The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray is one of those books I love with quirky characters. If you liked Eleanor Oliphant or The Rosie Project, you will want to read this book. Amy is a hoarder and if you know anything about those who hoard, it’s a form of anxiety. There are almost always deeper issues than simply wanting to hold on to items. I felt such empathy for the main character and could relate to her on a few levels!

Synopsis:

Amy Ashton once dreamed of becoming an artist—of creating beautiful objects. But now she simply collects them. Aquamarine bottles, bright yellow crockery, deep Tuscan red pots (and the odd slow-cooker) take up every available inch of space in her house. Having suffered a terrible tragedy—one she staunchly refuses to let herself think about, thank you very much—she’s decided that it’s easier to love things than people. Things are safe. Things will never leave you.

But when a new family moves in next door with two young boys, one of whom has a collection of his own, Amy’s carefully managed life starts to unravel, prompting her to question why she began to close herself off in the first place. As Amy embarks on a journey back into her past, she has to contend with nosy neighbors, a meddlesome government worker, the inept police, and a little boy whose love of bulldozers might just let Amy open up her heart—and her home—again.

I loved the story and the author’s writing style, I highly recommend that you get it when it comes out on June 8th.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced review copy of this debut. I have to admit I was initially attracted to this book because of its cover - it looked like a light-hearted read that wasn't a romance, which is the type of book I like to mix in to my reading between heavier books - and I was not disappointed.

Amy Ashton is living in a house stuffed so full of "things" that she has acquired over the past 11 years that she can barely function. New neighbors arriving as well as current neighbors' growing concern over the condition of Amy's house provide the catalyst for Amy to start dealing with the suppressed emotions that started her hoarding and set her off on a journey towards a healthier life.

At the outset of the narrative, I was getting some serious Eleanor Oliphant vibes from Amy, but the more I read, the more she took on her own unique personality. Each chapter has present day narrative as well as some throwback narrative to slowly build the suspense towards the revelation of Amy's initial turning point. Along the way, there are several characters who are lovingly keeping an eye out for Amy even as she is unaware of their actions. Themes of chosen family, community, grief recovery, and second chances are at the heart of this story. This is perfect beach bag reading - light, but not "fluffy." I'd recommend this to those who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman or Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel.

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton is part mystery and part psychology lesson. The mystery of why Amy’s longtime boyfriend, Tim, disappeared seems to have messed with Amy’s mind. She starts collecting things until she no longer can really live in her own house. Amy is a sympathetic character but I really loved Richard and his boys. Pretty sure Charlie could read minds. The first half of this book was slow for me but I could not put it down after the midway point. I feel like I can understand hoarders a little better too!

I found this a highly compelling read. I plowed through the book in a day. (In the interest of transparency, I find hoarding fascinating. Someone who doesn't might not find the book quite as interesting.)

First the downsides. That cover is...um...not gorgeous and I didn't love the title. The plot of this book could go two ways: it could be a touchy feely character study about hoarding, or a mystery in which the central character is a hoarder (like The Woman on the Train kind of vibe, only a hoarder instead of an alcoholic.) This book took the later approach. I didn't necessarily love that choice (I felt like, in doing so, it left a lot of the stuff regarding fresh starts and recovery off the table in favor of action/drama.) However, as mentioned above, I still found this story interesting.

I've read memoirs about hoarding, and this book seemed on point with its depictions. I loved the subtlety of the writing...the scale of the problem (and Amy's disordered thinking about it) kind of creeps up on the reader, just like the problem crept up on Amy. I also loved that the flashbacks artfully drop in clues about why she has chosen to fixate on these certain objects.

I also loved Richard and his boys (though Nina seems a little too on-the-nose, rote villain.) Basically, all of the relationships between Amy and others, in the past and the present, were touching, well-fleshed out, and believable.

As I mentioned, I was less sold on the "what happened to Tim and Chantal?" mystery aspect of the book. That said though, there needs to be some sort of dramatic tension to the story--some strong element to force Amy to take an honest look at how she's living. Narratively, the mystery served that purpose and that made logical sense. I'm just glad the story didn't switch gears TOO much at the end in service of solving this mystery. To the end, this book remains human-centered and empathetic.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Really good summer read. It is very readable and the switching from present to past keeps the book moving along. Amy is a very likable and relatable character. This book had "Eleanor Oliphant" vibes, which I enjoyed. It also has a ended that is nice and wrapped up. Highly recommend this for a quick summer read.

Amy Ashton is good at collecting things. Every stop at a charity shop is a treasure hunt for a rare bird, an ash tray (she doesn't smoke), or perhaps a vase that reminds her of the sunrise. Her home is getting a bit crowded. Now she has new neighbors and the two little boys in the family seem intent making her one of their playmates. It is easy to see by the pots that have accumulated in front of her house, that there are some hazards in Amy's home. The village council has come by to check on her chimney and been unsuccessful. Amy has baggage--literal and emotional. Her best friend Chantal and beloved boyfriend Tim went missing on the same day over a decade ago. Not knowing what really happened has been a burden. When a new clue surfaces, Amy renews her search. Flashbacks to the past give us insight into the reasons Amy treasures the things she does. In the present, the family next door is nudging Amy to return to living life with people and not things. I loved this insight into the life of a hoarder. The little boys added levity and light to what could have been a grim narrative. It's a mystery with a bit of a Frederik Backman feel to it. Would make a fantastic book group read. Love the colorful cover!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

With comparisons to Evie Drake and Eleanor Oliphant, this debut novel was completely enjoyable! Amy is a quirky, flawed character but so incredibly likeable. Heartwarming and charming, I hugged this book when I finished. A must-read!

3.5 stars

This is an offbeat story -- Amy Ashton lives alone, in a house full of odd things that she collects and can't bear to throw away. She is not a crazy old lady, rather a fairly young woman who suffered a great loss and has developed some strange coping mechanisms. Her eccentricities are described with great gentleness and no judgment.

But her life changes when new neighbors move in next door, a widower, his girlfriend, and his two little boys. They somehow remind Amy that the objects she holds onto are not really a suitable replacement for human interaction.

Part mystery, a bit of love story, and mostly the tale of one woman finding her way back. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a sweet story about a hoarder, with likable characters and an easy to follow plot line. It had a little mystery which added to the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book has been compared to Evie Drake Starts Over which I loved, so I was anticipating this one! It's very different but a heartfelt look at Amy whose boyfriend disappeared elven years ago and hasn't been heard from since. Now Amy (still heartbroken) has become somewhat of a hoarder as she has replaced people with things she knows won't desert her. So of course her neighbors are suspicious as she won't let anyone in her house and appears to be a recluse even though she has a good job. When a new family moves in and the two young boys take a liking to her, we realize things will change. Going back and forth from present to past, the novel shows us Amy's love story with Tim and the things that changed everything for their future. I may have shed a tear or two at the end as it's heartwarming and worth it!

I loved this book and it’s characters so much. I found the style of writing quite lyrical at times and I liked the mystery element of the story where Amy discovers what happened to her boyfriend, and best friend, all those years ago. The format of the book is my favourite kind, with the then chapters leading up to what happened and the now chapters finally revealing the truth, but also how Amy gets on with her life.

It's a beautiful yet sad story about friendship, love, real life issues and finally healing. This is a lovely inspirational book about coming to terms with bad things from the past and moving on to a better future...and it gave me all the feels, it was a true delight to read. I was really absorbed by this debut novel and would happily read more from Eleanor Ray in the future. All. The. Stars.

I loved the books mentioned in the top blurb, so I knew I wanted to read this book. However, while I would put those books at 5 stars, this was more of a 3 for most of the book, until it picked up and edged to a 4. Maybe it's because I just didn't connect with Amy as well, or if it just seemed too contrived? Not sure. But it definitely was a book I put down multiple times, and had to force myself back into reading. It is a book about breaking free of what holds you back, and if that is the type of book you need in your life, then it might be the book for you.

Amy Ashton is a hoarder with a painful past. Love the concept of this novel but found characters somewhat one-dimensional and the plot predictable and slow-moving for first 30%.
But a light, sweet read.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Had my attention the whole time. A well written story.. i found myself caring about all the characters as if they were my family and friends.

I absolutely loved a book this was compared to in the blurb, Evvie Drake Starts Over. A fun beach read. So if this compares, then sign me up for a read! This really is just as charming as that book, and a bit more relatable for me than I care to admit. Amy Ashton is a hoarder, basically. She calls herself a collector, especially of pottery and colorful things. She has cut herself off from the world after her beloved boyfriend disappeared without a trace over a decade ago. She is still hurt by this unsolved mystery and collects things because they can't hurt her the way humans do. Fast forward several years into her isolation, and a new family moves in next door. She connects with them almost instantly but is too embarrassed to invite them in due to the fact that she can barely even move around her house due to her 'collections.' So Amy begins to wonder if she needs to (literally) clean up her act and rejoin the world. Meanwhile, the puzzle to her boyfriend's disappearance begins to take shape. So much upheaval at once, but long overdue. I sympathized with Amy, as change, even good change, can be hard to not easy to adjust to. But I rooted for her and her sardonic sense of humor that she thankfully never lost in all those years of isolation. A winning story and a fun beach/summer read.

Amy Ashton loves her treasures and makes sure that they are safe in her house. No one is allowed in her house or on her property. Then new neighbors move in with a 8 year old and his brother who is 3. The 8 year old would like to get close to Amy but Amy prefers to be alone. All this changes as you read more of the book. This book is part romance part mystery. Thank you NetGalley for the Arc of this book.

Amy Ashton is a hoarder — a big time hoarder — which came to be because of Amy’s past and her relationship with her boyfriend Tim and her best friend Chantel, both of whom disappeared from her life more than a decade earlier. Amy seems to have substituted collecting “things” to replace these lost relationships, and her “things” are her only source of happiness. The development of Amy’s character in this novel is interesting to read, but at times her behavior is beyond frustrating, so much so that it takes away from the human element in her story. Additionally, the descriptions of the state of Amy’s house and her compulsive hoarding made me uncomfortable. All in all, though, I found this to be an interesting read, and I admire how the author handled a sensitive topic well: she used great care to deal with Amy’s anxieties while being forthright so as not to hide the severity of Amy’s mental illness and and the struggle it caused her.

Amy's life changed after her boyfriend and her best friend disappeared at the same time. She tried to find them but never did, and eventually it took its toll on her. She changed, and she started collecting broken things to fix them and make them whole. Then she started collecting things to keep them safe. Over time, she became a hoarder.
When some new neighbors moved in next door, Amy tried to be a better person. She just was stuck at the time when she lost her boyfriend and best friend. As she was picking things up in the yard she discovered a ring and a letter. She recognized the ring and the letter had been out in the weather too long, so it was very hard to read.
She started trying to find clues that would help her find them because she couldn't move forward until she knew what happened to them.
Amy eventually gets some answers, and we find out if she can move forward in life. This is a story of how events in Amy's life affects her, how she deals with them, and what it really does to her. The author writes, so I found myself stopping to think about things. It helped put things into perspective for me.
I received a complimentary copy from Gallery Books through NetGalley.

"For fans of The Keeper of Lost Things and Evvie Drake Starts Over comes a funny and tender debut about a reclusive artist whose collection has gotten out of control - but whose unexpected friendship with a pair of new neighbors might be just what she needs to start over.

Amy Ashton once dreamed of becoming an artist - of creating beautiful objects. But now she simply collects them. Aquamarine bottles, bright yellow crockery, deep Tuscan red pots (and the odd slow-cooker) take up every available inch of space in her house. Having suffered a terrible tragedy - one she staunchly refuses to let herself think about, thank you very much - she’s decided that it’s easier to love things than people. Things are safe. Things will never leave you.

But when a new family moves in next door with two young boys, one of whom has a collection of his own, Amy’s carefully managed life starts to unravel, prompting her to question why she began to close herself off in the first place. As Amy embarks on a journey back into her past, she has to contend with nosy neighbors, a meddlesome government worker, the inept police, and a little boy whose love of bulldozers might just let Amy open up her heart - and her home - again.

Quirky and charming, big-hearted and moving, The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton proves that it’s never too late to let go of the things that don’t matter...and welcome the people who do."

Because if this past year has taught me anything it's that we need to let go of the things that don't matter and hold on to those who do.

I received a gifted copy of this book for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books.

This was a delightful story. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in the book. I think they were all very honest and real and had their secrets and own quirks. Amy was such a lovable character. I felt so immensely for her and was rooting for her and a happy ending.

It touched on a lot of various topics (divorce, pregnancy loss, abuse, hoarding, depression and others) and they all worked so well together and meshed together with ease. I will definitely be recommending this book.