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A review by momobookdiary
The Secret Collector by Abigail Johnson
5.0
A touching and beautifully human debut about healing, found-family, and the treasures we carry—both in our homes and our hearts.
The Secret Collector is a truly lovely and enjoyable read. From the very start, I felt for both Alfred and Kian - two people who did not choose to be thrown together, yet needed each other more than they realised. What begins with a brick through a window slowly unfolds into a tender, often funny, always heartfelt story of two lives being rebuilt, piece by piece.
I loved that neither character wanted to be in this situation - Alfred mourning his wife through his collected treasures, and Kian trying to stay afloat in a system that’s let him down. Their reluctant bond, full of ups and downs, is beautifully written and deeply believable. You understand their perspectives so clearly, and you grow to care about them both in very different but equally strong ways.
Reading this brought back my own memories of losing my mum and how difficult it was to let go of her things. Like Alfred, I didn’t want to part with anything at first - every object held a memory. Over time, with the help of friends, I began to let go, and while I still have a few regrets, most items have found new life with others. A few years on, I’m finally in a headspace to continue clearing space, and it feels therapeutic. This book gently reminded me that letting go doesn’t mean losing, it can mean making room for something new.
Abigail Johnson has done something really special in her debut. She hasn’t just written characters, she’s created two deeply human souls and shared them with us. Both Kian and Alfred are better for having found each other, and their story is a reminder that family isn’t always the one you’re born into - sometimes, it’s the one you stumble into when life doesn’t go to plan.
A wonderful, warm debut I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Highly recommended for anyone who loves stories of second chances and unlikely friendships.
The Secret Collector is a truly lovely and enjoyable read. From the very start, I felt for both Alfred and Kian - two people who did not choose to be thrown together, yet needed each other more than they realised. What begins with a brick through a window slowly unfolds into a tender, often funny, always heartfelt story of two lives being rebuilt, piece by piece.
I loved that neither character wanted to be in this situation - Alfred mourning his wife through his collected treasures, and Kian trying to stay afloat in a system that’s let him down. Their reluctant bond, full of ups and downs, is beautifully written and deeply believable. You understand their perspectives so clearly, and you grow to care about them both in very different but equally strong ways.
Reading this brought back my own memories of losing my mum and how difficult it was to let go of her things. Like Alfred, I didn’t want to part with anything at first - every object held a memory. Over time, with the help of friends, I began to let go, and while I still have a few regrets, most items have found new life with others. A few years on, I’m finally in a headspace to continue clearing space, and it feels therapeutic. This book gently reminded me that letting go doesn’t mean losing, it can mean making room for something new.
Abigail Johnson has done something really special in her debut. She hasn’t just written characters, she’s created two deeply human souls and shared them with us. Both Kian and Alfred are better for having found each other, and their story is a reminder that family isn’t always the one you’re born into - sometimes, it’s the one you stumble into when life doesn’t go to plan.
A wonderful, warm debut I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Highly recommended for anyone who loves stories of second chances and unlikely friendships.