I liked this novel a whole lot. It is very touching and sweet. It kind of hit home for me in ways I didn't expect. In many ways, this book is about tragedy and vulnerability in the grieving process. I thought the ending was ever so slightly wrong for the tone of the rest of the book, and that's what knocked that 5th star off of my rating.

At first, I was honestly not sure if I would like this book...but by the end, Eleanor Ray won me over and I will gladly read anything else she writes.

Amy Ashton suffers a big loss in her life and it really changes her completely. She shuts herself off from everyone and everything so that she will never be hurt again. Years go by with everything in her life remaining the same until a new family moves in next door to her. This family helps her to see that she wants more and actually does have room for new people in her life.

This book was sad and somehow so charming at the same time. Even when I was unsure about it at the beginning, I could appreciate that it was written beautifully and the characters were really captivating. I felt very immersed in the story within a couple chapters and had to know what would happen in the end. After a bit of a twist where the full story comes together, we get the most lovely and hopeful resolution for Amy that I absolutely loved.

Amy Ashton is not your typical hoarder. She's a lovable, fragile woman who just happens to collect things. It takes two young neighbors moving in next door and one broken terracotta pot to bring Amy's mysteries to the surface.

What I loved about this book by Eleanor Ray is how smart it is...everything Amy collects, and the reason she collects these specific things are revealed in good time. The characters are engaging, the dialogue "real" and often funny, and the setting is vibrant.

If you loved Eleanor Oliphant, if you liked The Cactus, if you enjoyed Evvie Drake, you will love The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

4 stars
Wow! I was not expecting this story to be so moving.
It reminded me a lot of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
There’s a secret dark background that resulted in trauma that everyone around Amy questions.
This leads her to start gathering a large collection of what appear to be inconsequential items, but to her are items that she loves. She’s almost buried herself in her own home with how many items she has collected.
You get to witness her metamorphosis as she confronts what brought her here. It’s so sweet and unexpectedly touching!

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray is an excellent contemporary fiction/women’s fiction novel that kept me interested throughout.

Amy Ashton has always had a beat to her own drum, however a traumatic experience involving her long-time boyfriend and whom she thought was her loyal friend and their out-of-nowhere disappearance, sends Amy into a pitfall of isolation, confusion, and hoarding. When she ends up meeting a wonderful man, Richard, with his adorable kids, is she able to self-reflect, get the help she needs, and decide herself to be a willing participant in her own recovery? Is she able to move on from being hurt in order to find happiness and love again?

I really enjoyed how Amy is unique and offbeat. She is real, she is flawed and imperfect, and she has her hang ups, okay so a few, but that is what makes her endearing. You want to hug her, be her champion, and help her find a second chance at life. I loved seeing the process she goes through during the novel, the awakening, the acceptance, and the ability to find her happiness once again.

I also really enjoyed the twists and turns that I really, really did not see coming. Bravo!

Such a unique and wonderful read. Great for anyone that loves contemporary fiction and a overcoming your past for a second chance type of novel.

5/5 stars

Thank you to Gallery Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/8/21.

I find myself drawn to female characters who are sweet and good-hearted, but a little quirky. Amy Ashton was just that sort of character. Hurt by her best friend and boyfriend who she assumed disappeared together, she lived a hoarder existence, believing that "things" couldn't hurt her the way that people could.

This book engaged me from the very beginning. I couldn't get through the pages fast enough, wanting to know what was the truth behind the disappearance of Amy's best friend and boyfriend. I continually rooted for Amy, hoping she'd eventually find love and happiness.

Readers will be charmed by Amy's endearing peculiarities. The Missing Treasures is a warm and cozy read that will leave readers feeling more than gratified.