The Lonely Hearts Hotel is a love story with a difference. Set throughout the roaring twenties, it is a wicked fairytale of circus tricks and child prodigies, radical chorus girls, drug-addicted musicians and brooding clowns, set in an underworld whose economy hinges on the price of a kiss.
It is the tale of two dreamers, abandoned in an orphanage where they were fated to meet. Here, in the face of cold, hunger and unpredictable beatings, Rose and Pierrot create a world of their own, shielding the spark of their curiosity from those whose jealousy will eventually tear them apart.
When they meet again, each will have changed, having struggled through the Depression, through what they have done to fill the absence of the other. But their childhood vision remains – a dream to storm the world, a spectacle, an extravaganza that will lift them out of the gutter and onto a glittering stage.
The Lonely Hearts Hotel is a novel unlike anything I have read before; It is a dark, gritty, mysterious story but it is also a story of love and overcoming your past. It is a modern, twisted fairy tale about what love is and what love means and it is poetically beautiful to read. This novel is a novel that has to be experienced and it is so wonderful to do that seeing as it is set in the 1920’s which so happens to be my favorite second era – after the 1950’s of course! It truly is a stunning novel that transports the reader to an era that is so very different to our own and I cannot help right now but express how much I loved it! Here is a little bit more about this spellbinding novel.
The Lonely Hearts Hotel tells the story of two young orphans who grew up together in a run down, cruel orphanage in Montreal, Circa in 1914. Their names are Rose and Pierrot. They are two souls that quickly bond over their love of performing. Pierrot is a piano prodigy with an undying love for music and its beauty and Rose is a young woman who loves the art of performing and she will do so for anyone at any place at any time. Together they dream of creating the most enticing, spellbinding circus in the world, however, the two are sadly separated as they age and so this novel becomes a story of their individual journeys and eventually their journey back to each other and their exciting futures as performers.
This novel is quite simply stunning, it is a novel that features heavily on the art of performing, the mafia, drugs, prostitution and finding yourself. All of these themes combined make it an unforgettable story, unlike anything the reading world has ever seen. It is a novel that can be very hard hitting at times but I think as a reader it is important to read these kinds of novels, it is important to read about themes that happen in our world today so that we can learn what happens and what to do about it. My point is that I really did adore how this was a gritty, hard-hitting novel all whilst being a stunning novel set in the roaring 1920’s and I have to say now… if you adore that era then you will adore this novel! It is a spectacle and its novels words play out in your mind like a movie so you can’t help but feel as a reader that you are in Montreal in the 1920’s, it is quite simply breathtaking!
Whilst I was reading this novel I was truly shocked by our author’s incredible vision for this story. It reads beautifully and the writing was very poetic and beautifully descriptive. Our author O’Neill immediately made me fall in love with every aspect of this story – the setting, the characters, the story… I was instantly sold and reveled in its beauty.
To conclude my thoughts on this beautiful, charming, elegant story I would say if you love the art of performing, historical fiction, the 1920’s, or reading about the great depression then you will love this story! It is a novel full of heartache, love and hopes all at the same time and it quite simply is stunning. This enchanting novel gets Five Stars from me!
Thank you so much as ever for reading book lovers I appreciate it so much! Please do let me know your wonderful thoughts below; I would love to know! Could you see yourself reading this novel? Do you love historical fiction? Do you adore the 1920’s just like me?! Let me know below! Thank you so much again for reading!
P.S. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! Please have a read of the preview and if you find that you have loved what you have read then all you need to do is click the Buy on Amazon button and it will take you straight to the book on Amazon USA! If you are in the U.K. then below I have attached a link to the book for the Amazon U.K. website. Thank you so much again for reading book lovers, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this book!
Amazon U.K. / Goodreads / Book Depository / Publisher; Quercus – Riverrun
Thank you so much for reading!
Fantastic review! I bought this book a couple of months ago and REALLY need to get to it now!!
Hi Beth! Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
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What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
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This book is incredible you need to get to reading it! Lol.
Do read many historical fiction novels? (:
I used to devour them along with thrillers but now I’ve just got SO many books to get to they tend to get forgotten about at the back of my shelves which is a shame! ☹️
Aww I know that feeling!
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
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What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
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There just isn’t enough time to read is there!? (:
Definitely not! My TBR is SO huge!
Haha I know mine too! I do wonder whether I will actually be able to read all the books.
I probably would be able to if I didn’t keep adding books everyday! Lol.
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
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Sounds like a very unique read.
Hi there! Thank you so much for commenting that is so kind of you (:
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
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I know very little about the 1920s. 😊
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
Many thanks. I love your positive feedback. Welcome to the blogging community.🌼🌼🌼
This book has been sitting on my shelf for
a while now, you just reminded me why I wanted to read it so bad in the first place!!
Aww this is the sweetest comment ever! I am so happy that I could convince you to remember this book!
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
This book is stunning and I think you would love it! Are you obsessed with the 1920’s like me? (:
I haven’t read very much from that era but I’ve loved everything that I have read! Maybe this book will make me obsessed with it too! 😊
I love historical fiction, it’s one of my favourite genres! I think it’s so incredible how you can step into someone else’s life or view a time and place that doesn’t exist anymore. I believe strongly that remembering things is how they continue to exist once they’re gone, so it’s almost a treasure to be able to read books from or set in the past
Do you have any great historical fiction reads you could recommend? (:
Two that I really loved are called The Dovekeepers and The Red Tent and both are set in biblical times but they surround women in that time period and they’re really interesting! And my favourites from the world war 2 era are The Book Thief, All the Light We Cannot See, and The Nightingale! 😊 do you have any recommendations?
You should read it, it’s one of my favourites! I think the writing style is part of what makes it so great, it’s narrated by death in a really unique way! It’s definitely worth the read and I think it will live up to the hype!
Is it really!? That really is unique I did not know that! That has actually really intrigued me now. Thank you for letting me know!
No problem, I’m excited to hear what you think!!
Have you seen the movie? (:
No I haven’t I was too afraid that it wouldn’t live up to the book!
Well I’ve heard that for the death narration parts they show the clouds moving … so I don’t know lol … it might not be bad but I haven’t heard anyone say they loved it either so!
Haha yeah. It’s best not to take that risk then (:
I haven’t read those but A Gentleman in Moscow is on my tbr list already! I’ll check them out for sure though, thank you!!
It is so great! It opens with these transcripts and it’s really amazing. Plus the hardback edition is gorgeous!
Ooh I love additional things like transcripts!
Please have a read of the synopsis and let me know what you think!
It sounds really good!! Just from the synopsis it sounds like it’s written beautifully! And it’s a really intriguing concept! But on Goodreads it had no reviews or even ratings? Is it new?
I bet! I’ll definitely get it! 😊
Let me know if ever you get a chance to read them! (:
I will for sure!
Great! (:
No problem! I do too! I haven’t seen the tv series yet but I’m definitely intrigued to since the book was so good
What is the book actually about? Because I still don’t know. Is it just a drama amongst a community? (:
Well idk how much you know about the bible but basically Jacob is an important figure in it and he has 12 sons and a daughter and the daughters story is briefly touched on in the bible about a tragedy that happened to her but this author gives light to that event and to the daughters whole life through her own perspective rather than the men who wrote the bible, so the daughter tells us her mothers story and then her own and it’s written beautifully! I’m not even very religious and I loved it
Oh my god that sounds amazing!!!!
Thank you so much for telling me this that sounds incredible. This book has made its way to the to of my to be read pile!
Yay!! I love spreading great book love! Let me know when you read it, I’d love to hear what you think 😊
I will definitely let you know what I think! Thanks again (:
Have you read outlander or seen the Tv series? (:
No I haven’t but I really want to! Have you read and watched it?
I haven’t either no! But I have heard from many many people that both are amazing! (:
I’ve heard the actor for the main guy looks very different than he’s supposed to! But I think I’ll start with the book!
I will for sure! I can’t wait to 😁
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
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I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
Love the cover!
The cover is so gorgeous and the hardback book is a piece of art in itself.
Do you adore the 1920’s? (:
I have no particular liking for any particular era 😊
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
Thank you!
You’ve convinced me, because I love all those ingredients you said, especially the 20s! Great review 😀
Hi Annie! I am so glad I could convince you to read this book! I think you would really enjoy it.
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
This book looks like my kind of novel. I love the 1920s, and individual journeys of protagonists that make their way back to each other. Yet another book to add to my reading list. Thanks for the great review and recommendation!
Hi there! Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting I appreciate it so much (:
It is such a spectacle and I adored it so much. Plus the hardback edition is so gorgeous!
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
I absolutely adored this book!!
Hi there! Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting I appreciate it so much!
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
I am so happy that I have met somebody else who has read and loved this book! It is pretty special and unique isn’t it? (:
I’m curious, what did you love most about it? (:
I loved how the love story developed! I wrote a review on it on my blog: https://mybookinggreatblog.com/2017/03/29/book-review-the-lonely-hearts-hotel-by-heather-oneill/
Thank you so much for linking this I am going to go have a read now thanks so much!
Currently reading Do Not Say We Have Nothing although it’s taking me an age to read it!! Thanks for all your love on my blog btw!!
Aww no problem! Your blog is great and your reviews are amazing! It is scary how we have such similar book tastes lol.
Bit of both really! It was shortlisted for the Baileys prize for women fiction and also for man Booker. It’s a hard book to summarise but I’ll give it a go once I finally finish it for the review!
I haven’t yet read it but I’m slowly going to work my way through that shortlist!!
Aww great! It is only about 200 pages long anyway so you could easily read it in one sitting!
You have actually inspired me to pay for attention to the book awards and to read the long and short lists. Is their any books you have seen recently from a short list that is just amazing? (/
Awww great! I would for sure read The Power again! That was great!
(: ***
New to wordpress and had to say that your blog is awesome and so is this comment! Agree with what you said 100%. follow my blog for when its ready. Keep BOOK ROCKING!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting!
I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment so thanks again!
What is your name and where are you from in the world I am curious!
I look forward to your reply, thanks again!
Why thanks!! I’ve been a bit quiet over the summer!