A review by emmaemooney
The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Nothing will ever beat reading a Heather O’Neill book for the first time (When We Lost Our Heads), but this certainly returned much of that feeling. Her writing is so incredibly imaginative and tragic and cinematic. It’s unlike anything else I’ve ever read and I adore it all. Many reviews say that “it’s not for everyone,” but don’t let that dissuade you. I think O’Neill’s style is just so unique within the 21st century fiction landscape that people are not used to it. I also disagree with critiques of the sex and rape scenes as gratuitous. They are integral to the plot and character development and in writing them alongside life’s beautiful and imaginative aspects, O’Neill paints a superb picture of humanity. By far my favorite novelist. 
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