Reviews

The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle

mindyb33's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

debc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.5

surlamer7803's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A beautifully written story with characters you truly care about and root for. An uplifting reflection on the people we love and the tangible and intangible ways we remember them. We all have an item that holds special significance to us and reminds us of someone that we love that has moved on from this world but never from our hearts. This book paints a beautiful picture of how those items can remain cherished and cared for even if their original keepers no longer can as well as the beautiful stories and memories that accompany them. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief

melanie2024's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

benitat's review against another edition

3.5

I liked the museum and I liked the characters but some of the story was a little too contrived and some of the emotions didn’t feel right .  

sarahreadsalotofbooks's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

3.0

charl0ttelucy's review against another edition

4.0

This book took me a bit to get into which surprised me because I really enjoy Gayle’s writing style and a few of his other books. However, after persevering I really liked this book. Some “twists” I found were a bit predictable, but on the whole, this was a book filled with emotion, turmoil and several truths. Highly recommend ((:

misrulee's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

culicibae's review against another edition

3.0

At first I felt bad for Jess because it seemed like she didn't get to have any say in how her life was going. Then I got fed up with her because I realized that she was actually just refusing to make any life decisions herself, and would rather other people force her into things. I'm still not sure whether the relationship with Guy was emotionally abusive, or if she just literally never told him what she wanted. I felt if the story had focused less on Jess and more on the Museum, I would have rated the book higher.

rainbowbookworm's review against another edition

5.0

Many years ago I read [b:My Legendary Girlfriend|442087|My Legendary Girlfriend|Mike Gayle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320420450l/442087._SY75_.jpg|814099] and loved it. The following year I read [b:Mr. Commitment|469915|Mr. Commitment|Mike Gayle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1175027896l/469915._SY75_.jpg|562669] and was equally delighted. In fact, I liked it so much, I gave it to my sister Joanne so that she could read it and that book ignited her love of reading. For this reason alone, I will be forever grateful to Mike Gayle. Joanne and I talked about books right up to the week before her accident.

Mr. Commitment was also responsible for me going down the rabbit hole of what was then know as "lad lit." For a while I also read everything Gayle published: [b:Turning Thirty|11840048|Turning Thirty|Mike Gayle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387755432l/11840048._SY75_.jpg|2570657], [b:Dinner for Two|469916|Dinner for Two|Mike Gayle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348721161l/469916._SY75_.jpg|2570646], [b:His 'N' Hers|82225|His 'N' Hers|Mike Gayle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1419181104l/82225._SY75_.jpg|2570642], [b:Brand New Friend|841711|Brand New Friend|Mike Gayle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1419183686l/841711._SY75_.jpg|2570645]; the list can keep going. However for a while I had not heard about new works by him. I'd look for him in bookstores and could not find him so I stopped reading him.

One day I went to Netgalley and saw his name as author of this book. I had to double-check that this was the same Mike Gayle who had not let me astray for years. He was! I requested the books and the ARC gods smiled down upon me and here I am, with the mildest of book hangovers and a heart full of joy ready to tell you about this delightful tome.

This book is very wholesome. It stars two people who are dealing with the lingering aftermath of trauma. Two people who have had to deal with situations that derailed them in life and made them suppress their dreams. Two people who did not know that a set of Encyclopædia Brittanica was going to lead them to find joy and purpose in their lives.

The book is not all sunshines and rainbows, but you are rooting for these characters and the support network they found as a result of the endeavor that was getting the Museum of Ordinary people up and running. I was geared up for an unconventional (non-Hollywood) ending, and I would have given the book a five-star rating regardless, but in the epilogue the author gave us glimpses about the happiness that is to come.