation of 'Abbey Road' for the cover was truly ingenious!

I highly recommend this book to any women who is looking for a pick-me-up after having her heart broken.

[rivkabelle_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Every now and then, I read a book I wish I'd read when I was younger. This is one of those books.

Penny has boy problems. As do most of her friends, and probably every girl in the school. Is Penny content to sit back and let "The Man" keep tromping over her slowly-healing heart? Nope, not by a long shot. And thus the "Lonely Hearts Club" is born - to help girls focus on building relationships with each other instead of boys, and to find what makes them happiest. Along the way, the girls discovery the true worth of friendship, and that maybe - just maybe - not all guys are created equal. I found myself chuckling at Penny's struggle to not like Ryan - or any guy. She was so stubbornly determined to maintain her "Just say no to guys (for high school)!" stance that she almost missed out on a lot of fun -- but that's real, it's what girls do. And it made the story that much better, to see her growing through this process.

[ericajsc · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Dash and Lily are opposites in many ways: Dash hates the holidays, Lily lives for them; Dash weaseled his way out of family obligations by telling his parents he would spend Christmas with the other, and Lily is devastated that her parents aren’t around on Christmas. They don’t seem like they’d be a good match, but there is something between them: the notebook. Passing the notebook back and forth with each other, strangers that they are, allows them to reveal information that they wouldn’t otherwise. As Dash points out, writing his thoughts showed him things about himself that even he didn’t know, and it may not have happened had he been writing for himself alone or for an acquaintance.
What they must overcome – other than the small fact that they’ve never met and don’t have any way of finding each other – are their own ideas of love and attraction. Their game of dares is fun, but it will only last for so long. Is it better to risk meeting and being disappointed that the other doesn’t live up to expectations, or to remain anonymous strangers, forever being who the other needs? Both of them struggle with whether the other can like them for who they really are, and it speaks to the fears that come with putting yourself out there with the potential for pain.
This is a great Christmas book without being too Christmas-y; in other words, it won’t necessarily seem out of season to read it any other time of the year, but it is fun to read it at Christmas (like I did). Here is a good example of a book being fun and entertaining as well as thought-provoking.

[galleysmith · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I loved this book on so many different levels.

First, let me say that Eulberg did a fantastic job of weaving the music of the Beatles into the very foundation of this story. From the names of the Bloom children to the flower power way of life her parents led all elements of the infusion were sheer perfection. I mean, seriously, how can a Beatles lover not like a book whose chapter titles are song names/lyrics?

Now, let me move on to the biggest reason why I loved this book. I thought the lesson it has to teach young girls was filled with positivity. It didn’t preach being spiteful or mean-spirited. The concept of The Lonely Hearts Club was productive and the fact that it was built on the concept of creating, sustaining and building friendships made it a lovely way for a young girl to work through the devastating heart-break of losing first love. Particularly given the fact that she works her way through it all to realize that this love was one-sided and perhaps thought (on her part) to be more than it really was.

Speaking of friendships, I adored the multitudes of relationships Penny and her friends crafted. From the quirky territorial best friend, to the former BFF who dumped her for a boy friend then sought refuge in the club, to the girls who joined the just to be part of what was building to be the popular crowd, the characters were both realistic and enjoyable to read. Add to that the dumb, possessive, big man on campus jock-type that thought every girl wanted him and the sweet natured friend who happens to be a boy and you have the perfect recipe for age-appropriate teenaged angst.

Though Penny’s parents were flighty in the stereotypical hippie-type way I found them to be equally supportive given their lack of information about Penny’s situation with Nate. They trusted her judgement, backed-her up when she was faced with adversity at school and were loving, helpful and caring individuals. I’ll add that they also added in a healthy dose of humor to the overall story.

I strongly encourage those young and old to read this book. It was good fun and filled with valuable life lessons about individuality, hoard mentality, love, and friendship.

[kburgess1984 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

The Beatles were the ones to say "love is all you need," and when I read this book, love was all I had. I was loving every minute and every page with a passion! It was fantastic and has officially become one of my 2010 favorites. Elizabeth Eulberg may be a debut author, but her writing style and The Lonely Hearts Club are magic, no question about it!
Penny Lane doesn't exactly have a normal or what one may consider a typical home and family, but one thing she seems to have in common with just about every girl around is boy trouble, and she's got it in spades. With The Beatles as her inspiration, she just may have found a solution to all of her problems, and those of her friends.
I really can't find any negatives about this book, other than I wish it hadn't ended, ever! But in all seriousness, if you ask me, there aren't any negatives about this book, it was wonderful. It was funny, quirky, realistic and with The Beatles all over it, and all through it, what's not to love? Even the cover is brilliant, don't you think?

Eulberg has a fresh voice and I don't think she'll be going anywhere anytime soon. She spoke at the book festival I attended a while back and after meeting her, there's no question that her writing comes from the heart. Her personality is all over this book. While speaking to the crowd, she may have mentioned a sequel being in the works for The Lonely Hearts Club in the future, and I couldn't be more excited about that prospect...really I was jumping up and down!

After finishing The Lonely Hearts Club, I most definitely have not had nearly enough of Penny Lane and her club of close friends. Whether it's Tracy, Diane, Morgan, Rita, Ryan or Penny's parents, I just adored them all and most definitely did not want to say goodbye. If you've got a sense of humor and are looking to add a new favorite to your shelves, look no further, The Lonely Hearts Club is the perfect book for everyone!

[gayldashersmith · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I expected an angst-filled teenage tale, but it turned into much more, an exploration of the need for one to look within for fulfillment.

[jac8604_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

A fun book with great portrayals of friendship, forgiveness, and growth. Penny was an enjoyable heroine to read about, particularly because she seemed so smart and comfortable in her own skin.

[ownlittleworld · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Boys suck. (Okay, maybe not ALL the time). And our leading lady, Penny Lane, has had it with them. Especially the boys at school with their fake personas and childish behavior. As it turns out, Penny wasn't the only one. What started as a club of three, soon blossoms into a club consisting of forty-plus girls all feeling the same way. And that turns into a bit of a fiasco at McKinley High School with the opposite gender. With Penny's lifelong crush pleading for reconciliation after breaking her heart, the school's principle breathing down her neck demanding that the club shut down, and a new boy on the horizon, Penny begins to understand that you CAN get by with a little help from your friends.

And that was my favorite aspect of this novel. While the story begins with a broken heart and a feeling of hopelessness, the theme matures to a tale of independence and self-discovery. We see the rise of friendship through many differences and all odds. A group of girls coming together through hardships to stand by one another. And the great characters just kept coming. I loved the vast array of personalities that contributed to the story. Even the boys.

Another thing I enjoyed was the Beatles undertones, which played very nicely with the rest of the content. (The inclusion of The Beatles is actually one of the first reasons I decided to read this book.) Penny's parents are a riot in the fact that they would probably put most Beatles fans to shame. Naming all three of their daughters after Beatles songs (Lucy, Rita, & Penny Lane), swearing against Beatles cover-bands, taking yearly trips to Liverpool, AND being vegetarians to follow Paul's beliefs - they would make most children cringe at their obsession. But for Penny, the Beatles were her vice - the 4 boys who never let her down.

Overall consensus: The Lonely Hearts Club is a genuinely good read. Slightly predictable in some parts but I completely felt for Penny and enjoyed the camaraderie within the story. A book flowing with teenage issues, self-discovery, and love - it will have you smiling and cheering on Penny and The Lonely Hearts Club. Oh and one last thing, make sure you have a Beatles album lying around because I guarantee you'll want to listen to them when you're finished. :)

[whitreidtan · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Penny is completely disillusioned when she finds her boyfriend, whom she has been in love with almost her entire life, cheating on her. She's sick and tired of the way that none of the boys in her life have ever lived up to what she wants and expects. Convincing herself that all guys are jerks, she forms the Lonely Hearts Club (yes, from the Beatles song--after all, her name is Penny Lane) with herself as the founding and sole member. But when an old friend, who ditched Penny long ago for a boy, is dumped and wants to make amends for putting Ryan first, above their friendship, Penny finds herself sharing the concept. And slowly this club of one becomes the club to be in with members across all four years of high school vowing not to date for the duration of their high school careers, go to dances and social events as a group, attend Saturday night meetings, and always support their friends. But it's not that easy, with guys who are bitter about being ditched for a group of girls, a principal who is against the club, despite it not being either official or meeting on school property, and girls who are catty or just joining for the status. Hardest of all is the fact that Penny might have found a guy who's not a jerk, one who she might really like to go out with.

This is a very cute story. Eulberg has captured high school and teens pretty well. And her tale of female empowerment and sisterhood is one that so many girls these days need to hear. Penny is, of course, the best fleshed out of the characters while the rest of her friends, even her inner circle are much more superficially drawn and act mostly as foils so that Penny isn't talking to herself. Penny's parents are eccentrically simple and offbeat, being big enough Beatles fans to not only name their daughters after Beatles hits, but to become vegetarian simply because Paul is. Perhaps as would be expected, they don't figure much in the story either but the bits where they do appear, they are supportive and understanding. The burgeoning love story is sweetly handled and Penny's renewed friendship with Diane is maybe a bit too easily achieved but over all this is a nice anecdote to all the mean girl books out there. Being popular doesn't have to mean being a snot and having boys draped all over a girl. It can also mean being content with friends and happy in your own skin, as Penny is. A good lesson to share.

[runa_17 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

It takes new-coming writer Elizabeth Eulberg no time at all to establish a lovable universe in her debut novel The Lonely Hearts Club. From the start, the reader falls in love with both her characters and her eloquent narrative tone. The novel begins with a very powerful hook, immediately drawing readers in to Penny's fascinating life. It begins in the middle of endings, of new beginnings, in the middle of a firmly established world that we very quickly get used to. It's amazing how fast paced this book is, fitting a lot of story into a limited amount of space. In this day, some novels just seem to take forever to start with the interesting plot material, so this was a welcome breath of fresh air. The novel is a catchy work, clearly demonstrating the uncomfortable dichotomy between boys and girls in the dating world. As cheesy as some of it is, the characters have a lot of life in them, with amazingly realistic interactions between them. The one word that keeps jumping to mind regarding this book is 'charming'. Everything about it is cutesy character development, from the writing to the cover. The ending follows the same adorable formula and does not disappoint readers. Fans of writers like Susane Colasanti will adore the seemingly simple and perfectly adorable cast of characters that make up this fantastic novel.

Rating: 5/5

[bermudaonion_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Penny’s parents are Beatles fanatics – in fact, they love the Beatles, so much, they named their daughters Lucy (in the Sky with Diamonds), Rita (the Lovely Meter Maid) and Penny Lane after Beatles songs.

When Penny discovers her boyfriend cheating on her, she decides she’s sick of boys and all the aggravation they cause her. She swears off boys (until she’s out of high school, anyway) and decides to form a club. What better name than The Lonely Hearts Club since she’s grown up in a Beatles culture? To be a member you must:

* stop dating boys while you’re in high school
* attend all couple events (such as Homecoming, parties, etc) as a group
* attend Saturday night meetings
* be supportive of friends, even when they make bad choices

The Lonely Hearts Club turns out to be more popular than Penny ever imagined, but it also causes problems. The boys at her high school aren’t crazy about it and the principal thinks it’s disruptive. Things really start to heat up for Penny, though, when she starts to like a certain boy. Penny and her club learn a lot about life in just a few months.

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg is delightful YA book! I thought Penny was a great character. Sure, she makes mistakes, but she picks herself up and moves on with her life when she does. Her friends are great, too – each with their own strengths and weaknesses. I really enjoyed the time I spent with the members of The Lonely Hearts Club. I also enjoyed all the Beatles references throughout the book. Having said that, you don’t need to know a lot about the Beatles to enjoy this book.

I love the message that this book gives young girls. It lets them know that it’s great to have a guy in your life, but it’s fine if you don’t. It encourages them to be themselves and not try to be who they think someone else wants them to be. It tells them they should support each other and not abandon their girlfriends when a guy comes along.

There is a little bit of talk about sex in The Lonely Hearts Club, so I would probably recommend it for 7th or 8th grade and up. (I may be off on this, though, since it’s been a while since I’ve been around a middle schooler.)

[stephxsu · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

After her childhood love takes her heart and stomps on it, junior Penny Lane Bloom is finally done with those brainless, inconsiderate, selfish jerks known as boys. She starts the Lonely Hearts Club that she will no longer put boys over herself or her friends. News of her club spreads, and suddenly Penny seems to have started a revolution, with over 40 girls from all grades at her school wanting to join.

The girls of the Lonely Hearts Club become good friends and hearty supporters of one another as many of them venture to do things they’ve always wanted to do but we’re afraid to due to peer pressure and societal conventions. Penny should be proud of the “us first!” movement, but there are some romantic snaggles she still needs to work out. Like, what if not ALL high school guys are worthless? Will Penny sacrifice a chance at love just to stay true to the club’s original creeds?

Elizabeth Eulberg’s debut novel THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB is undeniably fluff—but it’s the best kind of fluff, with a likable and realistic protagonist, a predictable yet sweet romance, and an avoidance of typical fluff gender stereotypes.

Penny’s character was deep, no-nonsense, and thus extremely enjoyable. Unlike the typical protagonist in this genre of YA, Penny is happily free of the tendency to obsess over boys or freak out over every little mishap. In fact, the very concept of this novel made sure that it was fluff without the usual “I am nothing without a guy” feel of this genre. Freed of this trope, Penny becomes a remarkably astute, clever, and strong girl, and we like her so much as a result.

The secondary female characters were mostly flat stereotypes and rather annoying. They fail to act as nice counterparts to Penny’s well-developed character. (For the record, “what to the ev” is NOT spoken in real life. And if it is, please stop.) On the other hand, I thought that most of the male characters were interesting to read about, even if their negative qualities tended to be slightly exaggerated in order to justify the formation of the Lonely Hearts Club.

Readers can probably almost instantly pick out Penny’s eventual love interest, but thankfully Penny is not the “love/lust at first swoon” kind of protagonist, and instead we can see the cute, gradual development of their romance and her realization that the original rules of the Lonely Hearts Club can be modified. Most of the plot points contributing to Penny’s eventual eye-opening are cheesy and clichéd, but the strength of the main characters makes sure that this book does not disintegrate into another tries-too-hard-to-be-hip-and-YA chick lit feel-good novel.

Despite the fact that the characters and the plot are rather forgettable, the feeling that this book elicits will stay with you. The core of it is, after all, a story of staying true to yourself and not giving up your identity for the sake of a boy. If anyone wants a quick and easy lighthearted read, I will not hesitate to recommend THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB. A great “fluff” debut!