The Museum of Heartbreak

Bibliography
Leder. Meg. The Museum of Heartbreak. Simon Pulse, 2016.
image from: personal photo

Summary (from amazon.com) 
When it comes to finding her true love, Penelope Marx knows it will happen just like in a book. And when Pen meets Keats, a suave, literary cool guy, her book-loving heart is sure she's found the real thing. This is huge, since she has only two friends, Audrey and Eph. While they are her whole world, they exist beyond her. Audrey's other best friend is rude to Pen, and Eph is always dating a different beautiful girl. Pen and Audrey have an argument, and Pen throws herself into a relationship with Keats. But her conscience knows that he is not perfect, or even perfect for her. Making new friends at the literary magazine helps the protagonist expand her narrow circle. This is a sweet look at first love and the lessons we learn from it. New York City provides the perfect backdrop for the narrative: making out in the stacks at the Strand, having a fight on the subway platform. While heavy foreshadowing (heartbreak is in the title) will all but tell what will eventually happen, the journey is the point. The large cast of characters are varied, and each figure is easily discernible from the others. VERDICT Not required reading, but absolutely an enjoyable ride for fans of NYC and first love.—Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ 

My Thoughts
This was a cute story with a museum twist on the "artifacts" of the narrator's heartbreak. There are lots of literary references and some funny allusions to "Twin Peaks"--a show that is having a revival this year!

Penelope thinks she wants Keats. Little does she realize that her best, good friend Eph is really the one she should love. The story takes some twists and turns, and I'm glad that Pen realizes the fantasy of Keats isn't the reality of Keats.

Cherisse is awful (fake) but people think she's so great. Like the narrator, I really didn't like her.

I loved the idea of the Nevermore journal and think the Dead Poets Phone idea was hilarious! There were several times while reading I thought the author and/or the narrator was me. We have similar experiences and reading habits and nervousness in social situations.

There was also a part in the book that talked about people leaving notes in books. This reminded me of Words in Deep Blue.

This book was a funny read and one I'll add to the SHS collection.