This was a really sweet story of a woman left behind by her boyfriend and best friend. In order to fill the missing space, she becomes a hoarder. She spends years of her life stuck in the same place, wondering what happened to them. With support of new friends and answers to the mystery, we see Amy become whole again. A combination of contemporary fiction, mystery and told in two timelines.

Wow - I loved this book - what a surprise! I have to say that it was good for me to read this book without knowing anything about it so the fun was in the unfolding. It was almost a genre mash-up - a bit of contemporary rom-com, a bit of mystery, a bit of thriller. I read it all in one day - started on audio and then couldn't stop so had to finish it on e-book. I adored Amy Ashton, our main character, whose story is told in present day as she collects and collects and collects...stuff - alternating with the past when she is a young painter and deeply in love with her boyfriend Tim, a musician. Loved every bit!

How does someone become a hoarder? A question that I have thought about before more than a few times. This is story that allows you to see how it can happen to someone quite easily. The story follows Amy Ashton and we dip in and out of real time and her past to learn how her current living situation happened. This doesn't sound like a very interesting premise or the focus of a fiction novel and I felt that way in the first chapters. However, the author does such a wonderful job painting Amy and letting you see glimpses of her past that make you connect to her, see the "normal" in her and empathize with her. See her as an everyday person living life and make you wonder "where did it all go wrong?" There's a bit of romance, friendship, nosy neighbors and a mystery twisted into understanding her life's current outcome. I think the author did a tremendous job taking a story about fictional hoarder and giving them a voice and showing that empathy is important when you don't know someone's backstory. I highly recommend reading this book.

This was a sweet story on mending a broken heart and learning to trust others again. Perfect for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This is a story of a young woman and how she coped with great loss. I loved this story. It was real characters, going through real events with a little mystery and drama thrown in for good measure. I got lost in this book today and read it all in one sitting. It’s been a long time since I’ve dedicated a Saturday to a book. I don’t regret it one bit.

I loved Amy and her quirky self. This was such a heartwarming book delving into life after tragedy. The supporting characters were great too. Definitely recommend this book especially for people who like Eleanor Oliphant and Eudora Honeysett. Absolutely beautiful debut!

This one was a DNF for me. Just wasn't my cup of tea at the time - perhaps I might come back to it later when it is up my alley again.

Amy’s house is dangerously full of her treasures, but she hasn’t always lived like this.

The book starts out being just about Amy Ashton. There’s obviously something she thinks about from her past, but she’s moved on. She’s a functioning adult, albeit one who has chosen to have no real attachments to other people. While she could be grumpy and rude, she shows in an early incident in the book that she cares about other people being treated right and getting what they deserve. Fairness is important.

With that said, Amy doesn’t expect the best for herself from anyone. So she hoards her treasures. Her house is full of newspapers, empty wine bottles, lighters (although she doesn’t smoke), porcelain birds, clocks, and mugs, to name just a few of her categories of treasures. Her treasures don’t disappoint her, right? Some flashback chapters show that she hasn’t always been alone and hoarding.

Overall, I’d give this book 3 out of 5 stars. It was an interesting character exploration that slowly revealed the events leading up to Amy’s chosen solitude. The other characters who end up being a part of Amy’s life each had their specific purposes, to contribute to the resolution of some issues and the plot’s development. This was an interesting contemporary story of adulting, learning who someone may want to be in the world, and maybe even changing some of those choices and assumptions.

The issue of hoarding is central to The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray.. Yet, it does not appear to be given the depth and challenge that the issue deserves. Somehow, through it all, Amy herself fails to develop into a sympathetic character, perhaps because of the two-timeline approach to the storytelling. Sadly, much as I want to like Amy and her story, I was not the right reader for this book.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2022/01/the-missing-treasures-of-amy-ashton.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton was a delightful read. After a devastating loss, Amy retreats into her home, eventually becoming a hoarder. She’s now lonely and unhappy but doesn’t know how to change. Thanks to a new neighbor and his sweet sons, Amy begins her path to getting unstuck. I love flawed characters, and this character arc was well-written and believable. Very enjoyable.

This novel has serious Fredrik Backman vibes. It's a beautiful story about loss and grief. It explores the different ways people respond and how they can eventually heal.

Amy suffered a major loss eleven years ago and since then she's had a hard time getting rid of things. Her house is overflowing with items she collects. I related to Amy a lot, especially in understanding how "stuff" can take control of us when we attach emotions to objects.

There's a mystery woven throughout the storyline, which I liked a lot. All of the characters were a pleasure to get to know. I highly recommend this novel.

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton was such a charming book, I love Eleanor Ray's voice and can't wait to read more from her! The story is sad, sweet, heartwarming, and funny all at once. I would recommend for readers who enjoy Lianne Moriarty as there is a little mystery to untangle in this general fiction book.

I loved this book and the description of compulsive behavior. Amy was a wonderfully relatable character and it was an adventure to see the progression and development of her life. A great read!

This was a sweet and hopeful book that was well written and left me with a smile. I've never read this author before but look forward to more from her!

This book was sold as quirky and similar to Evvie Drake so I signed up to review the advanced readers copy. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the story or the protagonist, Amy Ashton, who seems a bit uptight and a hoarder. This was a mystery as something happened to her boyfriend and best friend but the timeline jumped around too much and lost me. I easnt engaged just wanted it to end. The ending, however, was wrapped up nicely. It just took much too long to get there. 😪

Thanks to Gallery Books for the opportunity to review via the NetGalley app.

Just finished a brilliant read from another new-to-me UK author, The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray. It was a deeply reflective novel tackling issues of mental illness, specifically hoarding, while at the same time having a mystery suspense element. The author spectacularly unravels the reasons and triggers behind what really led to the main character Amy living in a house filled to the ceilings and gardens with all manner of items that she sees as her “treasures.” Through a alternating dual past and present timeline, the reader learns how each type of particular item is connected to a moment in her past. Like many others who struggle with mental issues, Amy didn’t start out that way, but traumatic events in her past caused a descent into hoarding behaviors that crippled Amy’s life and prevented progression. However, although it is a false security, these abundant items give her comfort and stability allowing her to cope with daily life. Amy had had a ‘normal life’ with the dreams of an artist, a boyfriend she loved, and a best friend like a sister - but when both disappear abruptly at the same time and questions swirl around about a possible relationship and the ultimate betrayal.

Yet one day new neighbors move next door with two boys and their widowed father that start to help bring Amy back to life and moving towards a healthier direction. There is a return of joy and a reason to let go. They aren’t the only reason for this needed shift occurring 11 years after Amy’s boyfriend and best friend go missing. Amy stumbles upon a letter and ring that act as new clues and developments in the mysterious cold case. Ironically, it had been there all along, but because Amy had let her hoarding get out of control they had remained buried and unseen until the neighbor boys ‘shake things up ’ and ‘break everything right open’.

Eleanor Ray has brought to the reader a heartwarming story of hope without shying away from reality and mental illness. The author offers an atypical and understandably deeply flawed female protagonist whose future is championed and wished for by the reader. A reminder or takeaway is given to not judge people solely on appearance and perception, when one doesn’t know the reasons behind their behaviors. The book shines a spotlight on the much needed current topic of mental health. This author will be one to watch!!

Single woman whose life turns out differently than she planned. Impact of unresolved trauma on mental health and relationship to hoarding it can have.. This had some unexpected twists and had moments of wonderful connection.

This is exactly the kind of read I enjoy. Amy is struggling with so many things. She's a hoarder and, like many hoarders, doesn't really seem to understand how dangerous this is. She's got some nosy neighbors and when new people move in, children that just won't leave her alone. Will she let people in her life or her home?

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and so happy I had the opportunity to read it. The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton was not lacking in treasures and my antique shopping self was loving every page. I don't know if you are a collector of things or maybe something specific like ceramic cats or coffee mugs with silly sayings, but for me it's old books and anything I spot at the vintage market I can't live without. This book was so unique and the author does such a good job describing each object it made me feel like I could actually picture each beautiful item!
Amy Ashton is stuck in the past and holding onto what could have been, and it's slowly taking over her home. With dreams of being an artist Amy started gathering beautiful objects she could use to create masterpieces, but now those objects are stacking up, in every nook and cranny in her home, stacked up to the ceiling, threatening to tumble at any minute. When Amy's boyfriend and best friend go missing they take her passion for art as well as her heart with them. Now the only friends she has is her ceramic birds, her beautiful pots, her collection of tea cups,the little clocks that don't tick, and lots and lots of ashtrays. (even though Amy isn't a smoker) Old,broken,trash....Amy loves all her possessions and if someone came into her home they would call her a hoarder, but that's exactly why no one is allowed in. Her heart and her home are closed to outsiders.
Everything gets messy when the new neighbors move in and the two little boys start breaking stuff and trespassing in Amy's back garden. Some see her yard as a hazard but Amy sees it as a beautiful over grown jungle of beautiful pots and twirly vines. When one of the pots breaks Amy discovers a note and a ring hidden that start her search for her boyfriend all over again. At the same time Amy is reluctantly starting to enjoy the little boys next door, and their very kind father. Maybe what she needs is closure and the room in her heart and home to let new people in. It's time to be happy and find joy in life and making art, just don't ask her to part with any of her precious items!

What a quirky little book that I absolutely devoured! The characters are ones to fall for despite the seriousness of some of them. I found Amy super relatable and was sad to turn the last page.