Author: Elizabeth Eulbert
Genre: YA Romance
Pages: 285
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Challenges:
FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school library
Summary (from the inside flap of the book): Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: No More. She's had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many bad boys. It's a personal choice...and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny's not the only girl who's tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worse) in order to get their guys...or the way their guys don't really care. Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club, and Penny finds herself near legendary for her non dating ways--which is too bad, since the leader of the The Lonely Hearts Club has found a certain boy she can't help but like....
Review: I have been meaning to read this book for quite some time and brought it home with me this summer. When I saw a review of it on Aths' Reading on a Rainy Day I decided I had waited long enough and I picked it right up; I am so glad that I did! It was the perfect book at the perfect time.
First, the chapter titles, the main character's name (and her sisters' names) and MANY references are made to the Beatles. I grew up on the Beatles even though they had broken up a couple years before I was born. As little kids the main character, Penny Lane, and her best friend pretended to be John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Well, welcome to my world. My best friend and I pretended to be the "Lady Birds" (that's ladybugs in America. Get it? Beatles. Ladybirds.) and we spent hours singing along to Beatles' songs. Their music still dominates my iPhone.
Anyway, aside from the Beatles connection I thought the author did a fantastic job of connecting to the teenage girl. Actually, to any woman. So many of us change ourselves when we start dating: how we dress; how we act; the clothes we wear; and how we treat our female friends. Why is it that we start to forget ourselves? The book doesn't try to answer this question, but it is really fun to read about teenage girls figuring out what's important to them, taking a stand, and doing something about it.
The Lonely Hearts Club gets a bit out of hand if you are an administrator or boy at the high school, but if you are one of the members, you've found yourself a great set of friends who support you in studying, having fun, being yourself, and trying new activities. I wish that for every teenager, boy or girl. How fantastic to have a group that accepts you for who you are without you having to change. Great concept.
I stayed up way too late to finish reading this book last night and am glad I did. It made me smile, laugh, and remember when I was in high school.
Review: I have been meaning to read this book for quite some time and brought it home with me this summer. When I saw a review of it on Aths' Reading on a Rainy Day I decided I had waited long enough and I picked it right up; I am so glad that I did! It was the perfect book at the perfect time.
First, the chapter titles, the main character's name (and her sisters' names) and MANY references are made to the Beatles. I grew up on the Beatles even though they had broken up a couple years before I was born. As little kids the main character, Penny Lane, and her best friend pretended to be John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Well, welcome to my world. My best friend and I pretended to be the "Lady Birds" (that's ladybugs in America. Get it? Beatles. Ladybirds.) and we spent hours singing along to Beatles' songs. Their music still dominates my iPhone.
Anyway, aside from the Beatles connection I thought the author did a fantastic job of connecting to the teenage girl. Actually, to any woman. So many of us change ourselves when we start dating: how we dress; how we act; the clothes we wear; and how we treat our female friends. Why is it that we start to forget ourselves? The book doesn't try to answer this question, but it is really fun to read about teenage girls figuring out what's important to them, taking a stand, and doing something about it.
The Lonely Hearts Club gets a bit out of hand if you are an administrator or boy at the high school, but if you are one of the members, you've found yourself a great set of friends who support you in studying, having fun, being yourself, and trying new activities. I wish that for every teenager, boy or girl. How fantastic to have a group that accepts you for who you are without you having to change. Great concept.
I stayed up way too late to finish reading this book last night and am glad I did. It made me smile, laugh, and remember when I was in high school.
Geography Connection
Click to see my updated Google Map. This book really is geography neutral since it could have taken place in any town in America. However, the author sets it in Illinois, middle America. That seems fitting (and I get to list a new state!).
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