I really enjoyed this! There was so much depth to all of the characters and it allowed their relationships to be really meaningful. They were also all so dedicated to the main cause of the museum and it allowed them to rally around one another.

I love Mike Gayle and his stories will always warm my heart.

We read 'All the lonely people' for book club and we all loved it so I was so excited to pick this one up.
I loved the format and it was so enjoyable to read.

Really enjoyed this heartwarming book about found family and learning how to grieve thru this museum.

This is my second Mike Gayle book and I know I need to go check out his backlist. This book is sweet and sensitive and gives all the feels. It was an unique concept with making a museum of items that would normally be taken to the donation center. I enjoyed the characters and how the story wrapped up.

4.5 🌟! What a lovely story!
The Museum of Ordinary People is a story about remembrance, sentimentality and grief, It talked about Jess who was raised by her single mom and was tasked to clean up and sort through her belongings when the mom suddenly passed away. It hurt her to dispose most of her stuff but she kept 1974 edition of 30 volume encyclopedia her mom gifted her when she was little. But when Jess and her boyfriend was in the process of selling their little apartment, her kept encyclopedia must have to go.

At this point in my life I was also tasked to clean my late aunt’s apartment and I have questions all over place for her but she was not there anymore to answer me. I can see her in every small and big things just as Jess had yet every scrap of her is slipping away. This story was very relatable to most of us. It’s written by Mike Gayle and that alone means it is perfection on its own. The characters are interesting and the whole experience has humor, has pain and most of all has love. I highly recommend!
Thank you Grand Central Pub via Netgalley for the gifted copy to review. I absolutely like this read!

THE MUSEUM OF ORDINARY PEOPLE by Mike Gayle is a soothing read centered around a young woman named Jess whose mother's unexpected death ultimately causes some re-evaluation of Jess's life choices as well as her definition of family. Along the way, she helps create the title museum after cleaning out her mother's home and finding an old set of encyclopedias which meant a great deal to Jess as a child. This novel seems to tie in well with the holiday season as it includes quite a bit of reflecting on past events and on memories and feelings that everyday objects often trigger. Booklist recommends the "moving and heartwarming" title for fans of Rachel Joyce and Freya Sampson.

Look, it wasn’t perfect. There were a few too perfect resolutions for my liking. BUT it was the perfect listen around holiday time. I loved the story, I loved the idea of a Museum of Ordinary People, and I loved the gentleness of it. It was so sweet.

All the Lonely People is on our list of Books Like A Man Called Ove and was a 5-star read. In this book, Jess finds her mother's set of encyclopedias while emptying her house after her mother's death.

When trying to find the encyclopedias, a new home, she comes across a curious museum called The Museum of Ordinary People. I've never read a book quite like this one. The museum was so clever and wonderful. I wish it existed for me to visit in real life.

This is my second book by Mike Gayle, and it was wonderful. The characters are likable and relatable. There are several plots evolving throughout this book, which keeps the pace going briskly along. I enjoyed reading about all the artifacts and the ways in which we choose to remember our loved ones, both happy times and sad. I think the book needed about 50 more pages because so much happens at the very end, it feels rather abrupt. I wanted to know more about Jess and Alex and less about Jess and Guy. I also wish the author had addressed Guy’s misogyny and the effect his behavior had on Jess with more depth. Overall a wonderful unique read that I highly recommend.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

A perfect read for a cozy weekend afternoon where you can curl up under a warm blanket and drink cocoa. Mike Gayle is a skilled writer and gets to the heart of his characters' troubles and motivations. A great fit for lovers of happy endings!

All the Lonely People is on our list of Books Like A Man Called Ove and was a 5-star read. In this book, Jess finds her mother’s set of encyclopedias while emptying her house after her mother’s death.

When trying to find the encyclopedias, a new home, she comes across a curious museum called The Museum of Ordinary People. I’ve never read a book quite like this one. The museum was so clever and wonderful. I wish it existed for me to visit in real life.

Mike Gayle is one of those rare authors that GETS people. He writes grief, joy, friendships, and relationships with all the nuances that real life demands. This is the third book I’ve read by him, and I was swept up in his writing once again.

What I loved about this book was the most utterly unique plot ideas. A museum for all the things in life that are hard to hold on to but too precious in memory to throw away? We’ve all been there. I can’t imagine strolling through an aisle of items that all have a special story attached to them.

The only downfall to this book in my opinion was all the different little side plot deviations that started taking place midway and, partly because of that, how rushed the pacing was at the end. The ending itself was what I wanted for the most part, but how it was written wasn’t.

Solid read, all the good feels. Predictable and unique at the same time. Definitely recommend!

I liked this unusual book that explores the idea of a museum for those meaningful items from life. I liked the characters and found the story and the idea of such a quirky museum, quite charming.

The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle is a lovely story about how someone's old items can represent something so important to them and about how Jess, the main character of this story, decided to turn people's old items into a very special museum. I thought this story was so heartwarming and encouraging, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a charming story to read. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

This was such a great read. The idea behind the whole museum was quite novel to me. I wish it existed in the real world.

The love story was very predictable but the rest of the storyline and writing made up for that.
I could see this being a great poolside or beach read. It’s a lighter story with cute scenarios and can be read leisurely but also quickly. Personally I love these kinds of books sandwiched between the “meaty” books I have to read professionally (mostly long non-fiction).

Definitely adding this title to my library’s recommended reading list!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Mike Gayle - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Jess Baxter is grieving the loss of her mother, made worse by her having to sort through all her mom's belongings to get her house ready to sell. She comes across an old set of encyclopedias that were gifted to her, that changed her life and opened it to possibilities. She couldn't part with them, so brought them home to the apartment she shares with her boyfriend, Gus. Gus hates clutter and harps on her to get rid of the books. Then Luce, her best friend, tells her about a Museum of Ordinary People, full of belongings from others that they couldn't bear to part with. She visits the site, which is in the back of a warehouse owned by Alex, who wasn't even aware of this hidden treasure trove. Jess convinces Alex to let her open the museum to the public. Jess also uncovers other secrets long buried in the process.

I love Mike Gayle's books, full of heartwarming stories, people that you can relate to, and lots of emotions. I love this idea - that the things we keep are so valuable to us shouldn't be tossed with the trash. That it isn't only the rich that deserve to have their things in a museum. This book touched my heart on a personal level as well. Being older and starting to think about what will be left behind for the next generations, it's sad to know that no one wants our collections of dishes, memorabilia, even photo albums. Those things that we have held on to, moved from state to state, will probably just end up in the trash. Too bad this museum doesn't exist for all of us! Loved this book - highly recommended for a heartwarming read!

I am not normally a Contemporary Fiction reader, but The Museum of Ordinary People was a delight. It captures the beautiful in the mundane, the delight of everyday life, and reminds us that everyones life is as messy and complicated as our own. For me, this falls into the same category as Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour bookstore; a book that am happy to recommend to everyone and revisit on a sunny Sunday afternoon. 4.5/5

I found this story to be utterly compelling from the very first page. A fascinating look at ordinary people's lives and their intersection, while simultaneously exploring uncomfortable topics like grief, family trauma, and loss. This is one of my top 10 of 2023 to be sure!

"The Museum of Ordinary People is, then, exactly what it says it is: a museum about and for ordinary men and women like you and me, and the extraordinarily ordinary lives they lead. Perhaps none of us is in line to the throne, perhaps none of us will ever win an Academy Award or walk on the moon but that doesn't mean we haven't made a difference while we're here to the people who love us."
The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle
I so looked forward to reading The Museum of Ordinary People after loving Gayle's previous book, All the Lonely People, so much. Unfortunately, this one fell completely flat for me.
It all started with incredibly flat characters and one of the most boring plots I've ever read. Every single solitary element of this story is predictable, often making it painful and cringey to read.
And don't even get me started on the incredibly abrupt ending. I honestly hate saying this because of the context of the ending that I don't want to spoil here, but everything surrounding that one element was completely ridiculous. Everything was based around an element of the story that is easily forgotten, making such a big "reveal" seem almost laughable.
And again, I feel bad even saying that because of what the reveal is, exactly, but even that doesn't excuse how poorly executed this conclusion is. It's honestly baffling to me.
Given all of that, there were a few elements of the story that I did enjoy and even brought a few tears to my eye. Alas, it was not enough for me to give this book a higher rating than 2 stars.

"The Museum of Ordinary People" by Mike Gayle is a heartwarming and introspective novel that celebrates the beauty of everyday lives. Gayle's storytelling prowess shines as he crafts a narrative that revolves around a community project collecting and showcasing the stories of regular individuals. Through a collection of diverse characters and their anecdotes, the book delves into the small moments and experiences that make up the tapestry of our lives. The author's empathy and keen observation bring depth to each character, making them relatable and endearing. Gayle's exploration of the human condition, relationships, and personal growth is both touching and thought-provoking. This novel reminds us that every individual's story is worth cherishing, and that within the seemingly ordinary lies a world of extraordinary emotions and connections. "The Museum of Ordinary People" is a literary gem that invites readers to reflect on their own lives while appreciating the extraordinary within the ordinary. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.