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The Lonely Hearts Club

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 8,190 ratings · 983 reviews

Love is all you need... or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut. Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known f...more

ebook, 304 pages

Published June 1st 2010 by Point (first published December 29th 2009)

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Jul 27, 2012 Songbird. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, reviewed

Okay. Empecemos por el principio.
Creo que es la tercera vez que leo este libro. Y no me canso. La primera vez, cogí este libro con MUCHÍSIMAS GANAS. ¡Y no me defraudó! Amo a Elizabeth Eulberg. Y amo este libro.
description

Esta historia comienza con una historia idílica, un niña y un niño enamorados que solo se ven en los veranos, y a medida que crecen, van convirtiendo su historia en algo real, primeros besos, primeras tarjetas de San Valentín,. Y sigue con un corazón roto, el de la protagonista, Penny Lan...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Nikita Ompang rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, novel

I loved every bit of this book! I didn't even realize that I was about to finish it!

First, I so love the main character, Penny Lane. She's just a typical high school girl going on a typical high school life. She wasn't special or anything. Just ordinary. But then made an extraordinary leap in her life by starting up a club, the 'Lonely Hearts Club.' She was actually inspired by the bunch of guys who didn't treat her well, especially her supposed 'man of her dreams.'

At first the club was just ab...more I loved every bit of this book! I didn't even realize that I was about to finish it!

First, I so love the main character, Penny Lane. She's just a typical high school girl going on a typical high school life. She wasn't special or anything. Just ordinary. But then made an extraordinary leap in her life by starting up a club, the 'Lonely Hearts Club.' She was actually inspired by the bunch of guys who didn't treat her well, especially her supposed 'man of her dreams.'

At first the club was just about not dating guys for the rest of their high school life. I actually thought it was petty. But then I loved how it turned out to be about friendship. The importance of having true friends who accept you as who you are and not as someone who you are not. Friends who are there for you always, supporting you in every way not minding what others might think. Friends whom you can lean on to when some bitches would bully you or when you're in total despair. Friends who would never leave you through the good times and especially the hard times. Friends who simply made your life wonderful.

Second, I loved this book because it wasn't full of drama like the other books I've been reading lately. I fell in love together with the book and made me smile all throughout while reading it. When a moment would come where Penny and Ryan would be there, I was totally suppressing every emotion I felt. Trying very very hard not to scream and giggle while reading the book in class! (haha!) I just couldn't stop reading it!

Third, I like how the book showed that women can always stand up from heartaches and boy problems. Also, that boys can't just step on our hearts like we're just some garbage who got thrown in the trash after being used. I'm not really a feminist. I have a lot of guy friends and they're very cool. Except some who thought that they could just treat women like trash! I absolutely loved how the author showed that women are strong.

Fourth, I suddenly miss my high school life, although it wasn't really full of boy-stuff like in the book. I miss my friends who have different types of personalities, and yet, we managed to be together, hang out and forget the MANY differences we have. Somehow, a typical teenager like me can relate myself to Penny who encounters common problems in life.

P.S. The title actually struck me as a little corny. But then I gave it a shot and I don't regret reading it. Totally recommended for everyone! Especially if you're looking for a light read.

Love it!!!(less)

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Aug 14, 2010 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, i-would-recommend, recommended-to-me, romance, ya-teen, wishlist, never-get-tired-of, fantastic-covers

So, one of my friends recommended this for me and, I must say, I was a little skeptical. It is so different from what I usually read. I mean, no magic, science fiction, time travel, historical fiction, etc. It is a completely realistic. But, she was so insistent that I promised I would read it.

I couldn't have been more wrong. This book was so amazing. I read it in one day. I love the Beatles, but I don't know nearly as much about them as I should. I really loved all the references to them. One...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Lucy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My friend recommended me this book. She told me that I HAD to read it because it was amazing. Well, so I went and bought it. When I first read the synopsis at the back of the book I thought: This is about a girl who decides that she's not going to date another boy in her entire life. So, no boys in this book? Not a love story? Let's see what this is about... I'll thank my friend endlessly because I LOVED it! From beginning to end. It IS amazing. When I started it I just couldn't stop reading! It...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Namis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: very-well-written, good-young-adult, laugh-out-loud-funny, read-in-2012

- Have you ever had a disastrous almost relationship?
- Do you have resentful feelings towards boys?
- Are you looking to feel empowered by inspirational women?

Then this book is for you!

A light, pretty predictable read - bonus points for the creative idea and wit, though.

Angry and heartbroken Penny Lane swears off boys and starts 'The Lonely Hearts Club' (she's a Beatles fan) after her sort-of childhood boyfriend Nate pressures her for sex and cheats on her. Her best friends and a many other boy-...more

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Oct 25, 2011 El Templo de las Mil Puertas added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 20-eltemplo, reseñas

"«Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes There beneath the blue suburban skies... Penny Lane.» Si la protagonista se llama Penny Lane, sus hermanas son Lucy (in the sky with diamonds) y (Lovely) Rita, sus padres se conocieron el día del asesinato de John Lennon y son vegetarianos convencidos porque Sir Paul McCartney lo es, y el club que da título al libro viene de la canción "Sgt. Pepper"s Lonely Hearts Club Band", es de suponer que el espíritu de los cuatro de Liverpool impregne las páginas d...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For Penny Lane , she only ever loved one guy and when she caught him with another girl -it turned her life upside down. Upset and distraught Penny Lane turns to the guys whom her and her family are namesakes and big on - the only 4 reliable guys in the world left "The Beatles".
Inspired by one of the Beatles songs "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club" , Penny Lane decides to start up a club called "The Lonely Hearts" - a club for girls who have sworn off dating high school boys. The Club just starts...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Karlie B rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg is an amazing story for teenagers to read. I would say this would probably be more of a book for a girl to read, however it is a great book for anyone to read if interested in “girl power.” It is about a junior girl named Penny Lane who gets screwed over by boys and is sick and tired of it. Therefore, she decided to start her own club called the “Lonely Hearts Club.” She was shocked to find out how much she learned about herself, and the friends she ga...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Anna F. Dela Cruz rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this about a year ago, so I don't remember too many details and honestly, this book does not stay with you. I expected a light, fun--even pointless--read, but this book is just trash. Horrible. The writing is decent; the plot is predictable, bland, EXTREMELY CHEESY, and TRES CORNY. It takes a lot of cheesiness in a novel to make me dislike it because I actually like cheesy and corny.

The biggest issue I have with this book besides its cheese is ANNOYANCE. Oh golly, was I annoyed! Two reaso...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Esther Shaindel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Full review on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com/2...

This is a really sweet, smart book. Penny makes her decision to swear off boys based on her past experiences, especially being betrayed so horrifically by a boy she trusted all her life. At first it's a club of one, but when her friends one by one get hurt by the boys in their lives, they join, and it soon becomes a school phenomenon. Penny deals with her newfound star status really well. I love how she keeps her wits abou...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finished reding this book in 3 hours! it was that good of a debut novel that I couldn't stop flipping!

It is set in a typical high school setting but a really inspiring teen romance novel. I really applaud Elizabeth Eulberg for crafting out this wonderful book! I love how The Beatles are in it as well. And the book has given me a few memorable quotes as well!

Now off to the characters, Nate was really being a jerk and being a typical player when he cheated! (I really don't understand why guys...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Lola rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 04, 2012 Maddie D'iorio rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg is a great young adult realistic fiction that breaks the normal high school romance scene right open. Penny Lane, named after a famous Beatles song, has bad experiences with dating and starts a club, The Lonely Hearts Club, for girls to band together and not date in order to strengthen their friendships and not get hurt by boys. I enjoyed the novel's whimsical language that was tinged with Beatles references, but could be understood by all. Penny and h...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Lexie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Lexie by: Local Librarian

Shelves: reviews-written

To be honest, I didn't expect The Lonely Hearts Club to be my kind of book. I was pleasantly surprised when I got into this novel and realized that I was, in fact, enjoying it! Overall, I give this book three stars because of the creativity, characters, and total package appeal.

COVER: I really like the cover of this book! It shows different girls with totally different styles, and I think it gives an appeal to the book.

PLOT: I enjoyed the plot, despite the slight cliche points (not mentioning be...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Tamy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Any light Beatles fans who also have an interest in Y/A and romance books.

Recommended to Tamy by: A friend of mine

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 19, 2012 Shel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

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 t...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Lunática Pirate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

La curiosidad mató al gato y luego vino a por mí. Había leído cerca de cinco reseñas de este libro y me sembraron el gusanito de la curio así que lo busqué en físico y nada, no lo encontré -puede que haya buscado mal- pero si lo encontré virtual así que lo descargué y me lo leí en una sola tarde quedando bastante satisfecha, prometo que en cuanto lo encuentre en físico lo compro.
¿Quién no le ha deseado la muerte a cupido?
Penny Lane recibe su nombre de una canción de The Beatles ya que sus padres...more La curiosidad mató al gato y luego vino a por mí. Había leído cerca de cinco reseñas de este libro y me sembraron el gusanito de la curio así que lo busqué en físico y nada, no lo encontré -puede que haya buscado mal- pero si lo encontré virtual así que lo descargué y me lo leí en una sola tarde quedando bastante satisfecha, prometo que en cuanto lo encuentre en físico lo compro.
¿Quién no le ha deseado la muerte a cupido?
Penny Lane recibe su nombre de una canción de The Beatles ya que sus padres son aficionados a este grupo, hasta sus dos hermanas mayores llevan nombres de canciones. Es una hermosa chica que está harta de los chicos, todas las relaciones que ha tenido hasta el momento terminan mal, destacando su reciente “ruptura” con Nate, el hijo de los mejores amigos de sus padres con el que llevaba tonteando varios años hasta que decide dar el paso y formalizar la relación pero se lleva un fiasco al conocer al verdadero Nate, un idiota mujeriego que simplemente la quería por su cuerpo; así que decide fundar El club de los corazones solitarios inspirado en un álbum de The Beatles, donde aceptará a todas aquellas chicas que están hasta la coronilla de los chicos que las hacen cambiar para luego dejarlas sin más. Una de las primeras en unirse es su antigua amiga Diane que la había abandonado para poder salir con Ryan pero luego de su ruptura decide regresar; después de Diane se une Tracy su incondicional amiga que luego de darse por vencida con su lista anual de posibles citas decide seguirle el juego a su amiga. Van pasando varias cosas y el club está en la boca de todo el mundo, por consiguiente Penny Lane Bloom se convierte en una celebridad.
A parte de las reseñas tan buenas que he leído la portada llamó mi atención, en el interior del libro encontramos varias referencias a The Beatles como tres frases de sus canciones para dividir las tres partes del libro, varias canciones son mencionadas y, no podía faltar, la portada es una de ellas; ¿Les suena Abbey Road? Porque a mí sí, es esa famosa imagen que ha sido parodiada hasta por los Simpson donde el cuarteto más célebre de Liverpool va cruzando la calle para dirigirse al estudio, además de ser el título de un célebre álbum de la banda.
Fue genial, aunque debo decir que es de los pocos libros que no pertenecen a la literatura de ficción que he leído y no me arrepiento. Me lo volvería a leer 150 veces y muchas más, hasta llegué a pasárselo a una amiga por lo genial que estuvo.
Dentro de la portada podemos encontrar amistad y lealtad por encima de todo, hay amor pero no es el principal actor. Además es de esos pocos libros únicos que vale la pena leer y tener en tu librero una copia sin dudar. Además hay cierto toque de comedia, me encontré riendo a carcajadas con algunas ocurrencias de Tracy y la personalidad tan genial de Penny.
Llegué a desear que el club de verdad existiera.(less)

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Jan 25, 2012 Starry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Love is all you need... or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut.

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like. . . .
_______________
Pe...more

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Oct 26, 2011 TG rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You know how the term ‘feel-good’ is applied to certain movies? I don’t know how often it’s used to describe books, but if any book were to fit the definition, it would be The Lonely Hearts Club. This is totally a feel-good book. I had a smile on my face almost the entire time I was reading it, laughed out loud in a few places and may have even punched the air once or twice. Mostly because of the…

Female empowerment and solidarity! Woo-hoo! It was so great to read a book that promotes and celebr...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit, ya

Ohmigod, I haven't read crap YA books in SO LONG. How I miss teenage angst sometimes!!! And then sometimes it's just plain annoying. Luckily, maybe because of my mood, this fell into the former of not being annoying. I mean, it still was and super predictable, but kind of cute at the same time!

Lame high school girls throws herself at her best friend, who happens to be a dude and they are sort of going out only to find out that he is also dating other girls at the same time. Like ohmigod, what a...more

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Oct 01, 2011 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Penny Lane Bloom is named after a Beatles' song but is pretty sure money can't buy her love after she disastrously discovers the boy she's always loved half-naked with another girl. And that's after a string of dating disappointments that leave her thinking she's better off without boys. For her junior year, she decides that instead of dating, she'll focus on her own needs and her friends. She's tired of watching how girls ditch their friends and change their personalities for the sake of male a...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, chick-lit, contemporary, romance

http://historias-imaginarias.blogspot...

Penny esta cansada de los chicos, siempre lastimandola o engañandola, así que decide crear un club para la gente que prefiere esta sola, como ella. Por supuesto, nunca pensó que tantas chicas se iban a unir y que su pequeño club se convertiría en algo mas que eso.

Penny es una excelente protagonista. Lo admito, al principio no pensé que me fuera a gustar, pero realmente ella logro ser una de mis favoritas. Ella madura y crece a lo largo de la historia para...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Murphy's Library rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

from Murphy's Library — http://www.murphyslibrary.com/ — rated 4 and a half there

The Lonely Hearts Club is one of the cutest books I’ve read on the past few months. With an uncompromising narrative that flies without you feeling it, the book is one of those you read to relax, have fun and have a good time reading. Penny Lane is a girl we all have been already, I swear. Who has never had a disappointment, who has never had a crush that ended up with a broken heart and decided that didn’t really...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Jess - The Tales Compendium rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, debut

Elizabeth Eulberg's debut novel is fun, with a great message behind it, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

Penny and her friends are sick and tired of wasting their time on lying high school boys who don't treat them right. The solution? The girls swear off boys, get together, have fun and support each other, much to the annoyance of the male student body!

This is a story about taking control, being yourself and not changing for a guy. A story about friendship, appreciating and supporting each o...more Elizabeth Eulberg's debut novel is fun, with a great message behind it, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

Penny and her friends are sick and tired of wasting their time on lying high school boys who don't treat them right. The solution? The girls swear off boys, get together, have fun and support each other, much to the annoyance of the male student body!

This is a story about taking control, being yourself and not changing for a guy. A story about friendship, appreciating and supporting each other, major girl power and how strong girls can be together.

Penny and the rest of the members of the Lonely Hearts Club are great role models for girls and there are no overtly dramatic parts like, 'Oh my life is over because he doesn't like me. I'm going to crawl up into a ball and die!' It is a happy, fun book and although they certainly have their share of problems to deal with, they combat them as a group and have the best year in high school they could ever imagine. There is always something happening in this story, it's fast-paced and never gets boring.

It's great to have a story about real girls and high school issues with a main character who is likeable and who has a supportive family. Aside from Penny there is a fantastic cast of characters in this book, someone for everyone to relate to.

The Beatles are a continuing theme throughout the book. From the name of the book and the cover (which looks fabulous), song lyrics (a way of leading into chapters and also Penny's way of expressing her moods and feelings towards others), Penny and her sisters' names are taken from Beatles songs and Penny's own obsession with the Beatles (passed down to her from her hilariously obsessed parents who live and breathe Beatles, from the doorbell chime to the Walrus in her dad's dental office and their vegetarianism because Paul McCartney says so). I have read some reviews where readers who are not Beatles fans have found the Beatles-mania annoying. I am not a major Beatles fan (yes I know there is something wrong with me) but I had no problem with any of the references. I loved it and I think it works really well BECAUSE it is a continuing theme .
I don't think this would appeal to adults. It is very much a read for high school aged girls and those in their early twenties who still love YA books.(less)

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Mar 04, 2011 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Most of the time these "High School" genre books blur into one big mass of lip gloss and "whatevers." This one, stands apart....a little. There is at least an attempt to depart from the usual plot, although, you do end up at the same place as all the others. What I thought was interesting about this one was my realization from it. That I truly am a social misfit. In the beginning, as Penny is swearing off men for good, and glorifying in the simplicity of her new life, I found myself nodding my h...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reading-challenge, friendship, ya-fiction, love-story, contemporary

First of all, this is the second book I've read this month with a character named Penny Lane. Two different authors and characters that are not related--in fact, one Lane is a middle name and one Lane is a last name. But I thought it was odd.

Anyway, it's a cute book. A girls gets her heart broken by a jerk and swears off boys until she finishes high school. Other girls get sick of high school boy antics and join her, and they have a club, supporting each other and going to dances and parties as...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First of all I want to thank whomever gave me this book. I received it in the mail with no notification so if it was from a contest I'd love to give that blogger a shout-out but I'm unsure of who you are...but I truly want to say Thank You!

So on the back cover there is a blurb from Jen Calonita, the author of Secrets of My Hollywood Life that says "Why oh why weren't Penny Lane Bloom and her Lonely Hearts Club around when I was in high school?..." I must agree with her. What a great group of gi...more

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Dec 08, 2010 Screenplaydiva rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you’re a fan of the Fab Four from Liverpool: Paul, John, George and Ringo, then this book is definitely for you. If you don't know who The Beatles are then you aren't from this planet. The Beatles revolutionized music bringing the British Invasion to American shores. And America took notice, along with millions of fainting girls across the nation.

THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB is aptly named, as well as its main character, Penny Lane Bloom who is named after The Beatles song "Penny Lane" which was re...more If you’re a fan of the Fab Four from Liverpool: Paul, John, George and Ringo, then this book is definitely for you. If you don't know who The Beatles are then you aren't from this planet. The Beatles revolutionized music bringing the British Invasion to American shores. And America took notice, along with millions of fainting girls across the nation.

THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB is aptly named, as well as its main character, Penny Lane Bloom who is named after The Beatles song "Penny Lane" which was released in 1967. Penny's parents are so obsessed with The Beatles that they named each of their daughters after one of their songs.

The "Penny Lane" song title comes from the name of a street in the town of Liverpool where the band grew up. "Penny Lane," also, happens to be my favorite Beatles song. The novel had me humming the tune as I read. I thought it was clever how the book was separated by sections titled after Beatles songs.

As for Penny, I really liked her. She provides a realistic, witty voice to the stand-alone novel. THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB hooked me immediately from the opening line: "I, Penny Lane Bloom, do solemnly swear to never date another boy for as long as I shall live."

Penny's tired of being dumped on by boys and their broken-hearted lies. And after the final straw with her latest boyfriend, she decides to form The Lonely Hearts Club in honor of The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" -- of which she is the only member.

But soon, Penny finds that other girls who are dealing with the same dating dilemmas at McKinley High School want to join the club this includes her best friend, Tracy, who's been struggling with the dating scene herself. Tracy is fierce in her loyalty and friendship. She's extremely funny and knows how to break the ice with a guy, even though she doesn't see it herself.

Diana, Penny's old friend from middle school and a fellow McKinley classmate, is honest and sincere. And I really liked Ryan Bauer, Penny's "boy" friend. She is now starting to fight feelings toward him because of her advocacy to not date any more boys until after high school. But he is caring and a good friend to her. The other minor characters are cool, as well, including Penny's Beatles consumed parents.

I like the U.S. book cover, too. It's reminiscent of the Beatles album cover for "Abbey Road" -- Lennon in front, Ringo next, then Paul and George walking across a zebra pedestrian crossing on Abbey Road. It was their last album as a band. It featured hit songs "Come Together" and "Let It Be." Check out a live web cam of the actual street in London on Abbey Road Studios' website. I love watching the British cars and double-deckers go by.

THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB is romantic, filled with teen angst and raging hormones -- though nothing more than a kiss is shown, which makes the novel sweet and tender. I highly recommend reading it. Eulberg's website even features outtakes from the book.

Copyright of Reel Swell Productions(less)

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Nov 27, 2010 Katya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, teen-lit

It's been a while since I read a book in one sitting. I'd forgotten what it was like, to completely immerse yourself into it and fall just a little bit in love.

Penny Lane is just your typical teenager... well, if you don't count her parents' religious obsession with the Beatles. Oddly enough, I can relate to that particular aspect, being an ABBA kid myself. When she finds her childhood friend turned boyfriend with another girl, though, she decides to rethink her position on dating and boys, and...more It's been a while since I read a book in one sitting. I'd forgotten what it was like, to completely immerse yourself into it and fall just a little bit in love.

Penny Lane is just your typical teenager... well, if you don't count her parents' religious obsession with the Beatles. Oddly enough, I can relate to that particular aspect, being an ABBA kid myself. When she finds her childhood friend turned boyfriend with another girl, though, she decides to rethink her position on dating and boys, and decides to give it up for the next two years. Thus, the Lonely Hearts Club is born, and as it slowly gains popularity, Penny begins to realize she has more going on than just a ban on boys.

What I love, love, loved about this book is probably how friendship is slowly being rediscovered throughout the girls' experiences. I know it sounds cheesy and dramatic, but in a literature where friendships are highly unlikely due to the fact that they will not do good in the Stockholm Syndrome relationships that substitute 'love' (no example needed), it's very rare to see a book which highlights the fact that above love, girls need their friends' support to get along.

Penny is charming. She's sweet, she's quirky, she's naturally embarrassed by her parents, and she's a little bit too intense (but try finding a teenager that isn't). Some might argue that she becomes annoying when she turns into this semi-Christ figure for the jilted girls in school, or that she stresses over it too much, but in my opinion, it was very realistically portrayed. It took me back a few years, when no word spoken didn't inflict some damage, when no action went unnoticed and unscrutinized, if not by the peers, than by myself. It was refreshing, and I loved the book for it.

Also:

I loved how important issues were brought up without hitting the reader across the head with a Bible.

I loved how girls discovered that it was not a boyfriendless life they needed, but a supportive group of friends.

I loved how boyfriends could make it into that group.

But most of all...

I loved the walrus!(less)

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Oct 04, 2010 Cynthia (A Blog about Nothing) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books

Lately most of the really great books I've been reading came from my TBR pile that's been sitting there for a couple of months. I had The Lonely Hearts Club since spring and have been meaning to read it but kept putting it off, until this weekend when I was feeling down in the dumps and wanted to read something but didn't want anything too intense or sad, I wanted something to cheer me up. Well I remembered I had this one and I've heard that it was pretty great so I asked on twitter(twitter know...more

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Best and Worst Character?	7	41	Mar 19, 2013 03:38pm
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Crazy for Young A...: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg → Start Date: January 7th, 2013	10	16	Jan 13, 2013 12:07am
Loved It!	17	52	May 09, 2012 04:24pm

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About Elizabeth Eulberg

The short and sweet version:
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to Syracuse University and then making a career in the New York City book biz. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick. In researching The Lonely Hearts Club, she tried swearing off boys forever. It didn’t work. She did, however, learn how to play Rachma...more The short and sweet version:
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to Syracuse University and then making a career in the New York City book biz. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick. In researching The Lonely Hearts Club, she tried swearing off boys forever. It didn’t work. She did, however, learn how to play Rachmaninoff’s Eighteenth Variation from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini on the piano while writing Prom and Prejudice, so she’s not a total slacker.
The long and babbling version:
I was born in the small town of Portage, Wisconsin and am the youngest of four children. My father owned a clothing store, called (appropriately enough) Eulberg’s, that had been in my family since 1929. My mother was a teacher then stayed at home with us kids until I was old enough to go to school. She eventually became a high school librarian…at the high school I attended! (And no, she did not play favorites. Ever.)

Growing up, three things dominated my life: traveling, music and reading. I still have passion for all three today.

Traveling:
Every summer my parents packed us all up in a van, complete with a tent that slept six—and we travelled for two weeks to a different parts of the country. Being the youngest child, there are many pictures of me crying in numerous historical landmarks across the United States: Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon—you get the idea. Of course, as soon as I was able to appreciate these trips, my parents decided to stop doing them. Something about us wanting to spend more time in the campsite pool than site-seeing…

My love of travel prompted me to become a foreign exchange student the summer between my junior and senior year of high school (if you do it in the summer – no homework!). I lived in the tiny village of Bühler, Switzerland and got to travel all around Switzerland. I also studied abroad my junior year of college in London. I have since travelled extensively around Europe, been to Australia (twice!), New Zealand, Argentina… I have a lot more places that I want to go and think Chile is going to be next on my list, but I also really want to travel around the countryside of Ireland since I’ve only been to Dublin. So many places…

Music:
My mother had me begin taking piano lessons when I was five since, she says, I banged on the piano more than my two older sisters who were taking lessons. Music became my main obsession throughout childhood. I started playing the clarinet when I was in fourth grade and even played the drums in marching band in high school (how cool was I?). A few years ago, I decided I wanted to learn to play the guitar. I still keep up with the piano, although I’m nowhere near the level I was in high school and continue my quest with guitar lessons to become a full-out rock star (some day!). It was my love of music that led to my career in publicity… but more on that in a bit.

Reading:
The first book series that I remember becoming enthralled by was the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. I think I was in second grade when I got one of the books from the library. I was hooked instantly and followed Betsy from the first book to the last, Betsy’s Wedding (I always laugh when publishers say kids don’t want to read about adults). I also remember reading Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and, of course, Little Women. I say “of course” about Little Women since my mom wanted me to be called Beth, after the character from the book (oh, and I have a sister named Meg). But alas, I never went by Beth. I prefer Elizabeth (and still do).

My next reading craze happened when I started reading the Sweet Valley High series. My mother always encouraged us to read. While some people would prefer their children to read more “literary” books, my mother didn’t care. She was just happy I was b(less)

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Quotes from The Lonely Hearts Club

“And Nate? You kiss like a slobbering dog, you have bad breath, and you wouldn't know how to punch the right buttons on a girl if we came with manuals. Happy Thanksgiving, Jackass.” — 128 people liked it

“And anything that might hurt me would just make me stronger in the end.” — 99 people liked it

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