I picked this up because I love trivia and thought it sounded like a heartwarming, feel good story. Unfortunately, it was not only way too long, but full of unlikeable, frustrating characters. The last part of the book was what I was hoping the whole book was going to be as I enjoyed that part so much.

A little drawn out and could have been a bit shorter, but it has an excellent cast of diverse characters. This book also makes me want to start attending trivia nights. You never know who you're going to meet at one. I definitely learned a lot about trivia as well which was definitely unexpected. I thought it would be more about the characters themselves, but I didn't mind the added trivia facts. It may not be for some people though.

Great cast of characters with real problems. This quirky group of people made for an entertaining story. I felt like I learned a lot through the trivia too! I felt the book went on a little longer than it should have towards the end which is the reason for the 3 stars.

I really enjoyed this book! I do love some trivia so that was fun.

This is the story of five strangers who get together to form a team for pub quiz trivia night. Donna puts out an advertisement and gathers Bryony, Harry, Jamie and Luke together to form a team. Despite an awkward beginning, they form The Red Hot Quizzy Peppers and make strides to win the grand prize in the tournament. However, each of the participants is dealing with personal issues as well, and as their lives become more intertwined, they realize that they have become more than teammates, they have become friends.

I really liked all of the various bits of trivia included with their quiz nights and in each chapter. It gave such a great backdrop for the characters to work through their issues--family, jobs, relationships, mental health, and money issues are all explored throughout the narrative. I could particularly identify with Bryony, but the cast of characters is wide so there's probably a relatable character or situation for every reader.

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator does a fantastic job giving each character their own personality and allowed me to connect emotionally with the story. While the bits of trivia might have been overwhelming for some readers, I really enjoyed learning some different facts and it helped me to realize that each of us have our own strengths and that working as a team is a great way to go to navigate various situations.

The Lonely Hearts Trivia Night by Lauren Farnsworth is a heartwarming tale that follows a ragtag group of strangers who respond to an ad for a pub quiz team. They call themselves The Red Hot Quizzy Peppers, and each member brings their own unique struggles and aspirations to the table. The narrative delves deeply into their personal journeys, showcasing their growth, pursuit of dreams, and even unexpected romances.

One of the standout aspects of this novel is its unflinching portrayal of mental health issues. The characters grapple with their own challenges, and while they sometimes clash and exchange harsh words, their loyalty to one another is evident. This honest depiction of their struggles and resilience makes them incredibly relatable and endearing. I found myself deeply attached to each character despite wishing for a different outcome for one of them.

As a trivia host, this book felt tailor-made for me. The trivia element added a delightful twist, with each chapter opening with a trivia question that seamlessly tied into the upcoming scenes. This clever integration added a layer of fun and engagement to the reading experience.

If you want a book to lift your spirits, I highly recommend The Lonely Hearts Trivia Night. It's a warm, comforting read that beautifully illustrates the idea that family isn't always about blood but the connections we form with those who support and understand us.

Thank you to Lauren Farnsworth, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media the opportunity to read this novel. It will be on sale on June 18th. I am excited to get a physical copy of this book.

Five strangers team up to form a pub quiz team. Together, the characters form the Red Hot Quizzy Peppers, each contributing a unique skills to their team. Each of them also has personal issues and secrets. As the members come to know one another better over time, they discover that they have more in common than they first thought.

It's undoubtedly an easy and fun read! I really like the trivia part of the book; it gave the narrative a lovely playful touch. I also loved the special addition of each chapter beginning with a trivia question which relates to a scene that will come up later in a chapter. What a fantastic concept!

I liked how each chapter was told from a different character's point of view. It definitely helped with the development of an engaging narrative about the Quiz team members and showed their development as individuals and how they, initially connected only by trivia thing, evolved into each other's most important allies.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I really enjoy it. I think the narrator did amazing job bringing this story to live. I would absolutely listen to another book narrated by her.

Recommend for everyone looking for unique, cozy read!

I thought this book sounded fun and uplifting, secretly hoping it focused more on trivia night than their lonely hearts. No such luck. The story follows five complete strangers who team up to compete in a local pub trivia competition. You receive a lot of their individual dramas upfront before experiencing the camaraderie of them together, which to be fair I do expect a story with an underlying mental health plot to get worse before it gets better. But I am counting on it to get better. I don't mind heavy themes mixed with light comedy, as long as I have connected with the characters and can find myself rooting for them by the end. In this case, I found the characters to be narcissistic and immature for their age group of twenties and thirties, and never became invested in their lives outside of the trivia scenes. It just wasn't as entertaining as I had hoped.

For a debut novel, this story had great premise and I did enjoy the author's writing style. I thought the related trivia question at the beginning of each chapter was clever. And the audio narration is actually quite good!

A heartwarming debut women's fiction story about a group of British strangers who come together to compete in a pub quiz competition for a big cash prize. I liked each of the characters who each had their own life problems (some money, some marriage related, etc). There was a bit of romance too and I thought it was good on audio. Recommended for fans of authors like Clare Pooley or Freya Sampson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!