In a Nutshell: Outlier opinion, sorry. I think my expectations were too high. The book met some of them, but disappointed in other ways. It's still a nice story, but could have been a memorable work with some tweaks.

Story Synopsis:
Jess has recently lost her mother and is struggling to cope with her grief. Her most precious possession from among her mother's belongings is a set of old encyclopaedias, but she has no place to keep them in the apartment she shares with her partner Guy. A friend tells her of an odd place named "The Museum of Ordinary People" that accepts donations of such old, valued things that people love but can't keep. When Jess visits the museum, her life changes, both personally as well as professionally.
The story comes to us in the first person pov of Jess.


While the museum angle is one of the key story arcs, the book actually contains a mesh of interconnected tracks.
1. All things related to the Museum of Ordinary People.
2. Jess's relationship with her long-term boyfriend Guy.
3. Jess's struggle accepting the death of her mother. (This track begins a year back and moves ahead to join the contemporary timeline.)
There are also two relatively minor tracks that aren't elaborated upon until the final quarter of the book: the identity of Jess's father, and the mysterious reason the old owner of the museum Mr. Barclay willed his entire belongings to a complete stranger and current owner, Alex Brody.

Of all of these, my favourite by far was the one about the museum. It was almost flawless! Had the entire story been set only around this track, this book would have been a five star read for me. I loved the idea of the museum and the intention of the owners. I also relished seeing Jess and Alex give their best to the restoration. The geek in me was mighty pleased.

Jess's grief over her mother's passing comes a close second. These sections were very heavy on the emotions and some of the content got to me. I ended up taking unplanned breaks whenever these sections came up because my mind constantly wandered into thoughts of what I would do when I inevitably have to handle the same situation in the future for my parents. I loved the writing but hated the way it stirred up sad musings.

The remaining tracks generated mixed feelings. Jess's lack of communication and openness with Guy was frustrating, and the issues with their relationship were too repetitive and dragged. The secret behind Alex receiving the bounty from Mr. Barclay was worth waiting for but came too late. I wish it had been explored more. The mystery behind Jess's dad's identity was my least favourite part of the story. It was too neat.

The secondary character development is quite good. Alex, Jess's best friend Luce, Jess's old neighbours Dougie and Maggie, the museum helpers Dec, Paul and Angel - all had interesting and distinct personalities. But Jess somehow didn't win my heart despite the outstanding opportunity she had. Her personality wavers between underconfident to overconfident and it was difficult to see both aspects at work simultaneously.

One thing that bugged me was the shoddy detailing of Jess's character. Her age isn't mentioned till the 68% mark. Her race is mentioned once in passing as Black but it isn't used anywhere in the story. (By "used", I mean that she is written like every other stock white character – there is nothing to make her stand out as Black. If you missed that one reference, you wouldn’t even think of her as Black.) It felt like the mention of 'Black' was a token gesture just to ensure racial diversity. There's nothing about her hair, height, looks,... I've always seen male authors go to the extreme when it comes to describing female characters (rather, their physical attributes.) This book was on the other end of the spectrum. I simply couldn't visualise Jess because of this, and this probably increased my level of disconnect.

The book could also have been better in its plot development. There are too many convenient coincidences, some of which were tough to digest. The last 20% in particular goes over the top in making supposedly shocking revelations and tying up the loose ends. Until the 75-80% mark, I was hovering between 3.5-3.75 stars. The finale crashed the rating.

All in all, there are many enjoyable attributes to the book, and if you avoid using your inner critic too much, you'll certainly like it a lot more. My inner critic unfortunately refuses to die. As such, I liked it but didn't love it. The slow pace didn't help.

I haven’t read a Mike Gayle book before, though I have heard a lot of his writing. So it’s disappointing to have such a flat first experience of his work. Nevertheless, I shall definitely try out more of his books to see if they match me better.

3.25 stars. Mine is a strong outlier review, so do check other positive reviews before you take a call about this book.

My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Museum of Ordinary People”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is my favourite book of the year so far (and it's number 69). It was feel good, the characters were believable and likeable (apart from the boyfriend) and it was such a different premise that it was interesting. I want to visit this museum. The whole story of Jess's life threatens to unravel as we near the end, but thanks to the strength of her relationships and friendships we see how past mistakes can be made right in the present. Just a lovely read #netgalley #themuseumofordinarypeople

Meet Jess. An only child of a single parent who is about to undertake the heartbreaking job of clearing her late Mum's house of all her possessions and who, despite offers from her boyfriend, best friend and family friends, is determined to do it alone.
One of the very few things she saves is the set of encyclopaedias that her mum bought her when she was younger to help her through school.
Cut to a year later and that pile of books is still in her hallway, but the dilemma of what to do with them becomes more urgent as, along with her boyfriend Guy, they are selling up her mums house and his flat to buy their first home together. When her friend tells her about a quirky little museum that takes people's unwanted items, she heads down there to see if they will take them off her hands with no idea how much her life is about to change.

This was a heartwarming read with a great story and some very relatable characters. The whole concept is just lovely and will make you think more about your own possessions and those of your loved ones.

Another good book by this author! I enjoyed the storyline and the way that it was told in both before and after in some chapters. The characters were well developed and I liked that both the main characters had back stories.

I really enjoyed reading this - definitely recommended!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It’s so difficult to get rid of belongings from a loved one. You feel like you are throwing part of their life away. How good would it be to be able to donate these possessions to a museum that holds them for you and takes away any guilt! This is the Museum of Ordinary People!
Jess take a set of encyclopaedias her father bought her when she can’t bear to get rid of them! She finds the owner of the museum has died and left it to someone with no apparent connection. Jess persuades him to let her reinvent the museum before the premises have to be sold.
A lovely read which leaves you championing the cause!!

I love Mike Gayle's books and I was excited to be given a preview copy of this book. I absolutely loved the idea of a Museum of Ordinary People. I like to visit Museums and I find them interesting. As someone who has inherited a lot of things I know that it is not necessarily expensive or valuable items that define a person. There are many things that I would have loved to keep, but there was no room.
This book has a dual timeline of Jess when she is clearing out her Mother's home and a year later in the present time. It is easy to follow.
There was some predictable plots, but some twists that I really did not see coming. The main drama happened in the last part of the book.
I enjoyed reading this book, it tackles the subject of grief well. It is an emotional read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

This was a moving exploration into grief but also a hopeful story of self-empowerment. I thought the concept of the museum was heart-warming and it was wonderful to watch it give Jess a much-needed sense of purpose.

Jess was a quietly charming heroine. Her appreciation and admiration of her mum was so touching to read about. Similarly, her love for museums was so endearingly pure. From the get go, I liked the kind-hearted yet secretive Alex. I was intrigued to know the mystery surrounding him, how he fell into his inheritance and the origin of his scars. Despite the drama, none of the characters within the story were flashy or over-the-top. They were something exceedingly better: kind. Jess was such a caring person and was likewise surrounded by generous people, making this book, on the whole, a delight to read.

Nevertheless, Jess' indecision regarding her relationship with her boyfriend became quite frustrating. Also, one of the book's big reveals completely took me by surprise, but not in a good way. I felt blindsided by the discovery and thought it undermined previous events. In contrast, the other big reveal was weaved naturally into the novel, with new breakthroughs and developments dotted throughout.

Unfortunately, so much was left to the last few chapters that I felt like the book was wrapped up too quickly. I still had so many unanswered questions. So, despite being mostly a delight to read, the book still left something to be desired.

OVERALL: With a charming concept and an even more charming cast of characters, this was an overall enjoyable read. Unfortunately, it was let down by its rushed ending.

A heartwarming read. When Jess's mum dies she is left wondering what to do with her late mothers things, she comes across some encyclopedia's that her mum brought for her that she treasured as a child. She doesn't want to throw them away and has no room to keep them. This is where she meets Alex, the new owner of the museum of ordinary people, the holder of memories people don't want to throw away. Jess starts her adventure at the museum, which brings hope, love and sadness. a lovely relaxing easy read.

Oh, Mike Gayle, you have done it again! Your story of what do you do with a treasured object when their owner passes away was so moving it reduced me to tears. All the characters are extremely diverse and the stories they tell kept me enthralled from the first page to the last. I was really sad to leave the world of Jess and Alex.

This is a beautifully crafted story by an exceptionally gifted author. An easy 5 stars from me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
A lovely cosy romance that you think you've got the story line sorted but nope half way through the book things start to change.
Each time you think I knew that was coming an additional plot twist comes into play.
Ending up being a page turner that I can highly recommend

Oh this book really pulled at my heart strings! Mike has such a way with words, it all just felt so real. A lot of heartache in this book, but definitely worth reading. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Thank you #netgalley

I think everyone will identify with Jess and understand that emotional attachment to things, the precious memories associated with the items themselves and of the people they belong to. It can be really hard to clear out cherished items, particularly after a bereavement. Everyone knows it has to be done recognising that the things often have no use or particular value and are taking up valuable space. As Jess clears her mother’s house, her childhood home it invokes a whole lot of memories associated with her mum and her early life. “How could I possibly empty the contents of Mum’s house, when just like King Midas, I felt that everything she owned, no matter how ordinary, had been turned to gold by her touch”.

I was really taken with the idea of a Museum of Ordinary People, full of items that people really could not bear to give away, “a museum celebrating the lives of ordinary people, revering their possessions, their legacies, their stories.” It was very intriguing that Alex had inherited this museum along with a business from someone he didn’t know, knowing nothing about the museum or why he had been bequeathed it. It was quite touching when he finally found out the reason.

There is a small museum not far from where I live called The Wee Museum of Memory and it’s full of exactly the kind of things in the museum in the book. It’s a ‘hands on’ museum so you are allowed to touch the items and the staff there run regular reminiscing sessions. Personally, I have a collection of family photos from the late 1800s. I have no idea who most of the people are but I can’t bear to throw them out!

Mike Gayle is a wonderful storyteller and The Museum of Ordinary People is an engaging and emotional read. He really captures the feelings of sadness and grief following a bereavement, and the conflicted nature of having to clear out what were precious items to a beloved relative. Despite the sorrow though, it’s still a heart-warming read with an uplifting conclusion.

Pleasant easy read.
I enjoyed this as it was not complicated or demanding. The two time lines were very simple to follow.
Jess and Guy a couple drifting until Jess discovers the Museum and its current owner Alex. Jesse's mother has died leaving her devastated. The Museum gives her a challenge and brings new meaning to her life.
A couple of my mysteries keeps the reader involved.

I'm late discovering this author and have been trying to play catch up with his back catalogue. But, I couldn't resist getting my hands on an early copy of this, his latest book.
Obviously, going by what I have read of his work, my bar was set very high but he absolutely smashed any expectation I had going in.
So... Jess is still suffering the loss of her mother who died a year since. Back then, she took a week off to completely empty her house, the one she herself grew up in, shunning every offer of help. Back in the now, she is faced with a dilemma. One of the things she did save was a set of encyclopedias which have stayed in the same bags-for-life which they were transported in to the flat she shares with her boyfriend. But they really have to go as they are selling up and moving into a bigger, family home, and so Jess faces a problem. But then her best friend tells her about this place. A quirky museum where people take stuff they no longer want but can't throw away. A place where people can take things they have found, in skips, dumped, in attics, to save them if their owners ever come for them. And so that's where Jess goes...
And that's all I am saying as I really don't want to spoil anything. Suffice to say, it's chock full of the most wonderful characters, all so well described that I was well able to watch the action unfold in my minds eye. So great both they and the descriptions were. I do love it when that happens, and it doesn't happen very much. So it's kinda special and really does bring me closer to the book.
OK so there are places where it's a bit cheesy but it's that genre book. So you'd expect it. But... we do get a LOT of emotion along the way. Tears were shed. Laughs, so many of them too. And so much warmth...
It's a captivating tale that really did suck me in right from the start and, by the end of the book, I was really trying to slow down and savour my last few minutes with characters that I had grown quite fond of along the way...
And... being a bit of a hoarder with stuff, I really wish that the museum was real...
All in all, a cracking read. definitely another winner and I really must get on with that back catalogue.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Mike Gayle has hit another home run in terms of book brilliance.

From such a simple concept, grows a fabulous cast of characters, and an incredibly heartwarming story, that takes a few unexpected turns along the way.

As much as I loved the characters, it was what they were trying to do, the idea behind The Museum of Ordinary People that really touched my heart. It is such a fabulous idea, I have no clue if it's based on anywhere real but if this doesn't exist already somewhere in the world, then it really should do.

In fact I think Mike Gayle should set up his own museum, as it is such a wonderful idea and would bring a bit of love into the world. So long as it doesn't detract from writing more brilliant books.

I really enjoyed meeting Alex and found his story as compelling as Jess's. And I was just hooked on everything to do with the book.

I am once again loving the direction this author has been taking with his most recent books, this is definitely an author going from strength to strength with every book he writes, and as a reader and big fan, I'm very happy to go along for the ride.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton, and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I really enjoyed the whole concept behind the museum, coupled with some really likeable characters, this was a lovely read.
There were some interesting plot shenanigans, although the romantic direction was obvious from the outset.
It would be wonderful if this kind of museum was introduced in every town, especially with so many empty retail spaces. It would be a lovely community project.

A beautifully heartfelt journey of love, loss and life following a mysterious collection of stories - stories about people and their lives, and the memories we can't always leave behind us.

Painfully poignant, Gayle once again created a story that is fully captivating and unputdownable, Full of stunningly real people, who are impossible not to connect to and deep emotions that will stay with you long after the last page.

An absolutely beautiful book! Why is this the first Mike Gayle book I have read?? I will definitely be reading his other books as soon as possible if this belter is anything to go by!!
Such an original idea for a story with excellent character development. I really feel like I know these characters and was always rooting for Jess and Alex! Just finished the book and am missing them already!
Very emotional at times too and you get to know all the characters so well, it really does feel so real at times and will stay with you long after you finish the book.
Beautiful book.

Encouraged by the popularity and praise for Mike Gayle’s work I decided to read The Museum of Ordinary People despite the fact that the premise has more than a few similarities to Ruth Hogan’s The Keeper of Lost Things.

Thirty-one-year-old Jess Baxter was sent reeling by the sudden death of her mother and the woman who single-handedly raised her a year ago. In order to put the family home up for sale Jess needs to tackle the unenviable task of going through her mother’s possessions and in doing so unearths an array of objects and is reminded of the previous memories attached to them. Chief amongst these cherished items are a complete set of encyclopaedias that Jess’s mum gave her at age eleven to encourage her passion for learning. It is these volumes that Jess can’t bring herself to say goodbye to and hauls back to the minimalist London flat of financier boyfriend, Guy. When Guy decides to put his home up for sale and find a new forever home for him and Jess, it also means time is up for the old encyclopaedias blocking the hallway. Jess is on a quest to rehome them when best-friend Luce hears about a museum that is the saviour of items that are precious to ordinary people but, for a variety of reasons, are unable to be kept or stored and in need of a new home.

Travelling to the quirky museum located in the back of a clearance firm in South London, Jess is greeted by the bemused new owner, Alex, who has no idea why he has just inherited the business or the bizarre collection of items, all saved by the former owner. Seeing the collection, all carefully labelled, reignites Jess’s dreams of a career in museum curatorship that she spent years studying for but failed to achieve. Hoping to organise the collection and officially open the museum to the general public means not only convincing Alex to change his mind about selling up, but also appeasing jealous boyfriend Guy who can’t understand why Jess’s project means so much to her.

Overall I was hugely disappointed in my first Mike Gayle novel. Although the premise was a little too sentimental for my usual taste by rights this should have been an easy feel-good read. The pace throughout is beyond sluggish, the plot telegraphed right from the off and a late plot twist felt destabilising. The prose in functional at best and the entire novel is bogged down by the fact that it features a dual narrative with the component from a year ago (seeing Jess clear her mother’s house) adding little to the novel bar introducing a contrived plot point that illustrates some memories really are better off staying buried. Alongside this two glaringly convenient and unbelievable coincidences underpin the plot and the novel is ridiculously drawn-out. Derivative up-lit that adds nothing memorable to the growing canon of life-affirming novels with empathy at their core.

This is the first Mike Gayle book I've read but it certainly won't be the last. This book is so me. I loved every page of it. If a museum like this existed, I would love to visit it or even better, work in it. Brilliant.