A heartwarming tale of two star-crossed lovers and their extraordinary life in 30's montreal. I loved every minute of this moving story

The Lonely Hearts Club is written in a gorgeous whimsical style, and I've no doubt comparisons will be made to the Night Circus, with how at times the writing can be so enchantingly beautiful and the imagery this evokes. The big difference being this is definitely not a ya book. This book tackles plenty of difficult subjects - child abuse, rape, pedophilia, sexual assault, prostitution, drug abuse, theft, crime and the underworld of Montreal and New York. It's grim and gritty and can be depressing at times, but then the books synopsis does spell that out for potential readers. I'm not sure if it should be marketed as being like the Night Circus though, purely because this book is so dark and quite shocking in parts.

This book is told from the perspective of a boy and girl; Rose and Pierrot who are both orphans who end up in an orphanage ran by cruel nuns, who seem to believe orphans are sub human and must have something inherently wrong with them. Some of the treatments lashed out on the kids are deplorable, and one of the nuns is particularly sadist and evil - anyone who reads this book will know which one I mean.
Rose and Pierrot are different to other children, they are both natural performers, and can cheer up the other kids through somersaults, tricks, play acting and improvisations. They have an immediate affinity and connection with each other, but one the nuns in the orphanage actively discourage and try to keep the pair separate. Nevertheless they entertain the other kids when they get the chance by putting on little performances, Pierrot is a genius pianist and Rose dances and performs to his tunes. Despite being kept apart as much as possible, the pair grow even closer as they get to spend more time together and realise how similar they are, this leads to them making a pact of marriage when they are just 13.

Their years at the orphanage are extremely tough. They are both brutally physically and emotionally abused by sadist nuns, and Pierrot is also sexually abused. Pierrot eventually finds an escape, at 15 his piano playing is heard by a wealthy man who adopts him. His attempts to keep in contact with Rose are thwarted by the nuns who tear up his letters before Rose gets a chance to even know he's written. Once the Great Depression begins, more and more children are left at the orphanage. The mother superior decides to make room for younger kids and sends the older ones out to work, resulting in Rose leaving the orphanage to start work for a rich family. Life takes a different turn for both of them as they join the real world and have to learn to fend for themselves. They both have their own struggles to overcome and slide into Montreal's underworld, but no matter what they face they can't stop thinking of the other and wonder if they will ever get to see one another again.

The Lonely Hearts Hotel delves into some harrowing and sensitive subjects, such as child abuse among orphans. If you are of a sensitive composition, and prefer books that skim over more difficult subjects, then I doubt this book is for you. Some of the scenes and storylines are pretty graphic and can be rather depressing. Saying that, I personally liked the fact the author was brave enough to not shy away from topics that other writers may skirt around and mainly insinuate towards. Sure, it was extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant to read at times, but Heather O'Neil's beautiful lyrical writing style makes it a little easier to read. Child abuse would have a lasting and/or detrimental effect and impact on their adult lives in some shape or form and we can clearly see in this book how it effects Rose and Pierrot. The metaphors used by Heather O'Neil are exquisite, in any other book I may have found the usage too much, but it suited the style in this book perfectly. Oh and the book cover, you can't not read this book without mentioning the beautiful cover, just look at it, it's stunning.

Fundamentally The Lonely Hearts Hotel is a love story. Albeit a love short with lots of gritty and distressing subplots. Nothing is candy coated and there are plenty of feelings of melancholy once you get towards the end of the book. It is a snapshot in time of the period of the Great Depression and all the horrors of life that occurred during this time. This book does make you feel emotions though, even if at times it makes you feel down, it is making you feel which is what reading is all about. I have an inkling that this book is going to be a bit like marmite among readers; you'll either love it or you'll hate it, with not a lot in between.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books - riverrun for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, in return for an honest and unbiased review.

The Lonely Hearts Hotel is a nasty, grubby depressing book for the most part. Anyone with a serious aversion to reading anything containing child abuse and sexual abuse in general should avoid this book like the plague.

This is a story about a boy and a girl who are brought together in poverty in an orphanage in Montreal as very young children, and the paths their lives take and during the Great Depression in the first half of the 1900s.

For me there were far too many metaphors and/or similes in the writing, particularly in the first half of the book. Some of these work but a lot came across as nonsense and even cringe worthy at times.

However, I do believe that there is a decent story to be found, though it is well hidden at times. The story really takes off in the last third of the book but many people won't be able to stomach the general unsavouriness long enough to get that far.

I loved the imaginative scope of this book. I'm usually wary of historical novels because chunks of writing often seem like 'look how much research I did' but thought the author did a wonderful job of evoking the Great Depression without sounding like she reading from a history book.

The writing was the strongest element although it contained too many similies, enough that they took me out of the story because I grew annoyed at them. Otherwise, I found it musical and sweeping and thought there was a wonderful characterisation throughout.

It was incredibly depressing and also incredibly uplifting. I'm not quite sure how she managed to pull this off but it worked. I read it in two sittings and will be recommending to readers.