Scan barcode
A review by kiwieroses
The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
WOW. This book was absolutely incredible. Its main themes revolve around trauma, the underworld of crime, drug trafficking and prostitution, performers/artists, and two orphans trying to find love in the cruel world they live in during the great depression. Even though it's filled with dark themes and quite explicit adult content, the book is written as a fairy tale or a bedtime story for children (sounds weird, I know, but if you read it you'll know what I mean) which makes it relatively easier to get through for the faint of heart, like myself. I cried at the end, but the last 3 pages are incredibly hopeful and gorgeous; please do not read them ahead of time like I did because the ending was SO epic, and I'm still upset that I spoiled it for myself haha.
O'Neill has a way with words that is incredibly unique and unlike anything I have read before, which takes you up and down through tragedy and triumph, and I just wish I could thank her in person for making such a stunningly heartbreaking piece of art.
O'Neill has a way with words that is incredibly unique and unlike anything I have read before, which takes you up and down through tragedy and triumph, and I just wish I could thank her in person for making such a stunningly heartbreaking piece of art.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Pedophilia
Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
The graphic TWs are explicitly stated and detailed in the book, or are central to the plot and character personalities. If you have not had trauma from these situations, it will likely be a little hard to get through, but not unbearable because the book is written in the tone of a bedtime story for kids (it's complicated but beautiful). If you have had trauma from these graphic situations, I would suggest skipping this book, because it may be a bit much. The minor TWs are only very lightly inferred/mentioned, proceed with caution.