The Museum of Ordinary People

A Heartfelt Journey Through Love, Loss, and Memory

I am not sure how to start this review. It’s been a long time since I’ve connected so deeply with a book. I have laughed, I have cried, and now I’m just sad that it’s over. I loved Jess as a character—her struggles, her determination, and her vulnerability made her feel so real, like someone I could meet on the street. And Alex? His journey was so profoundly personal that it struck a chord in ways I didn’t expect. Mike Gayle has written a story that’s not just about loss and love but about how we hold onto the past while trying to move forward.

At its heart, The Museum of Ordinary People is a love letter to the things that shape us—the objects, memories, and relationships that stay with us long after the moment has passed. The concept of a museum dedicated to everyday objects, imbued with emotional weight, is both touching and thought-provoking. It’s such a clever and poignant way to explore grief, identity, and connection. The way Gayle brings the museum to life made me think about my own keepsakes and the stories they hold. It’s impossible not to reflect on what we cherish and why.

The pacing of the story is steady, blending humor and heartache seamlessly. Gayle’s writing is warm and conversational, drawing you in and making you feel like a trusted confidant in the characters’ lives. Jess and Alex’s evolving relationship is handled with such care; their interactions are honest and tender, full of the messy emotions that make their struggles feel so authentic. Even the secondary characters feel well-developed, adding depth to the world and enriching the themes of community and understanding.

If there’s any criticism, it’s that some moments felt a bit predictable, especially as the story neared its conclusion. While satisfying, the resolution tied things up a little too neatly for my taste. Life, after all, is rarely so tidy. I would have happily listened to one more hour to get a more solid conclusion, one that lingered a bit longer in the uncertainty that felt so true to the rest of the story. However, that doesn’t take away from the emotional resonance of the journey. Gayle’s ability to navigate complex emotions without veering into melodrama is a testament to his skill as a storyteller.

Ultimately, this is a book that stays with you. It’s not just about the characters or the plot—it’s about how it makes you feel, how it reminds you of your own stories, and how it encourages you to cherish the ordinary moments that make life extraordinary. I want to get this book into as many hands as possible because it’s a reminder that even the smallest things can hold the greatest meaning. For that, and so much more, it’s a solid four stars.

I loved the premise of this book, so I was very excited to pick it up. I was expecting a heart warming story, similar to Freya Sampson's books. It was kind of like that, but possibly I had too high expectations, because I never fully got into the book. It definitely wasn't bad but it felt like it was missing some heart and charm.

I also didn't feel connected to the characters enough to care to keep reading through the slower parts. I had a hard time understanding the main character's motivations, and the decisions she was making just didn't make sense to me.

While from the blurb, it might seem the book is just about the museum, it really is more about the main character's life in general and her relationships. One of the other main plotlines is that the main character is dealing with the loss of her mother. I thought this was handled quite well. The book goes back and forth between two timelines, one where she's going through her moms stuff, and her journals to clear out her home after her passing.

Jess also has a boyfriend, Guy, that you will be begging her to dump throughout the whole book, but it really will take muuuuch longer than it should for some reason.

I also enjoyed the overall stance that objects are really big parts of our lives, they tell our stories, and we have emotional and physical connections to them. How we can learn about people through their belongings. How even the mundane can be someone's treasure.

Overall rating: 3.5⭐️

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!