The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton
Eleanor Ray
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray. I have to say that I was especially pleased with the subject matter of this book and how the story unfolded. Hoarding, a form of OCD, is a devastating and alienating mental health issue and a truly fascinating one. Amy Ashton was remarkably well balanced in her work life, keeping her work space very simple and orderly, and also in her time before her partner’s disappearance. I found this curious, yet read on.
Ms. Ray developed the characters fully and beautifully and I enjoyed the interplay between the past and the present. Amy’s best friend Chantal and Amy’s boyfriend Tim, were well rounded character studies, ringing true and believable. The author was also very sensitive to the serious hoarding affliction, and through Richard, the new neighbour, we were able to feel his generous and compassionate nature and bless him for his gentle dealings with Amy’s anxiety.
Some characters or instances though, were not believable at all, beginning with Charles, the very young boy, who was created to bring Richard and Amy together in a somewhat contrived way as well as act as detective in solving key clues leading to the location mystery of the construction site. The tolerances that were permitted between Amy and Richard in the presence of his partner made me incredulous. What partner would tolerate a new woman neighbour to walk through her house to the back yard saying she needed to talk to Richard, then accept his invitation to lie in the grass with the him and his kids to enjoy the stars. The author had clearly made out Amy to be a very respectful person so this behaviour did not ring plausible in my mind. The many years of Chantal not reaching out to her best friend in some way to explain her and Tim’s disappearance was also unbelievable even though a weak excuse was given for the delay.
Without giving away part of the story line I would like to say that reading how Amy felt about her possessions was very interesting and eye opening. She talked to some objects, had great plans for others. We learned this through Ms Ray’s skilled prose. Ultimately, Amy’s road to “improving” felt far too slick and therefore contrived. I did not believe that mental health could be so easily managed.
I am glad to have been given an opportunity to read about this mental health issue within an intriguing story. Most certainly a page turner!

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton was a delight to read. I enjoyed the main character - flaws and all. I found myself rooting for her. She is suddenly left behind by her BFF and boyfriend - in the same day they both go missing, and she's grieving their loss, and has zero closure. It's heart breaking that she develops "hoarding" through the 11 years they've been gone. She no longer trusts people and wants to just be alone with her plethora of things that continue to accumulate. She finds meaning in the items she has hoarded, believing they won't ever let her down, whereas people seemingly do let her down.

At the beginning of the novel, she ends up getting new neighbours, and the boys are able to break down the barriers that Amy has with others. She starts to get out of her shell, and neighbourly relationships ensue. Amy and the boys were fun to read.

This book gave me Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine vibes. I love those types of characters/novels, and this one was no exception. There was also a bit of intrigue into the flashbacks that the author did great with. I found myself anticipating the historical chapters to gain insight into all that happened in the past. I loved Amy, the boys, and Richard, and felt like I was right there with them throughout the novel.

This book was all about second chances and accepting people's flaws/baggage. I would highly recommend this novel, especially if you loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. If there would be one critique, is that the end felt a bit quicker paced than the rest of the novel, but overall, this novel is a must read!

Many thanks to the author Eleanor Ray, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC copy of this amazing novel in exchange for an honest review.

Amy Ashton is like many of us, she holds on to life through things that make us feel good. Her obsession however for what she can control is overwhelming, made me feel uncomfortable, and created a strong picture of her frailty. So in that way this book took on compulsive behaviour and how it can separate us from reality.
With a vast collection of characters, each placed in the chapters to fulfill their part in Amy's life, you are kept guessing as to where the story is going. I did find it dragged on without an end in sight sometimes as she and her fellow characters slowly reached some form of epiphany and understanding.
I could understand Amy's behaviour based on what has occurred to her but felt that the supporting characters were a backdrop and somewhat cliche and one-dimensional in their role. I would have appreciated a more solid reference to the need for professional therapy, although family/friend support is always essential. The book played out an easy route to normalcy, anyone who has been subjected to a family/friend who was/is addicted in any form might take some offense at the simple ending.

This is a story about Amy Ashton who has had something traumatic happen and how she has overcome eventually her struggles.

I found myself empathizing with the main character and to find out the truth so many years later - devastating.

In the end a feel good story.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, I enjoyed the mystery and I loved all the descriptions of Amy Ashton's 'treasures' they really made her house come alive. I found myself unsympathetic to Amy and her story in the beginning but warmed up to her as I read. My issue is with the ending, it felt rushed, it felt unbelievable, and I felt that some added dramatic details were completely unnecessary to the story. For a book that was extremely charming and quirky throughout, the ending just didn't match up for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bravo on this wonderful debut novel!
I did get a little bit of "Eleanor Oliphant" vibes here although Eleanor was more endearing to me and Amy is a more serious character.

I was engrossed in this book from start to finish. I loved the writing style and could not put it down.

Amy Ashton has been suffering for a long time. Her boyfriend and best friend just disappeared one day and she has not seen or heard from them in over ten years. She lives a sad and lonely life and her coping mechanism is to "collect" things.

I really did not know the direction this book would take as I did not read up on it too much. The chapters are filled with some flashbacks as well as present day happenings as Amy tries to figure out what really happened to her best friend and the man she thought she was going to marry.

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada (Gallery books) for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.

Oh this book in emojis..🐦🦜🦉🏺☕️🕰🍷🍾🚜🗑

Amy Ashton suffered a great loss in her life and in the 11 years since has become a hoarder. I loved this book which allowed us into Amy's world and to see the reasons behind her hoarding of everyday items. "Possessions" helped her work through her grief. Whenever she saw something with beauty in it she had to possess it and these things become both a source of comfort and a burden to her. When a new family moves into the house next door Amy finds her space invaded and discovered a hidden secret that will change her life. The story unfolds and we learn what has brought her to this turning point in her life as she navigates social interactions and learns to let go. .I loved the characters with their real-ness and the unfolding of the story as it explored events from the past in combination with current time.

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton is an uplifting book about a woman nearing middle age who has lost her way. After her best friend and boyfriend disappear, she is unable to move on with her life and closes herself off to other relationships and people. She finds solace in collecting items from thrift stores to the point that they overwhelm her home. Her new neighbours and their two young boys mark a turning point for Amy, and help her solve the mystery of her best friend and boyfriend's disappearance may years earlier. This is a great book for fans of Eleanor Olifant is Completely Find and Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. Highly recommended.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of this well written story had my full attention! Amy is a hoarder - she can barely make her way from one room to the next in her small house, located in a town just outside of London. She has stacks of newspapers, boxes, bottles and bric-a-brac EVERYWHERE! Amy is indulging in shopping therapy. As the story progresses in its leisurely way, we are given hints that Amy suffered a great and unexpected loss.

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Out of the blue, Amy's beloved boyfriend, Tim, ghosted her. On the very same day, her best friend Chantal also disappeared. No farewell notes, no emails, no texts, no phone calls - from EITHER of them! Amy didn't want to believe what all of their mutual friends had concluded - that Tim and Chantal had eloped - but after 11 years, it was hard to come up with any different explanation.

Amy is left in limbo, and instead of looking for a therapist to help her deal with her feelings of abandonment and grief, Amy buys beautiful things that give her momentary pleasure. (No judgement here: many of us have been there, done that.) But Amy has gone to an extreme, and the neighbours and the neighbourhood council want Amy to reduce the massive clutter in her home - contractors can't even get in to repair the chimney, for goodness sake!

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Whether Amy likes it or not, Amy's life is going to change in drastic ways. New neighbours move in with two rambunctious little boys. One day, those rambunctious boys sneak into her backyard and topple one of several towers of clay planter's pots. Amy discovers a RING among the shards of clay - which starts her thinking..... and soon she is catapulted out of her emotional lethargy into a full-fledged investigation as to WHY Tim and Chantal disappeared from her life. In the meantime, Amy develops a close friendship with the new, handsome neighbour and those two young rascals.

You will have to read this book to find out what Amy discovers about Tim and Chantal, and what the future holds in store for her. This story rambled a bit, and I was not happy that Amy didn't seek help or counseling for her prolonged feelings of grief and abandonment. And I really think it would have been a nice touch to get Marie Kondo in on the act - or a professional like Marie Kondo.

Decluttering on your own can be an impossible task with someone as chronically unhappy as Amy. "Things" were the only sure source of Amy's happiness. To divest herself of these tangible proofs is a Herculean task, and friends handing her stickers to label what stays and what goes seemed unrealistic to me. However, this was a light, engaging story, and had me looking askance at my storage room, fully determined to toss all the Christmas ornaments I stopped putting out years ago! Someone else (my lucky grand nieces and nephews!) will get a use out of those pretty ceramic carousels, and crystal angels and ballerinas that used to decorate my artificial tree. (I got rid of the huge tree ages ago, but the delicate angels and ballerinas are still hard to part with. Oh dear, maybe I had better put in a call to Marie?......)

I'm rating this charming, rambling read a 3.5 out of 5. Highly recommended reading BEFORE you lose the nerve to start your spring own cleaning!

This was an entertaining read. I enjoyed every cringeworthy, humorous and heart warming moment. I liked experiencing Amy’s change in perspective as the novel progressed--her collections started to let her down and 'some' people maybe weren't so bad. I enjoyed the irony in her attempts to be bristly, abrupt and avoid caring and/or making connections with people. She wasn't all that successful as the people in her life viewed her much differently than she viewed herself. I think this is true of humans in general in that we don't always recognize our resiliency and strength because we get so wrapped up in problems, we forget to take a look at what we are able to accomplish. I'm also fascinated by the impact external events have on the choices people make/do not make and in turn, experience their life. This novel delivered on that for me. I suspect this novel will appeal to anyone who enjoyed ‘the Rosie project’ or ‘the kiss quotient' as it has similar themes.

Honestly, this is my favourite book so far this year. Everything about it was good and unexpected. There was something lovely about the way it was written, even when it turned into a mystery that I wasn't really expecting.

I definitely recommend it and I think it will be a popular pick this year.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

A beautiful heartwarming story of young love,friendship growing pains, loss, grief, and hope. A delightful comical, quirky, and heartwarming book that had me hooked from beginning to end. There is a mysterious component to the storyline that keeps the reader guessing what really happened to cause all that happened to the main character Amy. The book will not disappoint.

Refreshingly unique books like this are such a marvelous surprise. Interestingly, the topics are not light but the writing style is not oppressive, yet it is powerful. Difficult to describe but that was my experience. Amongst the main themes are courage and letting go which go hand in hand.

Amy Ashton lives in a house alone, just the way she likes it. Two of the closest people to her had abandoned her without explanation eleven years before and her way of coping is to collect things to cling to and love. She feels compassion for special treasures, almost as though they were animate. She had also been a gifted artist but gave up her passion and began work in administration. Curling up into a shell is escapism for her. But new neighbours move in next door and turn her life inside out. Charles unknowingly teaches her and enriches her. Amy makes many discoveries about her life and those around her and is forced to confront her obsessive habits.

The illustrations in each chapter heading are charming...details like that escalate a good book to a great book. General Fiction readers, do seek this out. It will particularly appeal to those also interested in Women's Fiction. It is gentle yet has oomph and strength.

My sincere thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this delightful ARC! I enjoyed it very much.

This is a truly wonderful book with a deeply troubled main character who you will love. Amy’s life was going well. She had a kind and understanding boyfriend, a best friend that had stuck by her since childhood, a good job and a flourishing art career. Suddenly Amy’s life imploded and the only way she can keep some semblance of normality is by filling her life with material items that have been thrown away. By giving these items a place in her home she is not only surrounding herself with things that won’t leave her but giving these items a safe place where they are loved.

The author has created such a unique and quirky character with Amy. The supporting characters are well thought out and each fits perfectly into Amy’s life. Charlie is an adorable little boy who is old before his time and he is just who Amy needs in her life. He accepts her just as she is, Amy doesn’t have to pretend with Charlie. I loved the interactions between Amy and Charlie.

There were a couple things in the book that didn’t seem necessary to the story but overall it is a lovely book that flows smoothly from chapter to chapter. The ending seemed a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book. I would have liked things to happen slower.

You really can’t go wrong with this book. It will leave you smiling and feeling content. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.