Description

The superb novel from the bestselling author of Half A World Away and All the Lonely People.

‘A joyful celebration of life’ – Heat

‘Filled with warmth, tenderness and character. It really made me think, too – I love that it encourages us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. A gorgeous novel’ – Beth O’Leary

‘A keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds . . . a delightful read’ – Ruth Hogan

Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she’s ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold.

But when in the process Jess stumbles across the mysterious Alex, together they become custodians of a strange archive of letters, photographs, curios and collections known as The Museum of Ordinary People.

As they begin to delve into the history of the objects in their care, Alex and Jess not only unravel heartbreaking stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long buried secrets that lie much closer to home.

Inspired by a box of mementos found abandoned in a skip following a house clearance, The Museum of Ordinary People is a thought-provoking and poignant story of memory, grief, loss and the things we leave behind.

‘This author’s books just get better and better’ Good Housekeeping

‘Mike Gayle is the king of touching, human stories’ Heat

Publisher Review

The Museum of Ordinary People is a timely treasure of a read. Spilling over with Mike Gayle's trademark warmth and tenderness, it's so insightful and thought-provoking on loss and grief, as well as the meaning of possessions and how we might take a fresh look at the things we once took for granted. It's the kind of book you'll want to re-read as soon as you've finished it. Just beautiful -- Holly Miller, author of The Sight of You Mike has an uncanny ability to create characters that are immediately familiar and relatable and to draw the reader into their world, ever eager to follow where they lead. The Museum of Ordinary People is a keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds. It is a delightful read -- Ruth Hogan One of my favourite writers, and this is his best yet...a relatable and yet brilliantly original story - this is a novel I could recommend to so many people -- Clare Mackintosh Mike gets better every year and every book. He's becoming a real chronicler of our times -- Jenny Colgan PRAISE FOR ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE:- Heartbreaking, yet also uplifting and thought-provoking * i paper * Mike Gayle's writing is beautiful * Heat * This author's books just get better and better * Good Housekeeping * A new Mike Gayle novel is always a treat. The Museum of Ordinary People is filled with warmth, tenderness and character. It really made me think, too - I love that it encourages us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. A gorgeous novel -- Beth O'Leary