Plot Summary

Miss Lonelyhearts

Nathanael West
Guide cover placeholder

Miss Lonelyhearts

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1933

Book Brief

Nathanael West

Miss Lonelyhearts

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1933
Book Details
Pages

80

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New York City • 1930s

Publication Year

1933

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West follows a jaded newspaper reporter who runs the lonely hearts’ column and finds himself tormented by the painful letters he receives. With a mocking editor and disheartening interactions, he grapples with the despair of his correspondents, culminating in personal and professional crises as he attempts to navigate his obligations and emotional turmoil. Topics include sexual violence, infidelity, and disability.

Dark

Melancholic

Unnerving

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.1

10,589 ratings

69%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Nathanael West's Miss Lonelyhearts is praised for its dark satire and incisive critique of American society. The novel's bleak tone and complex characters receive acclaim, highlighting West's literary craftsmanship. Some critics, however, find the pervasive cynicism and despair overwhelming, detracting from reader engagement. Overall, it's a powerful though unsettling read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Miss Lonelyhearts?

Readers who appreciate dark satire, existential themes, and sharp social critique will enjoy Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West. Similar to Sinclair Lewis's Main Street or F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, this novel appeals to those interested in the moral decay and human despair underlying the American Dream.

4.1

10,589 ratings

69%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

80

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New York City • 1930s

Publication Year

1933

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!