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Friends of the Museum
Coworkers at a legendary but troubled New York City museum struggle with issues large and small over the course of one extraordinary day in this whip-smart “marvel” (Mona Awad, bestselling author of Bunny ) of a novel in the vein of The White Lotus .
When Diane Schwebe, the director of a major New York museum, is awakened in the early morning by a text message from the museum’s lawyer, it is the start of a twenty-four hour roller-coaster ride.
Diane has sacrificed many things in her life to help the fading institution stave off irrelevance and financial ruin. In this battle, she’s surrounded by her stalwart her enigmatic and tireless personal assistant, Chris; the museum’s trusty head of security, Shay; and its general counsel, Henry—a man whose ability to weasel his way out of a jam is matched only by his capacity to avoid learning anything from the experience.
Orbiting Diane is a motley assortment of museum employees, each on the precipice of collapse or among them a line cook staring down a huge opportunity he’s not sure he wants; a costume curator stuck in an inescapable rut; and the ambivalent curator of the museum’s film program, whose first day on the job might very well be his last.
On this day of the museum’s annual gala, every plate that Diane has kept spinning will fall and by daybreak, someone will be dead.
Wise, surprising, and darkly funny, Friends of the Museum is a kaleidoscopic tragicomedy that surges along to the unstoppable tick of the clock, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the final second.
When Diane Schwebe, the director of a major New York museum, is awakened in the early morning by a text message from the museum’s lawyer, it is the start of a twenty-four hour roller-coaster ride.
Diane has sacrificed many things in her life to help the fading institution stave off irrelevance and financial ruin. In this battle, she’s surrounded by her stalwart her enigmatic and tireless personal assistant, Chris; the museum’s trusty head of security, Shay; and its general counsel, Henry—a man whose ability to weasel his way out of a jam is matched only by his capacity to avoid learning anything from the experience.
Orbiting Diane is a motley assortment of museum employees, each on the precipice of collapse or among them a line cook staring down a huge opportunity he’s not sure he wants; a costume curator stuck in an inescapable rut; and the ambivalent curator of the museum’s film program, whose first day on the job might very well be his last.
On this day of the museum’s annual gala, every plate that Diane has kept spinning will fall and by daybreak, someone will be dead.
Wise, surprising, and darkly funny, Friends of the Museum is a kaleidoscopic tragicomedy that surges along to the unstoppable tick of the clock, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the final second.
Hardcover
First published April 15, 2025
195 people are currently reading
12225 people want to read
About the author
Heather McGowan
15 books55 followersHeather McGowan is an American writer. She is the author of the novels Schooling and Duchess of Nothing. Schooling was named a Best Book of the Year by Newsweek.
McGowan received an MFA from Brown University. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
McGowan received an MFA from Brown University. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
December 1, 2025
i want to be friends with a museum.
just not like this.
this book has the same pretentious confidence that its story warrants a dozen characters telling it (and never you mind that they are, in both novels and all cases, unrelentingly boring, one-note, and - inexplicably - fatphobic) as the seven deaths of evelyn hardcastle.
and, i suppose, the same threadbare belief that dangling the promise of a murder before the reader will make our dumb carrot-motivated minds forgive myriad sins.
all these years later, and in spite of many very mean comments trying to convince me to move to the contrary, i vividly hate evelyn hardcastle. now this book can join that exclusive club.
if i was feeling generous i would say this book set out to make a million points alongside its million characters, populating the book with as many themes about class and success and happiness as it does em dashes to indicate dialogue (seriously, who signed off on that) and perspectives changing based on time jumps ranging from 1 to 11 minutes.
but i'm not feeling generous, and this book says so much that i can't make sense of any of it anyway.
bottom line: a waste of characters, and themes, and em dashes, and above all time.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
just not like this.
this book has the same pretentious confidence that its story warrants a dozen characters telling it (and never you mind that they are, in both novels and all cases, unrelentingly boring, one-note, and - inexplicably - fatphobic) as the seven deaths of evelyn hardcastle.
and, i suppose, the same threadbare belief that dangling the promise of a murder before the reader will make our dumb carrot-motivated minds forgive myriad sins.
all these years later, and in spite of many very mean comments trying to convince me to move to the contrary, i vividly hate evelyn hardcastle. now this book can join that exclusive club.
if i was feeling generous i would say this book set out to make a million points alongside its million characters, populating the book with as many themes about class and success and happiness as it does em dashes to indicate dialogue (seriously, who signed off on that) and perspectives changing based on time jumps ranging from 1 to 11 minutes.
but i'm not feeling generous, and this book says so much that i can't make sense of any of it anyway.
bottom line: a waste of characters, and themes, and em dashes, and above all time.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
September 22, 2024
""—No, no... his bulk overwhelms Astrid’s spindly chair in a chubby cascade."
I have a rule where the moment someone writes something fatphobic I quit, because if you can't write fat people as people, I can't be persuaded to believe the book is worth reading.
I have a rule where the moment someone writes something fatphobic I quit, because if you can't write fat people as people, I can't be persuaded to believe the book is worth reading.
October 2, 2024
It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on substance abuse, adultery, bigotry, & others.
Ravenously, the reader wanders the halls of treasure troves in search of what may let them peer into a different life. As its own art form, the written word brightens the claustrophobia that settles in the pendulum swing of days & nights. It may appear odd to wander the bind of a book whose story presents readers with the very nature they tire of yet, this twin flame offers readers something that they are not afforded—the freedom to close the book & leave.
When I came across this book it was while scrolling my feed. Someone had posted a picture of the cover art as they held in their hands a shiny & new printed book, gifted specifically to them by the Publisher. The cover art caught my eye, for indeed it is art in the traditional sense of the word.
What does this image reveal to prospective readers? What undercurrent wavers the background as the images entangle themselves together? I have since sought to find the post that inspired my search for this book but, it has been lost to the media of social performances. I do credit this mystery person for their quick snapped story of enthusiasm that led me here.
In essence, this is a story about employees at a New York-based museum & the haunts of their lives. Each of the characters represents a facet of life, a monumental shift in the norm; each section slivered into time slots is written in a deciphering manner that clears the air of mystery. The plot maneuvers itself onward throughout 24 hours as each of the characters shifts left & right, attempting to position themselves appropriately for what is to come. Their drama resembles a fabled old tale of jesters & sacrilegious magicians yet what makes this story worth reading lies in the author’s ability to write such a delightfully tangled web.
While reading this book I often found myself wondering at the length. On certain occasions, the material flew through my hands, my progress was swift. Yet, the very next day while reading sections paced the same with the same characters & taking place in the same environment, the material felt interminably long.
Admittedly, the book is long. Clocking in just shy of 500 pages, it will not be the lengthiest tome, veteran readers have consumed yet, the subject matter itself may leave them questioning the pacing of their progress.
I attribute my confusing predicament to the format. The story takes place over 24 hours & the author has split each series of events into the clock’s hours, leaving some sections to take up greater space during the hour than others. This is not a complaint. I appreciated the flow of the story & found myself pondering my own hours spent working, writing reviews, making dinner, & seeing friends. What does a person get up to all day & all night?
What I would like to highlight in this review, first & foremost, is my appreciation for the planning that the author undertook before writing this book. McGowan’s format may leave a reader to be lost & abandoned in the plot. There are so many characters, & so much backstory, that the girth of the novel is not made clear because each experience is unique to the character at play & yet, each character is thoroughly intertwined with the others.
McGowan’s dedication to clear storytelling may remind readers of lessons taught in school, emphasizing the importance of the spiderweb format of development & details. It is essential for an author to know their characters & to have a clear directive when endeavouring to write.
It is well & good to want to share something but, anyone can pass along hearsay or invent lies to sour a tale to the heavens. One of the markers of a good author is their ability to weave what is imagined to them—that which originates in their mind—& make it tangible, formal in the written word.
Because McGowan was so clear in her planning & so intentional in her presentation, the multitude of names & lives did not feel like a drag. By that I mean, that readers will not feel the story is weighed down by certain characters or by weakness in specific sections. This is quite important given the length of the story but also, the number of details presented to a reader.
As there is no right way to read a book—subjective preferences aside—readers of this book will be allowed & encouraged to settle the layout of the museum in the way they so choose. For myself, this meant envisioning rooms the likes of which resembled pictures I had seen & places I had been. Centring the plot & main events in a familiar environment—as museums are well-known globally—lessens the strain that the reader may feel when trying to keep track of each character & their woes.
With that being said, & as I have emphasized redundantly up until this point, there are many characters. This review will not provide a recap of each of them, nor will I write a synopsis of their value. Rather, while reading I wondered how I might broach the analysis of the characters as a whole & I have concluded that the best way to do so is to encourage—remind—readers of themselves. Each person we meet is different from the next yet, resembles the last just as much as they will another.
The characters in this story felt very real, they had personalities that were seemingly inspired by real individuals who sat for portraits while the wall of the plot’s web grew. Each action that was taken brought value to the story as a whole & I would be hard-pressed to say that any of the main, secondary, or even tertiary characters were wasted.
Each their own person, the characters built the world around them. The museum, their apartments, & their inner ravings, raised the story from a simple character study to a deep-rooted anthropologic dissection of human behaviour.
As I have mentioned, there is not one character who stands above the others though I will admit that readers may find preference with one over the other. On occasion, I felt that Diane was the worst person in the world for her overwhelming selfishness. Then, the clock would move forward & Iona read to me as devilishly & intentionally incompetent & how was I meant to feel sympathy for her when she consciously did what was done?
Benjamin was difficult to trust & why should I try when his behaviour galvanized those who cared about him? Henry made the world a cruel place because he bought into the bogus lies of his best interest. I found myself perplexed by the coldness exhibited by Shay towards everyone different than her & saddened by Clive’s self-hatred.
Onward I went down a rabbit hole lined with portraits of each of the characters. I closed the book wondering what would happen to them when I stepped away. Where would they go now that their world was changing? Which of their secrets would eat them alive & which would they abort to make room for the next?
I am inclined to say that it was because each character made me question my fondness for them or rather, because each of them left me standing comfortably out of their reach, that I appreciated this story so much.
There has always been room on library shelves for stories that present a clear role—hero & villain dancing through the pages. However, there is a particular intrigue that is piqued in me, rather, a delight that I nestle towards, when stories choose to give readers the very nature of their own realities.
As my praise has mounted, I will acknowledge that readers who are seeking a story where intrigue masquerades as a wolf in sheep’s clothing will be disappointed by this story. The nature of the tale is monotonous because it is the daily lives of human beings who are at once trying their best & avoiding accountability to do anything other than ignore the issue at hand. If one is looking for a story where Katherine’s pregnancy sends her into a psychosis or where Chris rises from the dead; they are encouraged to look elsewhere.
Delightfully this story presents readers will a comforting perspective on a slew of earnest experiences. No reader will appreciate, support, or understand each of the choices made in this story & I suspect that this is particularly the purpose of the book.
Famously, George R.R. Martin expressed the power of reading & the thousands of lives a reader has the opportunity to lead before their time is through. This book fits chiefly in this sentiment for the reader will be at the head of a multitude of situations each complex, each heart wrenching & profound, sometimes deranged & other times unsympathetically sad. The reader is welcomed among the pages to experience all of life’s avenues & then, they have the freedom to close the bind & return to their own.
Ultimately, I am thankful for the picture posted & the Publishing House that entrusted a reader with an early copy of this book. I wish I could find them to thank them. This book left me feeling intimately acquainted with people I would not choose to invest my time or vulnerabilities with. Yet, their transparency across the page made me feel grateful for the chance to view what is different than me & reminded me of the similarities we all share.
The tired nature of human existence & experience brings us closer to one another than we otherwise would be alone—a thought I intentionally forget to remember from time to time.
Grumbling like the bear awoken early from hibernation, the subway roves under New York City, glistening in the dark. Passengers maroon in the clever pallet grids & imagine themselves as other than what they are. Sitting next to them, the unknown version of themselves fate & fortune cast as the alternative player of their fancies.
When the steady noon sky watches over the cattle drive of coffee runs & pasturing red lights, the mind’s wandering hope for clarity seeks a being bigger than it can be. Here, the author positions wet ink from the stem.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, & Heather McGowan for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Ravenously, the reader wanders the halls of treasure troves in search of what may let them peer into a different life. As its own art form, the written word brightens the claustrophobia that settles in the pendulum swing of days & nights. It may appear odd to wander the bind of a book whose story presents readers with the very nature they tire of yet, this twin flame offers readers something that they are not afforded—the freedom to close the book & leave.
When I came across this book it was while scrolling my feed. Someone had posted a picture of the cover art as they held in their hands a shiny & new printed book, gifted specifically to them by the Publisher. The cover art caught my eye, for indeed it is art in the traditional sense of the word.
What does this image reveal to prospective readers? What undercurrent wavers the background as the images entangle themselves together? I have since sought to find the post that inspired my search for this book but, it has been lost to the media of social performances. I do credit this mystery person for their quick snapped story of enthusiasm that led me here.
In essence, this is a story about employees at a New York-based museum & the haunts of their lives. Each of the characters represents a facet of life, a monumental shift in the norm; each section slivered into time slots is written in a deciphering manner that clears the air of mystery. The plot maneuvers itself onward throughout 24 hours as each of the characters shifts left & right, attempting to position themselves appropriately for what is to come. Their drama resembles a fabled old tale of jesters & sacrilegious magicians yet what makes this story worth reading lies in the author’s ability to write such a delightfully tangled web.
While reading this book I often found myself wondering at the length. On certain occasions, the material flew through my hands, my progress was swift. Yet, the very next day while reading sections paced the same with the same characters & taking place in the same environment, the material felt interminably long.
Admittedly, the book is long. Clocking in just shy of 500 pages, it will not be the lengthiest tome, veteran readers have consumed yet, the subject matter itself may leave them questioning the pacing of their progress.
I attribute my confusing predicament to the format. The story takes place over 24 hours & the author has split each series of events into the clock’s hours, leaving some sections to take up greater space during the hour than others. This is not a complaint. I appreciated the flow of the story & found myself pondering my own hours spent working, writing reviews, making dinner, & seeing friends. What does a person get up to all day & all night?
What I would like to highlight in this review, first & foremost, is my appreciation for the planning that the author undertook before writing this book. McGowan’s format may leave a reader to be lost & abandoned in the plot. There are so many characters, & so much backstory, that the girth of the novel is not made clear because each experience is unique to the character at play & yet, each character is thoroughly intertwined with the others.
McGowan’s dedication to clear storytelling may remind readers of lessons taught in school, emphasizing the importance of the spiderweb format of development & details. It is essential for an author to know their characters & to have a clear directive when endeavouring to write.
It is well & good to want to share something but, anyone can pass along hearsay or invent lies to sour a tale to the heavens. One of the markers of a good author is their ability to weave what is imagined to them—that which originates in their mind—& make it tangible, formal in the written word.
Because McGowan was so clear in her planning & so intentional in her presentation, the multitude of names & lives did not feel like a drag. By that I mean, that readers will not feel the story is weighed down by certain characters or by weakness in specific sections. This is quite important given the length of the story but also, the number of details presented to a reader.
As there is no right way to read a book—subjective preferences aside—readers of this book will be allowed & encouraged to settle the layout of the museum in the way they so choose. For myself, this meant envisioning rooms the likes of which resembled pictures I had seen & places I had been. Centring the plot & main events in a familiar environment—as museums are well-known globally—lessens the strain that the reader may feel when trying to keep track of each character & their woes.
With that being said, & as I have emphasized redundantly up until this point, there are many characters. This review will not provide a recap of each of them, nor will I write a synopsis of their value. Rather, while reading I wondered how I might broach the analysis of the characters as a whole & I have concluded that the best way to do so is to encourage—remind—readers of themselves. Each person we meet is different from the next yet, resembles the last just as much as they will another.
The characters in this story felt very real, they had personalities that were seemingly inspired by real individuals who sat for portraits while the wall of the plot’s web grew. Each action that was taken brought value to the story as a whole & I would be hard-pressed to say that any of the main, secondary, or even tertiary characters were wasted.
Each their own person, the characters built the world around them. The museum, their apartments, & their inner ravings, raised the story from a simple character study to a deep-rooted anthropologic dissection of human behaviour.
As I have mentioned, there is not one character who stands above the others though I will admit that readers may find preference with one over the other. On occasion, I felt that Diane was the worst person in the world for her overwhelming selfishness. Then, the clock would move forward & Iona read to me as devilishly & intentionally incompetent & how was I meant to feel sympathy for her when she consciously did what was done?
Benjamin was difficult to trust & why should I try when his behaviour galvanized those who cared about him? Henry made the world a cruel place because he bought into the bogus lies of his best interest. I found myself perplexed by the coldness exhibited by Shay towards everyone different than her & saddened by Clive’s self-hatred.
Onward I went down a rabbit hole lined with portraits of each of the characters. I closed the book wondering what would happen to them when I stepped away. Where would they go now that their world was changing? Which of their secrets would eat them alive & which would they abort to make room for the next?
I am inclined to say that it was because each character made me question my fondness for them or rather, because each of them left me standing comfortably out of their reach, that I appreciated this story so much.
There has always been room on library shelves for stories that present a clear role—hero & villain dancing through the pages. However, there is a particular intrigue that is piqued in me, rather, a delight that I nestle towards, when stories choose to give readers the very nature of their own realities.
As my praise has mounted, I will acknowledge that readers who are seeking a story where intrigue masquerades as a wolf in sheep’s clothing will be disappointed by this story. The nature of the tale is monotonous because it is the daily lives of human beings who are at once trying their best & avoiding accountability to do anything other than ignore the issue at hand. If one is looking for a story where Katherine’s pregnancy sends her into a psychosis or where Chris rises from the dead; they are encouraged to look elsewhere.
Delightfully this story presents readers will a comforting perspective on a slew of earnest experiences. No reader will appreciate, support, or understand each of the choices made in this story & I suspect that this is particularly the purpose of the book.
Famously, George R.R. Martin expressed the power of reading & the thousands of lives a reader has the opportunity to lead before their time is through. This book fits chiefly in this sentiment for the reader will be at the head of a multitude of situations each complex, each heart wrenching & profound, sometimes deranged & other times unsympathetically sad. The reader is welcomed among the pages to experience all of life’s avenues & then, they have the freedom to close the bind & return to their own.
Ultimately, I am thankful for the picture posted & the Publishing House that entrusted a reader with an early copy of this book. I wish I could find them to thank them. This book left me feeling intimately acquainted with people I would not choose to invest my time or vulnerabilities with. Yet, their transparency across the page made me feel grateful for the chance to view what is different than me & reminded me of the similarities we all share.
The tired nature of human existence & experience brings us closer to one another than we otherwise would be alone—a thought I intentionally forget to remember from time to time.
Grumbling like the bear awoken early from hibernation, the subway roves under New York City, glistening in the dark. Passengers maroon in the clever pallet grids & imagine themselves as other than what they are. Sitting next to them, the unknown version of themselves fate & fortune cast as the alternative player of their fancies.
When the steady noon sky watches over the cattle drive of coffee runs & pasturing red lights, the mind’s wandering hope for clarity seeks a being bigger than it can be. Here, the author positions wet ink from the stem.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, & Heather McGowan for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2025
I think the best way to sum up this novel is that it's a combination of Dickens (but set among the upper class, not the factory world) and one of those 12-people-are-stuck-in-a-secluded-house kind of stories:
Engrossing, an easy read, a page-turner, rich with characters, backstories, and subplots--plus very impressive research, from the inner workings of a 4-star restaurant to the subtleties of different types of medieval armor.
But in the end, you look up and ask: What did I just read?
The concept is wonderful: to look behind the scenes at an iconic institution and at the varied lives of the real people who work there, rather than the artwork we usually focus on. By limiting the time frame to 24 hours, moreover, the book intensifies the richness of its world. Imagine what must happen the other 364 days of the year!
The biggest problem, however, is that the book breezes too quickly through too many characters who--by the nature of the setting--are too similar.
The Cast of Characters at the beginning lists 46 people. In fairness, about half of them are walk-ons. Still, that leaves (I think) eight narrators, all of them connected with a major NYC art museum modeled on the Metropolitan Museum of Art, plus another dozen frequently recurring, supporting actors.
The total cast includes four curators of different types of art, two chefs, six important donors who must be coddled, and four troubled romances. (Also one character who hasn't recovered from his wife's death a year ago.) There's a person who's just been diagnosed with incurable cancer, and another with incurable dementia. Oh, and there are at least two serious forgeries or frauds.
Tooooo much.
Not enough time, enough at nearly 500 pages, to flesh out and distinguish them as individuals.
The author tries to keep things straight, by dropping Homeric-style "tags." But even so, I couldn't remember what department Iona works in, and what's wrong with her marriage, and what's the problem with the lion statue, and what's the difference between Liam and Jimmy, and how was Katherine's long-ago relationship with Benjamin different from her relationship with Clive?
Most of the characters seem to be in their 30s, and everyone is white (usually with a PhD) except for the black chief of security, the Japanese ambassador, and the two donors from the Middle East.
The other problem is that the book asks the reader to accept too many coincidences, all happening on one day. On the day of the museum's annual gala--its biggest fund-raiser of the year -- would the chief of security choose that day to ask the museum's lawyer for an important favor? would the husband of the executive director confront her about their marriage on the very day when he knows how frantic she must be? would HR have a new curator start work? Maybe one important donor is available for a meeting only that day, but four?
Still, this novel has its strong points. It's an engrossing read. You'll learn a lot about how museums work and also how the upper class lives. (It never occurred to me that if you turn on the overhead lights, people will quickly leave, because they don't want their flaws to be seen in bright light.) And the ending is not the simplistic wrap-up that I expected.
Engrossing, an easy read, a page-turner, rich with characters, backstories, and subplots--plus very impressive research, from the inner workings of a 4-star restaurant to the subtleties of different types of medieval armor.
But in the end, you look up and ask: What did I just read?
The concept is wonderful: to look behind the scenes at an iconic institution and at the varied lives of the real people who work there, rather than the artwork we usually focus on. By limiting the time frame to 24 hours, moreover, the book intensifies the richness of its world. Imagine what must happen the other 364 days of the year!
The biggest problem, however, is that the book breezes too quickly through too many characters who--by the nature of the setting--are too similar.
The Cast of Characters at the beginning lists 46 people. In fairness, about half of them are walk-ons. Still, that leaves (I think) eight narrators, all of them connected with a major NYC art museum modeled on the Metropolitan Museum of Art, plus another dozen frequently recurring, supporting actors.
The total cast includes four curators of different types of art, two chefs, six important donors who must be coddled, and four troubled romances. (Also one character who hasn't recovered from his wife's death a year ago.) There's a person who's just been diagnosed with incurable cancer, and another with incurable dementia. Oh, and there are at least two serious forgeries or frauds.
Tooooo much.
Not enough time, enough at nearly 500 pages, to flesh out and distinguish them as individuals.
The author tries to keep things straight, by dropping Homeric-style "tags." But even so, I couldn't remember what department Iona works in, and what's wrong with her marriage, and what's the problem with the lion statue, and what's the difference between Liam and Jimmy, and how was Katherine's long-ago relationship with Benjamin different from her relationship with Clive?
Most of the characters seem to be in their 30s, and everyone is white (usually with a PhD) except for the black chief of security, the Japanese ambassador, and the two donors from the Middle East.
The other problem is that the book asks the reader to accept too many coincidences, all happening on one day. On the day of the museum's annual gala--its biggest fund-raiser of the year -- would the chief of security choose that day to ask the museum's lawyer for an important favor? would the husband of the executive director confront her about their marriage on the very day when he knows how frantic she must be? would HR have a new curator start work? Maybe one important donor is available for a meeting only that day, but four?
Still, this novel has its strong points. It's an engrossing read. You'll learn a lot about how museums work and also how the upper class lives. (It never occurred to me that if you turn on the overhead lights, people will quickly leave, because they don't want their flaws to be seen in bright light.) And the ending is not the simplistic wrap-up that I expected.
January 11, 2025
Heather McGowan’s recent novel centers on the staff and administration of an art museum based in New York City and takes place over a 24 hour period. Each section concerns certain characters and is divided into increments sometimes hourly, occasionally longer, and often shorter. At the heart is an upcoming Gala event that has people on edge.
With a total of 46 characters, the reader is overwhelmed by the sheer number and finds it challenging to follow each. In creating so many characters, the author has chosen not to provide depth or interiority of each character (how could she?) and they are often not distinguishable despite a page count of 400+.
McGowan has a basis in screen writing that is reflected in her prose, which is largely dialogue and reads like a screenplay.
Although sprinkled with wit and humor, the narrative is far too ambitious, expansive and quite scattered. It would have benefited from more focus.
Ultimately McGowan offers us a rare inside look at the workings of high end museum curation but the novel is weighed down by too many characters, too much drama and an overlong length.
With a total of 46 characters, the reader is overwhelmed by the sheer number and finds it challenging to follow each. In creating so many characters, the author has chosen not to provide depth or interiority of each character (how could she?) and they are often not distinguishable despite a page count of 400+.
McGowan has a basis in screen writing that is reflected in her prose, which is largely dialogue and reads like a screenplay.
Although sprinkled with wit and humor, the narrative is far too ambitious, expansive and quite scattered. It would have benefited from more focus.
Ultimately McGowan offers us a rare inside look at the workings of high end museum curation but the novel is weighed down by too many characters, too much drama and an overlong length.
March 10, 2025
If the first season of The White Lotus were set in a fading New York City museum, it would look a lot like Friends of the Museum. This darkly funny, chaotic novel drops readers into a single extraordinary day, weaving together the stories of an ensemble cast as they hurtle toward an inevitable disaster.
I’ll admit, it took me a few starts and stops to find my rhythm with this one. The sheer number of characters—while well-drawn and compelling—can be a lot to juggle. (Thankfully, the book provides a handy reference list at the beginning!) But once I settled into the groove, I found myself captivated by the way the narrative continuously unfolds, rather than following a traditional chapter-by-chapter structure. The novel starts at 4:30 a.m. and keeps moving forward in real time, layering perspectives and tension as the museum’s annual gala looms ever closer.
While this won’t be a book for everyone, I think some of the harsher reviews have been unfair. If the premise intrigues you, I’d encourage you to give it time—this is a novel that rewards patience. It’s a hefty read, but one best approached the way you would your favorite Sunday night drama: sit back, settle in, and let the chaos unfold.
I was initially drawn to Friends of the Museum because of its stunning cover (guilty) and the premise—I love both The White Lotus and art museums. But what really sold me was the five-star endorsement from Mona Awad. If an author known for writing brilliantly unhinged characters loved this, I knew I was in for a treat.
Final Verdict: A sharp, ambitious tragicomedy that might not be for everyone but is absolutely worth the ride for those who enjoy messy, character-driven stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Washington Square Press for the eARC.
I’ll admit, it took me a few starts and stops to find my rhythm with this one. The sheer number of characters—while well-drawn and compelling—can be a lot to juggle. (Thankfully, the book provides a handy reference list at the beginning!) But once I settled into the groove, I found myself captivated by the way the narrative continuously unfolds, rather than following a traditional chapter-by-chapter structure. The novel starts at 4:30 a.m. and keeps moving forward in real time, layering perspectives and tension as the museum’s annual gala looms ever closer.
While this won’t be a book for everyone, I think some of the harsher reviews have been unfair. If the premise intrigues you, I’d encourage you to give it time—this is a novel that rewards patience. It’s a hefty read, but one best approached the way you would your favorite Sunday night drama: sit back, settle in, and let the chaos unfold.
I was initially drawn to Friends of the Museum because of its stunning cover (guilty) and the premise—I love both The White Lotus and art museums. But what really sold me was the five-star endorsement from Mona Awad. If an author known for writing brilliantly unhinged characters loved this, I knew I was in for a treat.
Final Verdict: A sharp, ambitious tragicomedy that might not be for everyone but is absolutely worth the ride for those who enjoy messy, character-driven stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Washington Square Press for the eARC.
2025
September 4, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Washington Square Press
February 12, 2025
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for hosting and Heather McGowan's publishers for providing this copy.
At first, I was convinced this book was not for me. The first 100 pages were tough to get through while trying to navigate the dialogue format and organize the characters in my head. After I was able to pick apart different characters and I understood what was happening I was able to enjoy the story. Because it was so jarring to begin with, I have to give this story three stars instead of four. I would say this book is best suited for individuals who can be patient while reading.
At first, I was convinced this book was not for me. The first 100 pages were tough to get through while trying to navigate the dialogue format and organize the characters in my head. After I was able to pick apart different characters and I understood what was happening I was able to enjoy the story. Because it was so jarring to begin with, I have to give this story three stars instead of four. I would say this book is best suited for individuals who can be patient while reading.
Read
September 27, 2024DNF @ 30% - Not feeling a connection to the characters and the story is going no where
May 14, 2025
What does this author have against quotation marks?? This book is very white lotus coded - you don’t actually like any of the characters but you can’t stop reading and someone dies but not who you think? I’m still confused but did enjoy.
May 15, 2025
There’s something sad to me that this book only has 85 reviews as of me writing this. It deserves more! It deserves to be a Popular Book! Anyway.
I read Friends of the Museum after a years-long hangover from the perfect The Portrait of a Mirror by A. Natasha Joukovsky (READ IT) left me starving for more museum-focused novels. There’s something about art criticism and art appreciation and the bougie snobbery that goes along with it all that makes for a delicious—hilarious but also enriching, educational even—read. (Mark Haber is another author writing about this fabulously, if it’s an interest of yours like it is mine.)
FOTM takes place over the course of a single day. Yes it’s true, all 500 pages and it’s only 24 hours. But there are approximately 62 characters we spend time with, jumping around from person to person as they mill about their day. Really, think of it as if someone fictionalized Frederick Wiseman’s National Gallery. Three hour documentary, meet 500 page book.
The enormous cast is confusing, there’s no getting around it, but once you let go of trying to keep track of who’s who and just settle into accepting “oh here’s a new person going through this thing at this moment” and the next chapter, “oh right, i remember someone going through this thing a few chapters ago, maybe it’s the same person, maybe it isn’t,” it becomes quite enjoyable. It’s like a meandering eavesdropping. The point isn’t getting to know the characters, it’s understanding all of the situations people are going through that are related to the museum.
Unfortunately for me, a significant plot point has to do with a number of people suffering from food poisoning due to a banquet the previous night, which as a hypochondriac emetophobe was painful to read about. But ASIDE from the v*mit talk that triggered my vasovagal response every single time, I still found it very funny! It’s a hoot. It’s clever and wry and slightly mean, which is all I ever really want in a novel. I will say, it’s not educational, I wouldn’t even say it’s very intellectual, but that’s okay, because it’s funny! And if you’re intimidated and think you will find a book about a museum boring, trust me, it’s not. It’s wild and maybe actually even silly.
I would recommend FOTM as your beach/pool read this summer, just don’t read it while you’re eating!!
P.S. I listened to the audiobook which meant (1) there was no way I was ever accessing the list of characters at the front of the book which helped shape my strategy of accepting I was never going to know any of the characters and to stop even trying and (2) some reviewers complained about dialogue being written with dashes instead of quotation marks which admittedly would have made me put the book down IMMEDIATELY so maybe give the audiobook a try.
I read Friends of the Museum after a years-long hangover from the perfect The Portrait of a Mirror by A. Natasha Joukovsky (READ IT) left me starving for more museum-focused novels. There’s something about art criticism and art appreciation and the bougie snobbery that goes along with it all that makes for a delicious—hilarious but also enriching, educational even—read. (Mark Haber is another author writing about this fabulously, if it’s an interest of yours like it is mine.)
FOTM takes place over the course of a single day. Yes it’s true, all 500 pages and it’s only 24 hours. But there are approximately 62 characters we spend time with, jumping around from person to person as they mill about their day. Really, think of it as if someone fictionalized Frederick Wiseman’s National Gallery. Three hour documentary, meet 500 page book.
The enormous cast is confusing, there’s no getting around it, but once you let go of trying to keep track of who’s who and just settle into accepting “oh here’s a new person going through this thing at this moment” and the next chapter, “oh right, i remember someone going through this thing a few chapters ago, maybe it’s the same person, maybe it isn’t,” it becomes quite enjoyable. It’s like a meandering eavesdropping. The point isn’t getting to know the characters, it’s understanding all of the situations people are going through that are related to the museum.
Unfortunately for me, a significant plot point has to do with a number of people suffering from food poisoning due to a banquet the previous night, which as a hypochondriac emetophobe was painful to read about. But ASIDE from the v*mit talk that triggered my vasovagal response every single time, I still found it very funny! It’s a hoot. It’s clever and wry and slightly mean, which is all I ever really want in a novel. I will say, it’s not educational, I wouldn’t even say it’s very intellectual, but that’s okay, because it’s funny! And if you’re intimidated and think you will find a book about a museum boring, trust me, it’s not. It’s wild and maybe actually even silly.
I would recommend FOTM as your beach/pool read this summer, just don’t read it while you’re eating!!
P.S. I listened to the audiobook which meant (1) there was no way I was ever accessing the list of characters at the front of the book which helped shape my strategy of accepting I was never going to know any of the characters and to stop even trying and (2) some reviewers complained about dialogue being written with dashes instead of quotation marks which admittedly would have made me put the book down IMMEDIATELY so maybe give the audiobook a try.
October 18, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Washington Square Press for an ARC of this book.
“Friends of the Museum” is the very definition of wonderful idea, poor execution. This novel follows a group of coworkers at a prestigious museum, and a day in their life as they maintain the museum and do their jobs. This is a book that has to be read in a short period of time, in fact I believe my lower rating of this title is due to the fact I did not read this book quickly enough. Sometimes when I picked up this book I felt unable to put it down, but the majority of the time, the book failed to hold my attention and I was left distracted.
One element I wish there was more of in this book was more ties to the characters with their setting. The setting of a museum feels like a gold mine of material, yet the characters felt quite flat, and the museum was merely a two dimensional backdrop. A piece would occasionally be mentioned, where it felt like the author was more name dropping than anything else. There was so much opportunity for the characters to interact with the art around them, and I wish we got more of that!
“Friends of the Museum” is the very definition of wonderful idea, poor execution. This novel follows a group of coworkers at a prestigious museum, and a day in their life as they maintain the museum and do their jobs. This is a book that has to be read in a short period of time, in fact I believe my lower rating of this title is due to the fact I did not read this book quickly enough. Sometimes when I picked up this book I felt unable to put it down, but the majority of the time, the book failed to hold my attention and I was left distracted.
One element I wish there was more of in this book was more ties to the characters with their setting. The setting of a museum feels like a gold mine of material, yet the characters felt quite flat, and the museum was merely a two dimensional backdrop. A piece would occasionally be mentioned, where it felt like the author was more name dropping than anything else. There was so much opportunity for the characters to interact with the art around them, and I wish we got more of that!
January 9, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books and Washington Square Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Friends of the Museum by Heather McGowan follows the motley assortment of characters working at a storied but downtrodden museum in New York. The book takes place over a single twenty-four hour day. Shifting narration between several characters, it blends the day’s hectic events in vignettes, never resting on one character for too long. Major players include Diane, the museum’s director, Shay, the chief of security, and Benjamin, a newly hired film curator.
This book does a wonderful job at creating a sense of frenetic energy—the choice of punctuation framing, the quick vignettes that switch between character, and the way that individual flashbacks blend together creates a picture of a very frenzied day. Admittedly, the punctuation choices do make it somewhat difficult to read on an eReader, but after a few pages the style becomes more intuitive. It enhances the sense of chaos.
This book also does a pretty clear job of lambasting the status quo in the museum industry; sucking up to the Uber wealthy, lack of diversity, mistreatment of employees. The scenarios of the plot, and more directly, some of the characters make some salient points about the dark side of prestigious art institutions as inefficient, elitist, corporate machines that alienate common viewers.
The thing that the book did slightly less successfully was land on whether or not it was a plot-driven work or one that was more character-driven. While certain characters are more important to the main plot arc, they were given equal weight to the more atmospheric characters. It seemed like some of the story lines existed only to add chaos and suggest more problems with the organization. Certain stories seemed to never braid in to the main narrative, and yet seemed to get overly weighty sections of the story. The sections with Clive and Iona, for example, didn’t really seem to have as much plot values for the 24-hour cycle, and seemed like they were added to have more intrigue without payout.
Ultimately, I did think that the book was pretty engaging and that the characters did have a really interesting plot lines. At time the pacing was a little inconsistent, and the background could be given too much weight compared to more central issues. 3/5!
Friends of the Museum by Heather McGowan follows the motley assortment of characters working at a storied but downtrodden museum in New York. The book takes place over a single twenty-four hour day. Shifting narration between several characters, it blends the day’s hectic events in vignettes, never resting on one character for too long. Major players include Diane, the museum’s director, Shay, the chief of security, and Benjamin, a newly hired film curator.
This book does a wonderful job at creating a sense of frenetic energy—the choice of punctuation framing, the quick vignettes that switch between character, and the way that individual flashbacks blend together creates a picture of a very frenzied day. Admittedly, the punctuation choices do make it somewhat difficult to read on an eReader, but after a few pages the style becomes more intuitive. It enhances the sense of chaos.
This book also does a pretty clear job of lambasting the status quo in the museum industry; sucking up to the Uber wealthy, lack of diversity, mistreatment of employees. The scenarios of the plot, and more directly, some of the characters make some salient points about the dark side of prestigious art institutions as inefficient, elitist, corporate machines that alienate common viewers.
The thing that the book did slightly less successfully was land on whether or not it was a plot-driven work or one that was more character-driven. While certain characters are more important to the main plot arc, they were given equal weight to the more atmospheric characters. It seemed like some of the story lines existed only to add chaos and suggest more problems with the organization. Certain stories seemed to never braid in to the main narrative, and yet seemed to get overly weighty sections of the story. The sections with Clive and Iona, for example, didn’t really seem to have as much plot values for the 24-hour cycle, and seemed like they were added to have more intrigue without payout.
Ultimately, I did think that the book was pretty engaging and that the characters did have a really interesting plot lines. At time the pacing was a little inconsistent, and the background could be given too much weight compared to more central issues. 3/5!
June 16, 2025
Respectfully, do NOT listen to the audio book. Save yourself the headache and get a physical copy/one you can flip back through. I found it INCREDIBLY hard to keep track of all the characters, and the transitions between people and settings is basically nonexistent. The narrator does some different voices but it’s generally pretty similar throughout and hard to tell when there’s a line/page/time break. I saw another review saying McGowan’s background is in screenwriting which makes a lot more sense with how this is written. There is lowkey a lack of plot, all the men in the book make demeaning comments towards women, and it’s just constant airing out of people’s problems. I read this for a book club and some people did find good things to say about it but the general consensus was it was A LOT and generally too sporadic to enjoy while reading it.
October 5, 2025
Like every single character in this novel, my thoughts on it are conflicted. What I thought would be a deal breaker (no use of quotation marks or denoting who is speaking) was actually manageable, although annoying AF. The fact that you *will* need to keep referencing the list of characters in the front of the book until at least halfway through also was annoying AF, but I persevered. And I'm glad that I did, but also I'm not quite sure why. Every character is neither likable nor completely vile. While events stretched over a 24-hour period, it felt like it went on for months. I did enjoy it more than not and was invested, wanting to see the outcome. Yet at the end, I definitely had the feeling of glad that's done with. I guess to sum it up, for something that seemed to be a novel of twelve different character studies, I would much prefer the deft hand of Stewart O'Nan in Wish You Were Here or Last Night at The Lobster.
dnf
December 29, 2024I'd like to thank NetGalley for the ARC for this book.
However, it just was not for me. I had to DNF this at 10%. I personally do not like the way the dialogue was written. In the first chapter, I was a bit confused when trying to distinguish when dialogue was happening or narration was happening. Then, a complete shift in how dialogue is presented in the next chapter. I don't understand why some authors don't use quotation marks to outline dialogue? It's far less confusing for the reader that way.
I tried to push through it because the premise seemed really interesting, but I could not connect to the characters. I had trouble following the plot, and I did not enjoy how it was written. I also had issues with how the author wrote fat characters. The brief mentions of them rubbed me the wrong way. All in all, while I appreciate the opportunity, I had to DNF.
However, it just was not for me. I had to DNF this at 10%. I personally do not like the way the dialogue was written. In the first chapter, I was a bit confused when trying to distinguish when dialogue was happening or narration was happening. Then, a complete shift in how dialogue is presented in the next chapter. I don't understand why some authors don't use quotation marks to outline dialogue? It's far less confusing for the reader that way.
I tried to push through it because the premise seemed really interesting, but I could not connect to the characters. I had trouble following the plot, and I did not enjoy how it was written. I also had issues with how the author wrote fat characters. The brief mentions of them rubbed me the wrong way. All in all, while I appreciate the opportunity, I had to DNF.
October 26, 2024
DNF @ 20%
This book has put me in a major reading slump and I have to call it. Way too many characters for me to follow and way too little actually happening in the 24 hours the book supposedly covers. 2 stars may be generous but there wasn’t anything wrong with the writing for me to give it a 1-star.
Thank you for the eARC NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book has put me in a major reading slump and I have to call it. Way too many characters for me to follow and way too little actually happening in the 24 hours the book supposedly covers. 2 stars may be generous but there wasn’t anything wrong with the writing for me to give it a 1-star.
Thank you for the eARC NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 10, 2025
"We try, of course we do. But in the end we do the thing that keeps us lonely." (314)
May 28, 2025
The cover art is honestly a really good representation of this book. This one is great if you like listening to the problems of unlikable people.
Read
February 17, 2025DNF @ 10%
I was trying really hard to like this book but the formatting and the plot kind of had me going nowhere. I may try again once the physical copy comes out, but for right now this story just isn't for me.
Thank you Netgalley for the free eARC in return for an honest review. Expected publication date April 15, 2025.
I was trying really hard to like this book but the formatting and the plot kind of had me going nowhere. I may try again once the physical copy comes out, but for right now this story just isn't for me.
Thank you Netgalley for the free eARC in return for an honest review. Expected publication date April 15, 2025.
March 3, 2025
Employees at a NYC museum had so much more on their minds – besides art. This book was packed with all sorts of reflections from a list of 46 high-level employees, Board members and donors. They had a lot to say regarding their relationships, food and fashion. My favorite part was when opinions were shared about current political views.
Just like the cover with someone scratching his head, I felt the same way when I started reading. It took some time to adjust to the author’s free-style writing with dashes rather than quotes.
There was something different also with chapter headings. It started at 5:30 a.m. and ended 24 hours later. The parts jumped from one person to another with advanced time slots. I felt like I was the new employee trying to keep everyone’s names straight in my head. Fortunately, a list was provided.
The staff was gearing up for a gala later in the day. They talked about art and donors but not enough. I wanted to know more about the exhibits. I noticed that on the list of key positions, there wasn't a Development Officer which I found to be odd with major fundraising objectives.
Remarks were made about diversity, women’s sizes, and women’s ages. It showed the typical flattering sales approach with a donor to get support. Were the wealthy patrons even thinking about art? It was a long book much like some days at work when the clock is ticking.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 15, 2025.
Just like the cover with someone scratching his head, I felt the same way when I started reading. It took some time to adjust to the author’s free-style writing with dashes rather than quotes.
There was something different also with chapter headings. It started at 5:30 a.m. and ended 24 hours later. The parts jumped from one person to another with advanced time slots. I felt like I was the new employee trying to keep everyone’s names straight in my head. Fortunately, a list was provided.
The staff was gearing up for a gala later in the day. They talked about art and donors but not enough. I wanted to know more about the exhibits. I noticed that on the list of key positions, there wasn't a Development Officer which I found to be odd with major fundraising objectives.
Remarks were made about diversity, women’s sizes, and women’s ages. It showed the typical flattering sales approach with a donor to get support. Were the wealthy patrons even thinking about art? It was a long book much like some days at work when the clock is ticking.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 15, 2025.
February 21, 2025
I was deeply excited to read this book. The premise was positively scintillating to me and it came with such high praise from the VP and EIC at Atria, that I couldn’t have imagined a way this book could disappoint… but unfortunately it did.
This book takes place over 24 hours with a large cast of characters -all fine- except in execution. The slow pacing feels very disjointed with the fast timeline, without feeling subversive or intriguing. The large cast of characters are often speaking to one another in groups, and this is a chore to read (without reward) as traditional grammar is not used to mark who is speaking and when.
I’m curious if I were to come back to this later, knowing the reading experience to be a challenge, if I might find something positive in the book, but it was a struggle upon the first read.
I think this book would suit someone who has the inclination to indulge in each syntax and would appreciate lingering in the text, and might take pleasure in its unconventional style.
Thank you to Atria for the free advanced readers proof in exchange for an honest review.
This book takes place over 24 hours with a large cast of characters -all fine- except in execution. The slow pacing feels very disjointed with the fast timeline, without feeling subversive or intriguing. The large cast of characters are often speaking to one another in groups, and this is a chore to read (without reward) as traditional grammar is not used to mark who is speaking and when.
I’m curious if I were to come back to this later, knowing the reading experience to be a challenge, if I might find something positive in the book, but it was a struggle upon the first read.
I think this book would suit someone who has the inclination to indulge in each syntax and would appreciate lingering in the text, and might take pleasure in its unconventional style.
Thank you to Atria for the free advanced readers proof in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2025
Yes, there are oodles and oodles of characters and it was hard to keep track of at times, but I read a good many characters as props. There’s not enough time in the day to get to know each and every one of them so McGowan relies on their dialogue and reactions to form their personalities, which I thought was done well! The beginning was a little slow, but I thought the final act was worth it. My head spun with all the different perspectives, yet I enjoyed the ride. The ending unfortunately did not satisfy me, as I actually really liked the eventual victim and thought it came out of nowhere in an otherwise realistic narrative. Friends of the Museum would, quite frankly, lend itself better to an HBO miniseries
December 28, 2024
This book had so much potential. The story itself is so interesting, but there is SO MUCH going on. There are a lot of characters (thankful for the list up front), but then we go through all of those characters hour by hour. The style itself is hard to read. You need to pay attention, but if you don’t pay attention closely you’ll miss something or else forget the small details if you wait too long.
Thank you Net Galley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book.
Thank you Net Galley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book.
July 18, 2025
I don’t often write reviews for books that i read (something i want to change) because if i really love a book it’s hard to put my love into words and describe all the reasons i love it & if i didn’t like the book i typically don’t feel compelled to explain in detail why i didn’t like that book. With that said, i am writing a review on this book if for no other reason than to sort out my own feelings on it because there was a lot i liked, and a lot i didn’t like.
To begin, this book had a seemingly very interesting premise to me; live through one hectic day through the lens of museum workers. While this book has a large cast of characters that i felt a lot of which were not properly introduced, i often felt this book would’ve been delivered better as a play. Scenes of dialogue were not accompanied with “he said, she said” so i often found myself rereading these scenes to keep track of who was speaking when. However, a cast this large worked to this books detriment because by the end a lot of them still felt flat. We are thrown into their lives on one specific morning and go through 24 hours in real time with them, so we know little about them prior to this day, and we know even less about them after this day, although we can safely assume the futures of some and the decisions that they will make. Although a lot of the personal issues these characters bring with them to work on this particular day do feel mostly fleshed out, with the exception of Clive and Diane.
I did quite enjoy seeing how despite all the issues going on at the museum on this day, each character is battling their own personal issues that become difficult to separate from their day at the museum. Their personal struggles and work struggles seem to merge at times like they often do in reality. Not to mention the layers of issues gets more complicated when you have characters with personal issues, characters dealing with work issues, and characters dealing with the issues they have with one another, not to mention characters dealing with all three.
One of my favorite episodes of Friends is The One Where No One’s Ready (s3 e2) and i couldn’t stop thinking about that episode while reading this book because both seem to take on this if-it-can-go-wrong-then-it-will mentality which i tend to enjoy. Like this book, you experience that episode in real time and watch the chaos unfold knowing there’s nothing you can do to stop it so you just sit back and cringe.
More accurately it felt like watching The Pitt, where you know not every day is as bad as this one, but for the sake of plot, McGowan is showing us the worst, and possibly most dramatic day that could unfold at a museum.
Overall, i didn’t LOVE this book, which is disappointing to write because i was really excited to read it once i saw some people say that it felt adjacent to The White Lotus and maybe it did in terms of social unawareness amongst the very wealthy, but that might be where it ends for me. The White Lotus is often slow and drawn out, and the chaos in that show always feels like a volcano about to erupt, whereas this book feels like a series of mini eruptions that don’t carry nearly as much weight.
To begin, this book had a seemingly very interesting premise to me; live through one hectic day through the lens of museum workers. While this book has a large cast of characters that i felt a lot of which were not properly introduced, i often felt this book would’ve been delivered better as a play. Scenes of dialogue were not accompanied with “he said, she said” so i often found myself rereading these scenes to keep track of who was speaking when. However, a cast this large worked to this books detriment because by the end a lot of them still felt flat. We are thrown into their lives on one specific morning and go through 24 hours in real time with them, so we know little about them prior to this day, and we know even less about them after this day, although we can safely assume the futures of some and the decisions that they will make. Although a lot of the personal issues these characters bring with them to work on this particular day do feel mostly fleshed out, with the exception of Clive and Diane.
I did quite enjoy seeing how despite all the issues going on at the museum on this day, each character is battling their own personal issues that become difficult to separate from their day at the museum. Their personal struggles and work struggles seem to merge at times like they often do in reality. Not to mention the layers of issues gets more complicated when you have characters with personal issues, characters dealing with work issues, and characters dealing with the issues they have with one another, not to mention characters dealing with all three.
One of my favorite episodes of Friends is The One Where No One’s Ready (s3 e2) and i couldn’t stop thinking about that episode while reading this book because both seem to take on this if-it-can-go-wrong-then-it-will mentality which i tend to enjoy. Like this book, you experience that episode in real time and watch the chaos unfold knowing there’s nothing you can do to stop it so you just sit back and cringe.
More accurately it felt like watching The Pitt, where you know not every day is as bad as this one, but for the sake of plot, McGowan is showing us the worst, and possibly most dramatic day that could unfold at a museum.
Overall, i didn’t LOVE this book, which is disappointing to write because i was really excited to read it once i saw some people say that it felt adjacent to The White Lotus and maybe it did in terms of social unawareness amongst the very wealthy, but that might be where it ends for me. The White Lotus is often slow and drawn out, and the chaos in that show always feels like a volcano about to erupt, whereas this book feels like a series of mini eruptions that don’t carry nearly as much weight.
August 16, 2025
I can understand why some people dislike Friends of the Museum, but I absolutely adored it! This book felt like a whirlwind as it took place over the span of 24 hours. Despite not liking a vast majority of the characters, I was deeply invested in how their day went. While this book contains a vast array of characters, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the numbers of perspectives, especially as the story unfolded. I think it added to the general feeling of chaos that I enjoyed so much while reading. I also found it interesting how many of these coworkers were going through the same or similar events in their lives, and yet they did not discuss these similarities or know much about each other’s lives. (For example: certain parallels between Shay and Henry that they never discussed directly but were major parts of their stories.) There were many things left unsaid between characters, and yet many things confessed. One quote that stuck out to me was on page 370:
“How comforting to be assured that yes, it’s not just me here bungling along, whacking objects out of my face, but many of us whacking away.”
I would definitely recommend for people to try this out if they’re interested despite the low ratings!
Also, after watching Etoile at the beginning of this summer, it felt apt to have one of my last reads of summer break be another story of coworkers in an artistic field interacting and generally being crazy.
“How comforting to be assured that yes, it’s not just me here bungling along, whacking objects out of my face, but many of us whacking away.”
I would definitely recommend for people to try this out if they’re interested despite the low ratings!
Also, after watching Etoile at the beginning of this summer, it felt apt to have one of my last reads of summer break be another story of coworkers in an artistic field interacting and generally being crazy.
December 25, 2024
Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC of this novel!
The blurb from Mona Awad got me, as well as the comparison to The White Lotus, so I was looking forward to this one. That comparison is apt, but it downplays how much this book comments on art as both a practice and an institution. Those moments are great and probably the best payoff in it. Not that the characters aren’t a strength here too. Some are so tragic, and others just witty and villainous. It’s a huge cast, but the list at the front helped a lot.
My problem with reading this was the stylistic grammatical choices for dialogue. Found myself rereading whole pages at times, trying to figure out who said what and what was internal monologue. It worked but it wasn’t easy.
I really enjoyed this, but it’s not for everyone, and I wonder if some of the negative reviews are from people expecting a faster-paced novel or something more resolved than the ambivalent ending with both tragic and ironic promises for the museum and its friends.
The blurb from Mona Awad got me, as well as the comparison to The White Lotus, so I was looking forward to this one. That comparison is apt, but it downplays how much this book comments on art as both a practice and an institution. Those moments are great and probably the best payoff in it. Not that the characters aren’t a strength here too. Some are so tragic, and others just witty and villainous. It’s a huge cast, but the list at the front helped a lot.
My problem with reading this was the stylistic grammatical choices for dialogue. Found myself rereading whole pages at times, trying to figure out who said what and what was internal monologue. It worked but it wasn’t easy.
I really enjoyed this, but it’s not for everyone, and I wonder if some of the negative reviews are from people expecting a faster-paced novel or something more resolved than the ambivalent ending with both tragic and ironic promises for the museum and its friends.
July 11, 2025
“The thing about collecting, Diane, you think it’s about aesthetics, the beauty of the pieces. And that’s what it should be, right? Or a fascination with history, looking at the concrete and finding in it a way of experiencing the abstract, almost impossible concept of lives lived hundreds of years ago. In fact it’s neither of those things. It’s just a sad obsession for people who live for the chase. Who can’t find joy in the present. Pleasure lies in anticipation. The next object, and the one after that.”
4.25 I loved the mayhem stars
I have to premise my high rating with the caveat that this book isn’t for everyone so if you’re not one of the following, you should skip it.
1. A museum/arts/fashion employee
2. Lover of multiple characters
3. Incredibly flawed, crazy characters
4. A reader of uniquely formatted books
If you answered yes to any of those, give this book a try. I loved it!
4.25 I loved the mayhem stars
I have to premise my high rating with the caveat that this book isn’t for everyone so if you’re not one of the following, you should skip it.
1. A museum/arts/fashion employee
2. Lover of multiple characters
3. Incredibly flawed, crazy characters
4. A reader of uniquely formatted books
If you answered yes to any of those, give this book a try. I loved it!
April 18, 2025
I'm always worried when a book starts with a long list of character names, especially when it's not a fantasy novel. This book has *way* too many characters in it. Too many for a reader to care about, and too many for the author to give any real depth. It maybe could've been saved if the author hadn't trapped herself in the box of going minute-by-minute over an interminable day. It only served to make the book much, much longer than it should have been.
April 16, 2025
okay i was lucky enough to be granted an arc which i finished… the day the book came out. unideal, for sure. however, this was a tad disappointing for one of my most anticipated reads of the year.
it was billed as a mystery, when it was much moreso the lead up to a climax you knew was going to happen, without knowledge of what form it would take. that alone would have been fine, but it was a slog to get through. the characters were largely annoying, and not in the fun, 3 dimensional way — it was easy to get bored.
i just really think there was no closure on any of the plot lines — that’s possibly the way it was supposed to be but not at all satisfying to me.
it was billed as a mystery, when it was much moreso the lead up to a climax you knew was going to happen, without knowledge of what form it would take. that alone would have been fine, but it was a slog to get through. the characters were largely annoying, and not in the fun, 3 dimensional way — it was easy to get bored.
i just really think there was no closure on any of the plot lines — that’s possibly the way it was supposed to be but not at all satisfying to me.
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