I love a good quirky character novel and The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton hit the nail on the head. Amy's emotional story was both sad, happy, and moving. If you enjoy stories of damaged people rising above their problems, you will love this book.

This book was very moving. By the end I feel like I had journeyed with Amy and her birds.

Amy hoards things, she collects birds, ash trays, lighters although she doesn't smoke, among other things. Her memory box get lost in the towers of stuff, but when it is found, Amy begins to deal with the sorrow and grief that brought her to this point. I thought this was a light hearted read at first but by the end I teared up. The children in the book felt real and believable and they are the light that helps Amy begin to think about the future and not the past.

After reading the first few chapters of this book I was convinced I knew exactly how it was going to go, but since I liked the characters I continued to read. I was pleasantly surprised that this book doesn't end at all how I thought it would.

I read this book very quickly because toward the end I couldn't put it down. I will admit that the main character, Amy's, house was hard to read about at times for me with all the hoarding. Overall, this is a good read and would make a great beach or fireside read on a vacation.

BOOK REVIEW: The Missing Treasures Of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray

For those who love endearingly quirky characters that surprisingly resonate with each of us… Loved it!… ✨😎✨

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books, Lifestyle & Home Ideas for Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

You can see my complete book feature on The Missing Treasures Of Amy Ashton at https://www.thisismyeverybody.com/books/2021-books-new-books-coming-out-in-2021-june-books-tbr-books

♡ A big thank you to Eleanor Ray, Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in my reviews and content are my own… ✨😎✨

The Missing Treasures of Amy Aston (2021) written by Eleanor Ray, is an uplifting mystery centered around missing persons, the passage of time, and the crushing anxiety and grief of not knowing what might have happened. Ray studied at the University of Edinberg, where she earned a M.A. in English Literature, she lives in London with her husband and two children.

Amy Ashton had worked for a large London advertising agency for years and lived alone in a once spacious home. The fact that she “rescued” broken items from neighboring rubbish bins including cracked and broken flower pots that she glued back together—suggests she likely had a psychological disorder. Amy could no longer have her (sympathetic) friends over for tea—there was no room, as she could barely navigate through the mounds of floor to ceiling boxes, bags and miscellaneous “treasures”.

Over a decade ago, her beloved boyfriend Tim vanished with her best friend Chantel. The disappearance was fully investigated by police detective Jack Cooper, who concluded Tim and Chantel had run away together. Amy knew neither Tim (who was on the verge of proposing marriage) or Chantel would betray her.
When Amy finds her engagement ring, a faded unreadable letter, and an equally faded photograph lost and overlooked for years in a musty flower pot, she knew she had a valuable clue. Slowly, with the help of her widowed neighbor Richard, and his two rambunctious boys that spotted a clue in the photograph right away-- Amy began to feel the necessity of sorting through her treasures and cleaning her house. to have Richard and his sons over. The story flashes back and forth between past and present, and readers get a sense of Amy as a former artist/painter, her devotion for Tim, a musician in an up-and-coming Indie-Rock band and his love for Amy. With a shocking conclusion, the narrative of Amy and Tim’s relationship tugs at the heartstrings. (3*GOOD) ~ ** With thanks to NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.

3.5 This author was just brilliant at describing the personality of her title character, Amy. We learn early on that Amy is a buttoned up office worker, seemingly put together and aloof, but that her home life is quite a different story, she is still standoffish but her house is floor to ceiling chock-full of "treasures". There is no doubt that Amy is a hoarder, but the why is what this novel is all about.
The author flips between the past and present to give us, first a back story, and then to finally blend her past and present together.

The damage betrayal can do to someone is amazing. Trying to fix the broken in you by fixing broken things doesn’t work, and Amy has a hard road to travel to get to that understanding.
The plot is curious and developed, while the writing is worthy.

THE MISSING TREASURES OF AMY ASHTON by debut author Eleanor Ray was a bit of a surprise – part romance, part mystery and plenty of details about Amy's hoarding tendencies. Traumatized by the disappearance years before by her boyfriend, Tim, and her best friend, Chantel, Amy collects all sorts of items (lighters, mugs, clocks, newspapers, flower pots and more). Years later, she is still struggling to come to grips with the abandonment (did they run off together?) when a new family with young children moves in next door, forcing her to begin to reevaluate her lifestyle. Elements of the plot are a bit obvious, but readers will develop affection and respect for Amy. THE MISSING TREASURES OF AMY ASHTON received a starred review from Booklist.

I shudder to think of what the pandemic would do to Amy Ashton! Amy, whose boyfriend and best friend vanished one day without any notice, has become a hoarder. While she still manages to get up and go to work every day, and seems to take care of her personal needs and hygiene, she has taken to collect things that fill the emotional hole left by the tragedy of being abandoned. When a new neighbor moves in, and the small children decide that Amy’s garden is a treasure trove just for them, Amy is given a push to make some reluctant changes.

Amy is a difficult character. Even when we understand the root of her behavior, and her stand-offishness, she is not easy to like. I did come to understand her, and to cheer her on as she makes more life-affirming choices over the course of the book. I loved the children next door. They appreciate Amy’s horde at face-value, and welcome her into their lives.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a sweet Contemporary Fiction/Mystery that is a quick and easy read. Amy Ashton once dreamed of becoming an artist but after she suffered a terrible betrayal that she refuses to think about, she withdraws from the world and collects pretty things. Lots of pretty things. Her house is overflowing with pretty things, and Amy now loves pretty things instead of people because they won't leave her.

Amy's quiet life is disrupted when the house next door is sold to a widower, his two young sons and the widower's girlfriend. One of the young boys loves things too, and has a collection of bulldozers of his own. Before long changes in Amy's life begin to multiply, and she finally examines what happened to her. A surprise discovery in her back garden sets her on a mission to find out for herself what happened, and why.

The author does a great job of portraying Amy and how she's taken to hoarding things rather than working through her heartache. I liked how she showed that there is no quick and easy fix to Amy's fear and anxiety, and that no matter how helpful and good-hearted people may be, you can't push or intimidate someone to "get better" on your timeline. I enjoyed seeing Amy's growth throughout the book, and loved the two young boys she befriends. This is a sweet, uplifting book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for an advance copy of this debut. The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton was an enjoyable read, deeper than I was expecting. Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will enjoy this book.

Eleven years ago, Amy Ashton suffered a tragic betrayal and it changed the trajectory of her life. She once dreamed of becoming an artist but, instead, she simply began collecting objects, including lighters, ash trays, crockery and pots of all sizes, bottles, and mugs – just to name a few. Amy treasures her collections because she knows they will never abandon her.

Then a new family, with two young boys, moves in next door. Now Amy is forced to re-evaluate her life as she deals with nosy neighbors, an amorous co-worker, and an interfering government agent. Not to mention the new family that seems to be infiltrating her life and her heart.

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton is a quirky, heart-warming, and engaging book, that includes an unsolved mystery. Although it seemed to move slowly at first, the pace increased as the story moved along. I found it relatively easy to make some accurate assumptions about the outcome, but there were still a few surprises and the story had a satisfying ending. All in all, I thoroughly enjoy Eleanor Ray’s new book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

I thought this was a beautiful book with a character that you just come to know and love so easily! Amy has things that she has a hard time getting rid of and it turns into a hording situation. I loved the way she describes things in her home. Her journey is one that will warm your heart, and I highly recommend this book for readers that enjoy a character story of growth!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

"We all have baggage," replied Amy. She glanced back into her house. "No one travels lightly anymore."
- The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray

I loved reading about 30-something Amy Ashton who leads a solitary life and works a boring office job. Her life once included Tim, her musician boyfriend; Chantal, her best friend; and dreams of becoming an artist. But Chantal and Tim disappeared on the same day 11 years ago, and Amy hasn't been the same since.

Her house, once shared with Tim and Chantal, is now stacked rug to roof with things, things, and more things. Old newspapers, bird figurines, cigarette lighters, flower pots, cookbooks, etc. Amy’s become a hoarder and can't allow anyone to see inside her home lest they take her things or force her to move. When a family with two young boys moves in next door, an accident which is traumatic for Amy occurs in her backyard. This leads to events that impact her future in a very positive way.

In alternating chapters, debut author Eleanor Ray shares important moments of Amy and Tim's relationship which explain Amy’s compulsion to add every ashtray, empty wine bottle, and coffee cup she encounters to her collections. As with many things, once the rationale behind bizarre behaviors is known, actions become more understandable.

Aspects of this poignant novel reminded me of The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, Afraid of the Light by Cynthia Ruchti, and The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons, all novels I loved reading.

The only thing I disliked is the cover. The colorful illustrated design led me to believe this would be a lighthearted comedy, and that sells this story quite short. I'm eager to read whatever Eleanor Ray writes next. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for a review copy; all opinions are my own.

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton is quirky, off-beat, and compulsively readable. I have a new appreciation and understanding of hoarders. Fans of Eleanor Oliphant will enjoy this one - a good summer read!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC,

This was a charming read although a little deeper than I expected. It tells the story of a woman who ends up hoarding her possessions. I think she was afraid to lose anything, even just stuff, after losing two very important people in her life. Definitely recommend this one!

4.5 ⭐️‘s
Amy Ashton’s house if full of many treasures. Most would call her a hoarder, but each item is precious to her. When something is broken she sees the beauty in it and lovingly brings it back to life. Having suffered a great loss, she now gathers things to surround her instead of people. When a family with young boys moves in next door she slowly begins to live again and when the past meets her future, she realizes holding onto the broken things in her life might not be the answer, but is she strong enough to overcome and move forward?

I generally liked this book, but the underlying left of discomfort I felt the entire time kept me from finishing. Mental illness gives me a lot of anxiety, and I feel as if it's just not the right time for me to read this book. It might be because I'm coming off of a similar young-kid-eccentric-woman-form-a-friendship story, but it just wasn't something I could get through right now.

Amy Ashton is not your typical literary heroine. She is a hoarder with a painful past. Others may see her home as full of trash and dirty but to Amy her house is perfect; full of the treasures she collects and protects.

The story is told in dual timelines with flashbacks that are linked to specific items in Amy’s collection. Through these chapters the author tells the story of each item’s meaning to Amy, the memories it evokes, and slowly unveils how she became this way, piece by piece; each one waiting to be discovered by the reader like one of Amy’s treasures. These flashbacks also give an insight into who Amy used to be; when she was vibrant and happy and just like any other young woman you might meet.

I really enjoyed this lovely, quirky tale! Uplifting, warm and wistful, this is a beautiful story that will linger long after reading.

** Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in return for an honest review! **

“We all have baggage. No one travels lightly anymore.”

“Her house was fairly full, of course, but that was because it was filled to the brim with treasures.”

#PamelaReads2021 #100BooksIn2021 #TheMissingTreasuresOfAmyAshton #EleanorRay #NetGalleyARC

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray is one of those books I love with quirky characters. If you liked Eleanor Oliphant or The Rosie Project, you will want to read this book. Amy is a hoarder and if you know anything about those who hoard, it’s a form of anxiety. There are almost always deeper issues than simply wanting to hold on to items. I felt such empathy for the main character and could relate to her on a few levels!

Synopsis:

Amy Ashton once dreamed of becoming an artist—of creating beautiful objects. But now she simply collects them. Aquamarine bottles, bright yellow crockery, deep Tuscan red pots (and the odd slow-cooker) take up every available inch of space in her house. Having suffered a terrible tragedy—one she staunchly refuses to let herself think about, thank you very much—she’s decided that it’s easier to love things than people. Things are safe. Things will never leave you.

But when a new family moves in next door with two young boys, one of whom has a collection of his own, Amy’s carefully managed life starts to unravel, prompting her to question why she began to close herself off in the first place. As Amy embarks on a journey back into her past, she has to contend with nosy neighbors, a meddlesome government worker, the inept police, and a little boy whose love of bulldozers might just let Amy open up her heart—and her home—again.

I loved the story and the author’s writing style, I highly recommend that you get it when it comes out on June 8th.