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Everything is Beautiful
Als Amy Ashtons Welt vor zehn Jahren auseinanderbrach, fing sie an zu sammeln. Nur ein paar Erinnerungsstücke: Geißblattblüten, mit denen ihr Freund sie früher beschenkte, ein angestoßener Porzellanvogel, rissige Tontöpfe… Sachen, die andere Leute wegwerfen würden, die für Amy aber ein Leben verkörpern, das so schön hätte sein können.
Da trifft Amy den frechen kleinen Nachbarsjungen Charlie. Sie merkt: der bringt ihr ruhiges Leben völlig durcheinander. Könnte doch noch alles schön werden - vielleicht schon morgen?
Da trifft Amy den frechen kleinen Nachbarsjungen Charlie. Sie merkt: der bringt ihr ruhiges Leben völlig durcheinander. Könnte doch noch alles schön werden - vielleicht schon morgen?
317 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2021
347 people are currently reading
19413 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Ray
3 books178 followersEleanor Ray has an MA in English Literature from Edinburgh University. She lives in London with her husband and three young children.
Eleanor was inspired to write Everything is Beautiful (also known as The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton in the US) by the objects her toddler collects and treasures – twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies.
The Art of Belonging is her second novel and was written in lock down. It is about the messy, complicated and wonderful things that can happen when families are together.
Eleanor was inspired to write Everything is Beautiful (also known as The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton in the US) by the objects her toddler collects and treasures – twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies.
The Art of Belonging is her second novel and was written in lock down. It is about the messy, complicated and wonderful things that can happen when families are together.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 974 reviews
November 12, 2022
The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton
Eleanor Ray (Author), Eilidh Beaton (Narrator)
I adore this story about Amy Ashton, a woman who has been hurt so badly that she's given up on humans and attached herself to every inanimate object she can get her hands on. Those things now take up her entire house, piles and piles of boxes and bags, stacks of things, teetering towards the ceiling, covering the floors, stairs, furniture, with barely a path to walk through her house. These things make Amy happy, she goes to work knowing her things will be waiting for her when she gets home. Yes, of course, she can barely find anything when she looks for it but that's okay, she can buy more when she needs them.
Eleven years ago, something happened to Amy that caused her to throw her lot in with things rather than people. Now she has a nosy neighbor who is always nagging her about her things. In fact, there are people who want to come into her home to inspect it, as if her home and things are a health hazard. It's all the fault of her nosy neighbor and the new neighbor next door, the girlfriend of the widower with two kids. She'll just have to ignore any knocks at the door or any rings of her doorbell.
The story starts slowly and I was afraid we'd have to meet every single item in Amy's hoard but that didn't happen. Instead we meet Charles aka Charlie, 8 1/2 years old (almost 9!), the oldest son of Amy's new next door neighbor, Richard. Charles loves Amy from almost the moment he meets her and he's good for Amy, such a smart, insightful little boy, with answers for almost everything. He makes no secret of the fact that he favors Amy over his dad's dreadful, evil girlfriend.
This is a sweet story, about how broken hearts can harm us forever, if we don't let go, but also about how broken hearts can be mended if we make room for love. Letting go can make room and this is a lesson that Amy needs to learn.
Pub June 8 2021 by Simon & Schuster Audio
Eleanor Ray (Author), Eilidh Beaton (Narrator)
I adore this story about Amy Ashton, a woman who has been hurt so badly that she's given up on humans and attached herself to every inanimate object she can get her hands on. Those things now take up her entire house, piles and piles of boxes and bags, stacks of things, teetering towards the ceiling, covering the floors, stairs, furniture, with barely a path to walk through her house. These things make Amy happy, she goes to work knowing her things will be waiting for her when she gets home. Yes, of course, she can barely find anything when she looks for it but that's okay, she can buy more when she needs them.
Eleven years ago, something happened to Amy that caused her to throw her lot in with things rather than people. Now she has a nosy neighbor who is always nagging her about her things. In fact, there are people who want to come into her home to inspect it, as if her home and things are a health hazard. It's all the fault of her nosy neighbor and the new neighbor next door, the girlfriend of the widower with two kids. She'll just have to ignore any knocks at the door or any rings of her doorbell.
The story starts slowly and I was afraid we'd have to meet every single item in Amy's hoard but that didn't happen. Instead we meet Charles aka Charlie, 8 1/2 years old (almost 9!), the oldest son of Amy's new next door neighbor, Richard. Charles loves Amy from almost the moment he meets her and he's good for Amy, such a smart, insightful little boy, with answers for almost everything. He makes no secret of the fact that he favors Amy over his dad's dreadful, evil girlfriend.
This is a sweet story, about how broken hearts can harm us forever, if we don't let go, but also about how broken hearts can be mended if we make room for love. Letting go can make room and this is a lesson that Amy needs to learn.
Pub June 8 2021 by Simon & Schuster Audio
May 16, 2021
Bravo on this wonderful debut novel!
I did get a little bit of "Eleanor Oliphant" vibes here although Eleanor was more endearing to me and Amy is a more serious character.
I was engrossed in this book from start to finish. I loved the writing style and could not put it down.
Amy Ashton has been suffering for a long time. Her boyfriend and best friend just disappeared one day and she has not seen or heard from them in over ten years. She lives a sad and lonely life and her coping mechanism is to "collect" things.
I really did not know the direction this book would take as I did not read up on it too much. The chapters are filled with some flashbacks as well as present day happenings as Amy tries to figure out what really happened to her best friend and the man she thought she was going to marry.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada (Gallery books) for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.
Oh this book in emojis..🐦🦜🦉🏺☕️🕰🍷🍾🚜🗑
I did get a little bit of "Eleanor Oliphant" vibes here although Eleanor was more endearing to me and Amy is a more serious character.
I was engrossed in this book from start to finish. I loved the writing style and could not put it down.
Amy Ashton has been suffering for a long time. Her boyfriend and best friend just disappeared one day and she has not seen or heard from them in over ten years. She lives a sad and lonely life and her coping mechanism is to "collect" things.
I really did not know the direction this book would take as I did not read up on it too much. The chapters are filled with some flashbacks as well as present day happenings as Amy tries to figure out what really happened to her best friend and the man she thought she was going to marry.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada (Gallery books) for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.
Oh this book in emojis..🐦🦜🦉🏺☕️🕰🍷🍾🚜🗑
March 20, 2021
EXCERPT: Home.
Amy felt better just seeing her front garden. Her beautiful pots guarded the house faithfully. She held her keyring tightly in her hand as she finally slid her key into the lock. Amy went in and closed the door behind her, ready to forget that the evening had ever happened.
She stepped forward into her hallway and tripped. One of her giant stacks of newspapers had fallen over. Again. Newspapers were mingling with unopened mail and dried petals. The debris lined the floor like autumn leaves. She shuffled through; she couldn't face clearing up the mess. Not this evening. Some of the other towers of newspaper looked precarious too, reaching floor to ceiling like Doric columns. Her hallway reminded her of the Acropolis.
The Acropolis after a party, she thought, stumbling over an empty wine bottle. She used to store her collection of green bottles in the kitchen, but she'd had to move some so she could get into the fridge. Ten or twenty privileged bottles sat on her hallway shelves; a couple had even been transformed into vases with stems of honeysuckle. But that had been some time ago, and the flowers had dehydrated into crunchy brown husks.
Many of the bottles lounged empty on the floor, still waiting for a purpose.
A second chance.
ABOUT 'EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL': Sometimes it's impossible to part with the things we love the most...
When Amy Ashton's world came crashing down eleven years ago, she started a collection. Just a little collection, just a few keepsakes of happier times: some honeysuckle to remind herself of the boy she loved, a chipped china bird, an old terracotta pot . . . Things that others might throw away, but to Amy, represent a life that could have been.
Now her house is overflowing with the objects she loves - soon there'll be no room for Amy at all. But when a family move in next door, a chance discovery unearths a mystery long buried, and Amy's carefully curated life begins to unravel. If she can find the courage to face her past, might the future she thought she'd lost still be hers for the taking?
MY THOUGHTS: Everything is Beautiful was a little more chic-lit than I was expecting... I liked the plot and thought it had a great deal of potential, but I found most of the characters, including Amy, quite stylized. I loved Richard and his boys.
Amy's 'collection' addiction is treated very sympathetically.
The mystery was quite unexpected, as was the solution and, for me, was the highlight of the book.
This is a quick, easy and entertaining read but I was expecting a little more depth than what I got.
⭐⭐⭐.3
#EverythingisBeautiful #NetGalley
#hachetteaudio #eleanorraybooks
@HachetteAudio @#eleanorraybooks
#contemporaryfiction #mystery #domesticdrama #romance
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette UK Audio via Netgalley for providing an audiobook ARC of Everything is Beautiful by Eleanor Ray for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Amy felt better just seeing her front garden. Her beautiful pots guarded the house faithfully. She held her keyring tightly in her hand as she finally slid her key into the lock. Amy went in and closed the door behind her, ready to forget that the evening had ever happened.
She stepped forward into her hallway and tripped. One of her giant stacks of newspapers had fallen over. Again. Newspapers were mingling with unopened mail and dried petals. The debris lined the floor like autumn leaves. She shuffled through; she couldn't face clearing up the mess. Not this evening. Some of the other towers of newspaper looked precarious too, reaching floor to ceiling like Doric columns. Her hallway reminded her of the Acropolis.
The Acropolis after a party, she thought, stumbling over an empty wine bottle. She used to store her collection of green bottles in the kitchen, but she'd had to move some so she could get into the fridge. Ten or twenty privileged bottles sat on her hallway shelves; a couple had even been transformed into vases with stems of honeysuckle. But that had been some time ago, and the flowers had dehydrated into crunchy brown husks.
Many of the bottles lounged empty on the floor, still waiting for a purpose.
A second chance.
ABOUT 'EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL': Sometimes it's impossible to part with the things we love the most...
When Amy Ashton's world came crashing down eleven years ago, she started a collection. Just a little collection, just a few keepsakes of happier times: some honeysuckle to remind herself of the boy she loved, a chipped china bird, an old terracotta pot . . . Things that others might throw away, but to Amy, represent a life that could have been.
Now her house is overflowing with the objects she loves - soon there'll be no room for Amy at all. But when a family move in next door, a chance discovery unearths a mystery long buried, and Amy's carefully curated life begins to unravel. If she can find the courage to face her past, might the future she thought she'd lost still be hers for the taking?
MY THOUGHTS: Everything is Beautiful was a little more chic-lit than I was expecting... I liked the plot and thought it had a great deal of potential, but I found most of the characters, including Amy, quite stylized. I loved Richard and his boys.
Amy's 'collection' addiction is treated very sympathetically.
The mystery was quite unexpected, as was the solution and, for me, was the highlight of the book.
This is a quick, easy and entertaining read but I was expecting a little more depth than what I got.
⭐⭐⭐.3
#EverythingisBeautiful #NetGalley
#hachetteaudio #eleanorraybooks
@HachetteAudio @#eleanorraybooks
#contemporaryfiction #mystery #domesticdrama #romance
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette UK Audio via Netgalley for providing an audiobook ARC of Everything is Beautiful by Eleanor Ray for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 9, 2021
A quirky, heart-warming, cozy little read.
Amy Ashton won me over. She surrounds herself with the things she loves- bottles, broken china birds, terracotta pots, bric-a-brac. She has a way with fixing broken things, especially mugs. She always has her handy glue to mend all the things. She does need some help on a personal level though, some things from her past.
Her treasures fill a loneliness in her heart. I was always happy to pick this one up and catch up with Amy! There is a little mystery too, wrapped up in the story. All the colorful characters kept me turning the pages, wondering how it would all work out.
Recommend if you enjoy novels with depth, a character to cheer for and even a light mystery.
Own it / Read in September 2021
Amy Ashton won me over. She surrounds herself with the things she loves- bottles, broken china birds, terracotta pots, bric-a-brac. She has a way with fixing broken things, especially mugs. She always has her handy glue to mend all the things. She does need some help on a personal level though, some things from her past.
Her treasures fill a loneliness in her heart. I was always happy to pick this one up and catch up with Amy! There is a little mystery too, wrapped up in the story. All the colorful characters kept me turning the pages, wondering how it would all work out.
Recommend if you enjoy novels with depth, a character to cheer for and even a light mystery.
Own it / Read in September 2021
July 27, 2021
What a book!!! I adore you Amy Ashton!!!
Amy has found her best friend for life in Chantel and the love of her life in Tim. They even share a flat together which makes Amy feel warm and happy to have the two people she holds dearest with her always.
Until Tim and Chantel disappear leaving Amy to wonder what happened to them.
Chantel's ex and so many others believe the impossible: The two have runaway to be together.
Amy can't believe it, she won't believe it, she doesn't want to believe it......until she does. What other logical explanation is there?
Needless to say she is beyond broken hearted. In their absence she discovers something else ... a need to accrue beautiful little possessions. Mugs, vases, ashtrays, and her porcelain birds among many other carefully selected items. It started with just a few, then a few more, and now she is barely able to navigate her own home. Not really a problem as she never has company. Her possessions won't deceive her like the people she once loved. It's safer with them.
That is until a new family moves in next door and with them two rambunctious little boys. A friendship begins first with the children and then with their father Richard. Richard can see Amy is in pain and he will do whatever it takes to be there for her.
I loved this book from beginning to end. My heart broke for Amy and what she had experienced but make no mistake this isn't a sad book. It's all about finding a reason to open up our hearts and our home, in this case, to others after experiencing something so tragic. Richard and his boys were just the sweetest. Even characters in the beginning that I didn't care for I grew to care for. Needless to say I turned the final page with a happy heart and a smile on my face. Eleanor Ray has a bright future ahead of her if this debut is anything to go by. 4 stars!
Amy has found her best friend for life in Chantel and the love of her life in Tim. They even share a flat together which makes Amy feel warm and happy to have the two people she holds dearest with her always.
Until Tim and Chantel disappear leaving Amy to wonder what happened to them.
Chantel's ex and so many others believe the impossible: The two have runaway to be together.
Amy can't believe it, she won't believe it, she doesn't want to believe it......until she does. What other logical explanation is there?
Needless to say she is beyond broken hearted. In their absence she discovers something else ... a need to accrue beautiful little possessions. Mugs, vases, ashtrays, and her porcelain birds among many other carefully selected items. It started with just a few, then a few more, and now she is barely able to navigate her own home. Not really a problem as she never has company. Her possessions won't deceive her like the people she once loved. It's safer with them.
That is until a new family moves in next door and with them two rambunctious little boys. A friendship begins first with the children and then with their father Richard. Richard can see Amy is in pain and he will do whatever it takes to be there for her.
I loved this book from beginning to end. My heart broke for Amy and what she had experienced but make no mistake this isn't a sad book. It's all about finding a reason to open up our hearts and our home, in this case, to others after experiencing something so tragic. Richard and his boys were just the sweetest. Even characters in the beginning that I didn't care for I grew to care for. Needless to say I turned the final page with a happy heart and a smile on my face. Eleanor Ray has a bright future ahead of her if this debut is anything to go by. 4 stars!
February 10, 2021
Review to come nearer to publication in February 2021
September 9, 2021
I have no recollection how this ended up on my TBR and I didn’t bother reading the blurb once my library hold came up so imagine my delight when it turned out this was about one of my most strange addictions . . . .
Please don’t come at me too hard when I say I’m fascinated by this behavior. I realize it sounds so heartless but my inability to look away does stem from a place of attempting to understand what causes the condition. While I have no personal experience with this disorder (aside from an addiction to decorating for Christmas), I thought this story did a great and probably pretty accurate job of demonstrating how one or a few monumental events could cause an already fragile mindset to seek out things for comfort.
Amy’s need to surround herself with mugs and terra cotta pots and lighters and ashtrays and birds and clocks and so on was understandable. I really loved that she was well aware that this wasn’t “normal” behavior because I think most people with the proclivity to hoard are well aware their houses shouldn’t be in the state they have let them become but they just can’t see a way out. The forest has gotten in the way of the trees so to speak. And the wanting to be different but backsliding??? That is what a mental disorder will do to you.
To take just a small sec to address the pink elephant in the room without being too spoiley regarding the catalyst behind Amy’s hoarding. Yes I had suspicions I knew the goings on immediately. And it was like a sliver under my skin irritating the crap out of me for a good portion of the book. Buuuuuuut I didnt know the details until about the 75% mark and I ended up only being half right so hindsight is working as a great thing and my rating reflects my impression of the story as a whole.
I’m also more than happy to report that while I had assumed upon starting (and would have most likely been A-okay with it) that this was going to be a romance it ended up not being one at all. I definitely would have made a gripe about magic penises fixing broken women being a trope I don’t love, but again I usually get over that reaction because I like feel good crap as much as the next gal. But as I said yaaaaay for this not being a kissing book at all.
I’m giving this four stars. I was surprised by the genre bending sort of storyline and truly appreciate any author willing to write about potentially offensive subject matter. I think Eleanor Ray did a bang up job with Amy Ashton. I would have given it 4.5 had the original title and cover been kept . . . .
So swoony!
Please don’t come at me too hard when I say I’m fascinated by this behavior. I realize it sounds so heartless but my inability to look away does stem from a place of attempting to understand what causes the condition. While I have no personal experience with this disorder (aside from an addiction to decorating for Christmas), I thought this story did a great and probably pretty accurate job of demonstrating how one or a few monumental events could cause an already fragile mindset to seek out things for comfort.
Amy’s need to surround herself with mugs and terra cotta pots and lighters and ashtrays and birds and clocks and so on was understandable. I really loved that she was well aware that this wasn’t “normal” behavior because I think most people with the proclivity to hoard are well aware their houses shouldn’t be in the state they have let them become but they just can’t see a way out. The forest has gotten in the way of the trees so to speak. And the wanting to be different but backsliding??? That is what a mental disorder will do to you.
To take just a small sec to address the pink elephant in the room without being too spoiley regarding the catalyst behind Amy’s hoarding. Yes I had suspicions I knew the goings on immediately. And it was like a sliver under my skin irritating the crap out of me for a good portion of the book. Buuuuuuut I didnt know the details until about the 75% mark and I ended up only being half right so hindsight is working as a great thing and my rating reflects my impression of the story as a whole.
I’m also more than happy to report that while I had assumed upon starting (and would have most likely been A-okay with it) that this was going to be a romance it ended up not being one at all. I definitely would have made a gripe about magic penises fixing broken women being a trope I don’t love, but again I usually get over that reaction because I like feel good crap as much as the next gal. But as I said yaaaaay for this not being a kissing book at all.
I’m giving this four stars. I was surprised by the genre bending sort of storyline and truly appreciate any author willing to write about potentially offensive subject matter. I think Eleanor Ray did a bang up job with Amy Ashton. I would have given it 4.5 had the original title and cover been kept . . . .
So swoony!
March 16, 2021
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of this well written story had my full attention! Amy is a hoarder - she can barely make her way from one room to the next in her small house, located in a town just outside of London. She has stacks of newspapers, boxes, bottles and bric-a-brac EVERYWHERE! Amy is indulging in shopping therapy. As the story progresses in its leisurely way, we are given hints that Amy suffered a great and unexpected loss.
Out of the blue, Amy's beloved boyfriend, Tim, ghosted her. On the very same day, her best friend Chantal also disappeared. No farewell notes, no emails, no texts, no phone calls - from EITHER of them! Amy didn't want to believe what all of their mutual friends had concluded - that Tim and Chantal had eloped - but after 11 years, it was hard to come up with any different explanation.
Amy is left in limbo, and instead of looking for a therapist to help her deal with her feelings of abandonment and grief, Amy buys beautiful things that give her momentary pleasure. (No judgement here: many of us have been there, done that.) But Amy has gone to an extreme, and the neighbours and the neighbourhood council want Amy to reduce the massive clutter in her home - contractors can't even get in to repair the chimney, for goodness sake!
Whether Amy likes it or not, Amy's life is going to change in drastic ways. New neighbours move in with two rambunctious little boys. One day, those rambunctious boys sneak into her backyard and topple one of several towers of clay planter's pots. Amy discovers a RING among the shards of clay - which starts her thinking..... and soon she is catapulted out of her emotional lethargy into a full-fledged investigation as to WHY Tim and Chantal disappeared from her life. In the meantime, Amy develops a close friendship with the new, handsome neighbour and those two young rascals.
You will have to read this book to find out what Amy discovers about Tim and Chantal, and what the future holds in store for her. This story rambled a bit, and I was not happy that Amy didn't seek help or counseling for her prolonged feelings of grief and abandonment. And I really think it would have been a nice touch to get Marie Kondo in on the act - or a professional like Marie Kondo.
Decluttering on your own can be an impossible task with someone as chronically unhappy as Amy. "Things" were the only sure source of Amy's happiness. To divest herself of these tangible proofs is a Herculean task, and friends handing her stickers to label what stays and what goes seemed unrealistic to me. However, this was a light, engaging story, and had me looking askance at my storage room, fully determined to toss all the Christmas ornaments I stopped putting out years ago! (I got rid of my huge artificial tree ages ago, but the delicate angel and ballerina glass ornaments are still hard to part with. Oh dear, maybe I had better put in a call to Marie?......)
I'm rating this charming read a 3.5 out of 5. Highly recommended reading BEFORE you lose the nerve to start your own spring cleaning!
The first half of this well written story had my full attention! Amy is a hoarder - she can barely make her way from one room to the next in her small house, located in a town just outside of London. She has stacks of newspapers, boxes, bottles and bric-a-brac EVERYWHERE! Amy is indulging in shopping therapy. As the story progresses in its leisurely way, we are given hints that Amy suffered a great and unexpected loss.
Out of the blue, Amy's beloved boyfriend, Tim, ghosted her. On the very same day, her best friend Chantal also disappeared. No farewell notes, no emails, no texts, no phone calls - from EITHER of them! Amy didn't want to believe what all of their mutual friends had concluded - that Tim and Chantal had eloped - but after 11 years, it was hard to come up with any different explanation.
Amy is left in limbo, and instead of looking for a therapist to help her deal with her feelings of abandonment and grief, Amy buys beautiful things that give her momentary pleasure. (No judgement here: many of us have been there, done that.) But Amy has gone to an extreme, and the neighbours and the neighbourhood council want Amy to reduce the massive clutter in her home - contractors can't even get in to repair the chimney, for goodness sake!
Whether Amy likes it or not, Amy's life is going to change in drastic ways. New neighbours move in with two rambunctious little boys. One day, those rambunctious boys sneak into her backyard and topple one of several towers of clay planter's pots. Amy discovers a RING among the shards of clay - which starts her thinking..... and soon she is catapulted out of her emotional lethargy into a full-fledged investigation as to WHY Tim and Chantal disappeared from her life. In the meantime, Amy develops a close friendship with the new, handsome neighbour and those two young rascals.
You will have to read this book to find out what Amy discovers about Tim and Chantal, and what the future holds in store for her. This story rambled a bit, and I was not happy that Amy didn't seek help or counseling for her prolonged feelings of grief and abandonment. And I really think it would have been a nice touch to get Marie Kondo in on the act - or a professional like Marie Kondo.
Decluttering on your own can be an impossible task with someone as chronically unhappy as Amy. "Things" were the only sure source of Amy's happiness. To divest herself of these tangible proofs is a Herculean task, and friends handing her stickers to label what stays and what goes seemed unrealistic to me. However, this was a light, engaging story, and had me looking askance at my storage room, fully determined to toss all the Christmas ornaments I stopped putting out years ago! (I got rid of my huge artificial tree ages ago, but the delicate angel and ballerina glass ornaments are still hard to part with. Oh dear, maybe I had better put in a call to Marie?......)
I'm rating this charming read a 3.5 out of 5. Highly recommended reading BEFORE you lose the nerve to start your own spring cleaning!
July 7, 2021
The Missing Treasures of Amy Aston (2021) written by Eleanor Ray, is an uplifting mystery centered around missing persons, the passage of time, and the crushing anxiety and grief of not knowing what might have happened. Ray studied at the University of Edinberg, where she earned a M.A. in English Literature, she lives in London with her husband and two children.
Amy Ashton had worked for a large London advertising agency for years and lived alone in a once spacious home. The fact that she “rescued” broken items from neighboring rubbish bins including cracked and broken flower pots that she glued back together—suggests she likely had a psychological disorder. Amy could no longer have her (sympathetic) friends over for tea—there was no room, as she could barely navigate through the mounds of floor to ceiling boxes, bags and miscellaneous “treasures”.
Over a decade ago, her beloved boyfriend Tim vanished with her best friend Chantel. The disappearance was fully investigated by police detective Jack Cooper, who concluded Tim and Chantel had run away together. Amy knew neither Tim (who was on the verge of proposing marriage) or Chantel would betray her.
When Amy finds her engagement ring, a faded unreadable letter, and an equally faded photograph lost and overlooked for years in a musty flower pot, she knew she had a valuable clue. Slowly, with the help of her widowed neighbor Richard, and his two rambunctious boys that spotted a clue in the photograph right away-- Amy began to feel the necessity of sorting through her treasures and cleaning her house. to have Richard and his sons over. The story flashes back and forth between past and present, and readers get a sense of Amy as a former artist/painter, her devotion for Tim, a musician in an up-and-coming Indie-Rock band and his love for Amy. With a shocking conclusion, the narrative of Amy and Tim’s relationship tugs at the heartstrings. (3*GOOD) ~ ** With thanks to NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.
Amy Ashton had worked for a large London advertising agency for years and lived alone in a once spacious home. The fact that she “rescued” broken items from neighboring rubbish bins including cracked and broken flower pots that she glued back together—suggests she likely had a psychological disorder. Amy could no longer have her (sympathetic) friends over for tea—there was no room, as she could barely navigate through the mounds of floor to ceiling boxes, bags and miscellaneous “treasures”.
Over a decade ago, her beloved boyfriend Tim vanished with her best friend Chantel. The disappearance was fully investigated by police detective Jack Cooper, who concluded Tim and Chantel had run away together. Amy knew neither Tim (who was on the verge of proposing marriage) or Chantel would betray her.
When Amy finds her engagement ring, a faded unreadable letter, and an equally faded photograph lost and overlooked for years in a musty flower pot, she knew she had a valuable clue. Slowly, with the help of her widowed neighbor Richard, and his two rambunctious boys that spotted a clue in the photograph right away-- Amy began to feel the necessity of sorting through her treasures and cleaning her house. to have Richard and his sons over. The story flashes back and forth between past and present, and readers get a sense of Amy as a former artist/painter, her devotion for Tim, a musician in an up-and-coming Indie-Rock band and his love for Amy. With a shocking conclusion, the narrative of Amy and Tim’s relationship tugs at the heartstrings. (3*GOOD) ~ ** With thanks to NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.
November 25, 2020
This book was truly wonderful, I simply loved it, the descriptions in this book bring it alive, I could picture Amy in her cluttered house with all her “treasures”. This book had similarities to Eleanor Olliphant but it was just as enjoyable, especially the twist near to the end. I do hope that this author writes more books like this. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
August 3, 2023
Amy has found her best friend for life in Chantel and the love of her life in Tim.
They even share a flat together which makes Amy feel warm and happy to have the two people she holds dearest with her always. Until Tim and Chantel disappear leaving Amy to wonder what happened to them.
But this isn’t what we see as readers in the beginning of the story. And that is what is so perplexing to us as readers.
What happened to present time Amy?
Thus, this story becomes an uplifting mystery centered around missing persons, the passage of time, and the crushing anxiety and grief of not knowing what might have happened.
The story flashes back and forth between past and present, and readers get a sense of Amy as a former artist/painter, her devotion for Tim, and his love for Amy, and an important female friendship between Amy and Chantal.
So much goes on, that it is critical as readers, that we wait for the amazing conclusion to tie it all together.
Still, the narrative of Amy and Tim’s relationship tugs at the heartstrings.
But, please don’t lose sight of Richard, either.
Whose Richard you wonder…read it and find out!
And what about those treasures? Well…
They even share a flat together which makes Amy feel warm and happy to have the two people she holds dearest with her always. Until Tim and Chantel disappear leaving Amy to wonder what happened to them.
But this isn’t what we see as readers in the beginning of the story. And that is what is so perplexing to us as readers.
What happened to present time Amy?
Thus, this story becomes an uplifting mystery centered around missing persons, the passage of time, and the crushing anxiety and grief of not knowing what might have happened.
The story flashes back and forth between past and present, and readers get a sense of Amy as a former artist/painter, her devotion for Tim, and his love for Amy, and an important female friendship between Amy and Chantal.
So much goes on, that it is critical as readers, that we wait for the amazing conclusion to tie it all together.
Still, the narrative of Amy and Tim’s relationship tugs at the heartstrings.
But, please don’t lose sight of Richard, either.
Whose Richard you wonder…read it and find out!
And what about those treasures? Well…
March 27, 2021
The first half of this well written story had my full attention! Amy is a hoarder - she can barely make her way from one room to the next in her small house, located in a town just outside of London. She has stacks of newspapers, boxes, bottles and bric-a-brac EVERYWHERE! Amy is indulging in shopping therapy. As the story progresses in its leisurely way, we are given hints that Amy suffered a great and unexpected loss.
Out of the blue, Amy's beloved boyfriend, Tim, ghosted her. On the very same day, her best friend Chantal also disappeared. No farewell notes, no emails, no texts, no phone calls - from EITHER of them! Amy didn't want to believe what all of their mutual friends had concluded - that Tim and Chantal had eloped - but after 11 years, it was hard to come up with any different explanation.
Amy is left in limbo, and instead of looking for a therapist to help her deal with her feelings of abandonment and grief, Amy buys beautiful things that give her momentary pleasure. (No judgement here: many of us been there, done that.) But Amy has gone to an extreme, and the neighbours and the neighbourhood council want Amy to reduce the massive clutter in her home - contractors can't even get in to repair the chimney, for goodness sake!
Whether Amy likes it or not, Amy's life is going to change in drastic ways. New neighbours move in with two rambunctious little boys. One day, those rambunctious boys sneak into her backyard and topple one of several towers of clay planter's pots. Amy discovers a RING among the shards of clay - which starts her thinking..... and soon she is catapulted out of her emotional lethargy into a full-fledged investigation as to WHY Tim and Chantal disappeared from her life. In the meantime, Amy develops a close friendship with the new, handsome neighbour and those two young rascals.
You will have to read this book to find out what Amy discovers about Tim and Chantal, and what the future holds in store for her. This story rambled a bit, and I was not happy that Amy didn't seek help or counseling for her prolonged feelings of grief and abandonment. And I really think it would have been a nice touch to get Marie Kondo in on the act - or a professional like Marie Kondo.
Decluttering on your own can be an impossible task with someone as chronically unhappy as Amy. "Things" were the only sure source of Amy's happiness. To divest herself of these tangible proofs is a Herculean task, and friends handing her stickers to label what stays and what goes seemed unrealistic to me. However, this was a light, engaging story, and had me looking askance at my storage room, fully determined to toss all the Christmas ornaments I stopped putting out years ago! Someone else (my lucky grand nieces and nephews!) will get a use out of those pretty ceramic carousels, and crystal angels and ballerinas that used to decorate my artificial tree. (I got rid of the huge tree ages ago, but the delicate angels and ballerinas are still hard to part with. Oh dear, maybe I had better put in a call to Marie?......)
I'm rating this charming read a 3.5 out of 5. Highly recommended reading BEFORE you lose the nerve to start your spring own cleaning! My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2021
No one travels lightly through life anymore.
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.
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.
June 24, 2021
Amy Ashton’s life fell apart eleven years earlier. At that time she started a collection of keepsakes of the guy she loved. Though they might be things others would throw away, to Amy they were precious. But her collection has grown and turned into an obsession that has her living in a cluttered house. When new neighbours move in next door., Amy is concerned for her pots and keepsakes in her yard. Though she attempts to keep her distance, the neighbour’s eldest son Charles is determined to make friends. Amy finds herself drawn into the little family of Charles, younger brother Daniel and their father Richard. Richard's live in lover Nina is not so keen on the attention being shown to Amy by Richard and his boys. When she makes a chance discovery, Amy end up with lots of questions needing answers. Will she be able to find the answers and find the courage to move on to a more fulfilling life?
I liked the way this story was told. A chapter from the present day interspersed with chapters from Amy’s past that explain how she ended up where she did as a hoarder. It is easy to empathise with the likeable Amy. Put quite simply, I cared what happened to her and was with her every step of the way. Richard is a great character and Charles is a delight, though sometimes he does sound somewhat older than the child he is.
A story of grief, unanswered questions, obsession, love and hope, I adored this one. Loved seeing the relationship develop between Amy and the next door neighbours. I really loved this feel good story. One of this books that leaves you feeling satisfied at the end of it. Definitely a recommended read.
I liked the way this story was told. A chapter from the present day interspersed with chapters from Amy’s past that explain how she ended up where she did as a hoarder. It is easy to empathise with the likeable Amy. Put quite simply, I cared what happened to her and was with her every step of the way. Richard is a great character and Charles is a delight, though sometimes he does sound somewhat older than the child he is.
A story of grief, unanswered questions, obsession, love and hope, I adored this one. Loved seeing the relationship develop between Amy and the next door neighbours. I really loved this feel good story. One of this books that leaves you feeling satisfied at the end of it. Definitely a recommended read.
February 4, 2021
Amy Ashton has spent the last seventeen years working as an administrator for a firm of financial advisors and when readers are first introduced to her she is trying to escape an after work drink and ‘rescue’ an empty wine bottle destined only for the bin. All becomes clear when Amy arrives home and her hoarding problem becomes evident, with boxes, lighters, wine bottles and newspapers even blocking the stairs. Amy does not see her many accumulated items as junk however but treasures to be taken care of, each one a reminder of a traumatic experience that tore her world apart eleven years ago. Amy’s life has been on pause ever since and it is this experience which explains her reluctance to let anyone into her life. A second timeline then opens that rolls back the years to 1998 when a seventeen-year-old Amy was living a very different life, partying with best friend Chantel and beginning a relationship with guitar playing Tim. As the narrative cuts between now and then and progressively bring Amy’s life up to date readers learn that eleven years ago both Amy’s best friend and boyfriend disappeared without explanation. Forced to conclude they had betrayed her and left together, Amy’s treasures are all memories of her past life and occupy all the space in her heart, keeping people out and building walls around herself.
The arrival of new neighbours with two young sons sets in motion a chain of events which begin when a stack of Amy’s many garden pots are sent tumbling down by the boys and it uncovers a clue that could go some way to answering the question of just what happened to Tim and Chantel. As chapters alternate between past and present and add detail to Amy’s shared past with Tim and Chantel, and meaning to the clues, that initial discovery provides the impetus for Amy’s decision to confront the past. Initially encouraged by her neighbour’s son, eight-year-old Charles, and then supported by his father, Richard, it gives rise to a heartwarming and realistic connection where both parties have their own baggage. I was championing Amy every step of the way as, aided by the patience of Richard and the irrepressible spirit of young Charles, she reassesses her past memories and makes a series of revelations which all come courtesy of that initial clue. It barely mattered to me that the path to Amy’s discoveries wasn’t always credible or even logical as I was vying for her to rebuild her life and overcome the trauma of her past.
Amy is such a well-crafted character and her obvious vulnerability and defensiveness were understandable and endearing and I sided with her from the off. Eleanor Ray impressively steers clear of poking fun at her protagonist or playing for laughs and explores Amy’s fractured past with sensitivity and humanity. The rationale behind the items Amy hoards is gradually unravelled through snapshots of her past and gives the reader a glimpse into her psyche. A memorable secondary cast led by eight-year-old Charles and his empathetic father, Richard, all play their part in supporting Amy’s journey, including her initially shirty neighbour, Rachel. Ray has a great ear for dialogue with Amy’s conversations with colleagues often at cross-purposes, her rather literal responses confounding and Charles’ non sequiturs making me grin. Everything is Beautifully is the perfect choice for readers craving an uplifting novel with satisfying depth that is thankfully free from twee!
The arrival of new neighbours with two young sons sets in motion a chain of events which begin when a stack of Amy’s many garden pots are sent tumbling down by the boys and it uncovers a clue that could go some way to answering the question of just what happened to Tim and Chantel. As chapters alternate between past and present and add detail to Amy’s shared past with Tim and Chantel, and meaning to the clues, that initial discovery provides the impetus for Amy’s decision to confront the past. Initially encouraged by her neighbour’s son, eight-year-old Charles, and then supported by his father, Richard, it gives rise to a heartwarming and realistic connection where both parties have their own baggage. I was championing Amy every step of the way as, aided by the patience of Richard and the irrepressible spirit of young Charles, she reassesses her past memories and makes a series of revelations which all come courtesy of that initial clue. It barely mattered to me that the path to Amy’s discoveries wasn’t always credible or even logical as I was vying for her to rebuild her life and overcome the trauma of her past.
Amy is such a well-crafted character and her obvious vulnerability and defensiveness were understandable and endearing and I sided with her from the off. Eleanor Ray impressively steers clear of poking fun at her protagonist or playing for laughs and explores Amy’s fractured past with sensitivity and humanity. The rationale behind the items Amy hoards is gradually unravelled through snapshots of her past and gives the reader a glimpse into her psyche. A memorable secondary cast led by eight-year-old Charles and his empathetic father, Richard, all play their part in supporting Amy’s journey, including her initially shirty neighbour, Rachel. Ray has a great ear for dialogue with Amy’s conversations with colleagues often at cross-purposes, her rather literal responses confounding and Charles’ non sequiturs making me grin. Everything is Beautifully is the perfect choice for readers craving an uplifting novel with satisfying depth that is thankfully free from twee!
June 18, 2021
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a sweet Contemporary Fiction/Mystery that is a quick and easy read. Amy Ashton once dreamed of becoming an artist but after she suffered a terrible betrayal that she refuses to think about, she withdraws from the world and collects pretty things. Lots of pretty things. Her house is overflowing with pretty things, and Amy now loves pretty things instead of people because they won't leave her.
Amy's quiet life is disrupted when the house next door is sold to a widower, his two young sons and the widower's girlfriend. One of the young boys loves things too, and has a collection of bulldozers of his own. Before long changes in Amy's life begin to multiply, and she finally examines what happened to her. A surprise discovery in her back garden sets her on a mission to find out for herself what happened, and why.
The author does a great job of portraying Amy and how she's taken to hoarding things rather than working through her heartache. I liked how she showed that there is no quick and easy fix to Amy's fear and anxiety, and that no matter how helpful and good-hearted people may be, you can't push or intimidate someone to "get better" on your timeline. I enjoyed seeing Amy's growth throughout the book, and loved the two young boys she befriends. This is a sweet, uplifting book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a sweet Contemporary Fiction/Mystery that is a quick and easy read. Amy Ashton once dreamed of becoming an artist but after she suffered a terrible betrayal that she refuses to think about, she withdraws from the world and collects pretty things. Lots of pretty things. Her house is overflowing with pretty things, and Amy now loves pretty things instead of people because they won't leave her.
Amy's quiet life is disrupted when the house next door is sold to a widower, his two young sons and the widower's girlfriend. One of the young boys loves things too, and has a collection of bulldozers of his own. Before long changes in Amy's life begin to multiply, and she finally examines what happened to her. A surprise discovery in her back garden sets her on a mission to find out for herself what happened, and why.
The author does a great job of portraying Amy and how she's taken to hoarding things rather than working through her heartache. I liked how she showed that there is no quick and easy fix to Amy's fear and anxiety, and that no matter how helpful and good-hearted people may be, you can't push or intimidate someone to "get better" on your timeline. I enjoyed seeing Amy's growth throughout the book, and loved the two young boys she befriends. This is a sweet, uplifting book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2021
RELEASE DATE: June 8, 2021
Amy Ashton likes to collect things - bottles, cups, flower pots and a host of other items. Sometimes she thinks maybe her collecting is getting out of hand but usually convinces herself otherwise. She assigns human characteristics to many of the objects to replace the lack of human interaction in her life. The story is told from Amy's POV with flashbacks to the days before she became a hoarder and before her boyfriend and best friend disappeared. A new family moves in next door and with the help of two little boys and their father, Amy learns to trust people again and takes steps towards letting go of some of her "treasures".
I used to like to watch those reality shows about hoarders. I'm not sure what the fascination was but I would wonder how these people got to such a point in their lives that their living conditions were unsafe and unsanitary. I liked the character of Amy and loved the descriptions of some of the mixed media artwork that she created in the past. It was very heartening to see the changes in Amy as the story progressed and the ending was perfect. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to a friend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Amy Ashton likes to collect things - bottles, cups, flower pots and a host of other items. Sometimes she thinks maybe her collecting is getting out of hand but usually convinces herself otherwise. She assigns human characteristics to many of the objects to replace the lack of human interaction in her life. The story is told from Amy's POV with flashbacks to the days before she became a hoarder and before her boyfriend and best friend disappeared. A new family moves in next door and with the help of two little boys and their father, Amy learns to trust people again and takes steps towards letting go of some of her "treasures".
I used to like to watch those reality shows about hoarders. I'm not sure what the fascination was but I would wonder how these people got to such a point in their lives that their living conditions were unsafe and unsanitary. I liked the character of Amy and loved the descriptions of some of the mixed media artwork that she created in the past. It was very heartening to see the changes in Amy as the story progressed and the ending was perfect. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to a friend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2021
Clunky writing, flat characters, and a confusing plot, I did not love reading this book. The premise had promise, but the author never dove into Amy’s hoarding and weirdly turned the book into a crime thriller and romance at the last minute? The mystery wasn’t rewarding either because Amy was so ineffective at solving it that another character had to arrive to spell it all out for her in the third last chapter. Could’ve been an interesting exploration of trauma; ended up a bit of a mess 😕
February 5, 2021
3.5 stars.
I'm a virtual hoarder. I have no real emotional attachment to most of my material possessions, but I like to cling on to my the photos, texts, and emails, and anything else I can save on my phone. I almost never have space to save new things on my phone, and I pay Google every month so I have their 100GB plan. Because I'm a virtual hoarder. I like the nostalgia of what was, and sometimes, of what could have been. What I'm trying to say here, is that in my own way, I get a little of where Amy is coming from.
We form attachments with a particular memory, or a particular moment in time, a particular point in space, and we try our best to not let go. Whether with tangible objects that fill up our homes, or intangible photos that fill up our phones, or even just memories, is up to us. Amy Ashton had everything (or some version of it, at least) one minute, and the next minute, nothing at all. Now, at least she has her bottles and birds, potted plants and lighters, cookbooks and slow cookers. And, she has the memories associated with them.
Navigating life, however, is more difficult than navigating a house full of cartons, and this is something Amy realises she has to do, as some semblance of a relationship begins developing with her new neighbours. Amy Ashton is the story of the titular character's past and present relationships, and it's got a lot of heart, some laughter, and some tears.
I read Amy Ashton because I was told it was in the vein of Eleanor Oliphant and Evvie Drake , two books I absolutely adored. I liked Amy Ashton just as much till about the last 10% of it. The ending, to me, felt both rushed and unnecessary, a little bit like the last piece in a jigsaw puzzle that just doesn't fit right.
Eleanor Ray is an excellent writer and for the most part, a deft storyteller. I finished it almost entirely in a single sitting, which I like in a book. I appreciated that the book was not longer than it should have been; in fact, I would not have been mad if I'd had another 50 pages to read. I'm also a fan of any kind of non-linear storytelling, when it is done well, and in this case, it really works. On the other hand, I was mostly underwhelmed by the supporting characters that are a part of Amy's present, as opposed to those from her past. Maybe this was intentional, seeing as Amy was mostly living in her past, maybe it just happened to read that way.
I am likely to add more details to the review closer to publication. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC!
I'm a virtual hoarder. I have no real emotional attachment to most of my material possessions, but I like to cling on to my the photos, texts, and emails, and anything else I can save on my phone. I almost never have space to save new things on my phone, and I pay Google every month so I have their 100GB plan. Because I'm a virtual hoarder. I like the nostalgia of what was, and sometimes, of what could have been. What I'm trying to say here, is that in my own way, I get a little of where Amy is coming from.
We form attachments with a particular memory, or a particular moment in time, a particular point in space, and we try our best to not let go. Whether with tangible objects that fill up our homes, or intangible photos that fill up our phones, or even just memories, is up to us. Amy Ashton had everything (or some version of it, at least) one minute, and the next minute, nothing at all. Now, at least she has her bottles and birds, potted plants and lighters, cookbooks and slow cookers. And, she has the memories associated with them.
Navigating life, however, is more difficult than navigating a house full of cartons, and this is something Amy realises she has to do, as some semblance of a relationship begins developing with her new neighbours. Amy Ashton is the story of the titular character's past and present relationships, and it's got a lot of heart, some laughter, and some tears.
I read Amy Ashton because I was told it was in the vein of Eleanor Oliphant and Evvie Drake , two books I absolutely adored. I liked Amy Ashton just as much till about the last 10% of it. The ending, to me, felt both rushed and unnecessary, a little bit like the last piece in a jigsaw puzzle that just doesn't fit right.
Eleanor Ray is an excellent writer and for the most part, a deft storyteller. I finished it almost entirely in a single sitting, which I like in a book. I appreciated that the book was not longer than it should have been; in fact, I would not have been mad if I'd had another 50 pages to read. I'm also a fan of any kind of non-linear storytelling, when it is done well, and in this case, it really works. On the other hand, I was mostly underwhelmed by the supporting characters that are a part of Amy's present, as opposed to those from her past. Maybe this was intentional, seeing as Amy was mostly living in her past, maybe it just happened to read that way.
I am likely to add more details to the review closer to publication. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC!
March 6, 2021
I could definitely identify with the main character in this one!
I chuckled to myself many times, thinking of the chipped mug I refuse to throw away, because it was given to me by my first boyfriend! I felt a strange affinity and defence of Amy's habits, and it definitely shed a rather large light on my own!
This book was warm and definitely lifted my heart, wanting her to face the problems in her life and live it to the full. She was clearly troubled, and my heart ached with her pain.
I would definitely recommend this book!
I chuckled to myself many times, thinking of the chipped mug I refuse to throw away, because it was given to me by my first boyfriend! I felt a strange affinity and defence of Amy's habits, and it definitely shed a rather large light on my own!
This book was warm and definitely lifted my heart, wanting her to face the problems in her life and live it to the full. She was clearly troubled, and my heart ached with her pain.
I would definitely recommend this book!
August 26, 2021
There is a big commercial push for the trade paperback of this- catchy fly leaf cover- an offbeat premise. I bit- but the mouthful of treasures were not to my taste, I’m afraid. Lots of blah, blah, blah… Amy the hoarder has inappropriate fixations on her piles and boxes; anyone who has ever watched an episode of a reality TV hoarding show knows that some trauma is linked. I found author Eleanor Ray’s story excruciatingly slow, as cluttered as Amy’s house and Amy beyond irritating.
I loved the book cover, and thought the title was catchy. One point boost up to three stars for that.
Simply fell flat, the mystery dragged and most of the characters were skimmable.
I loved the book cover, and thought the title was catchy. One point boost up to three stars for that.
Simply fell flat, the mystery dragged and most of the characters were skimmable.
January 28, 2021
OMG you guys. Everything Is Beautiful was just so….beautiful. Since the book’s blurb said that it was perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I was immediately hooked. I know a lot of you guys didn’t like how Eleanor Oliphant’s story was narrated, but Everything Is Beautiful is so, so much better. Eleanor Ray’s writing style is so addicting, you can’t help turning the pages to discover what happens next in the main character, Amy Ashton’s life. 💕
Amy’s story explored themes of grief, solidarity, and friendship. The title of the book itself holds a very special message. You see, Amy hoards the simplest of things – mugs, empty bottles, ashtrays, clocks, mirrors, basically all kinds of stuff – because she finds beauty in everything out there.💖 She lost two of her favorite people in the world in just a span of 24 hours, so she holds on to her “treasures” to find a sense of happiness in her lonely life. I loved reading about her. Her “closed-off” demeanor made her a very interesting character, since the chapters kept revealing a different side of her life until the very end. I felt a deep sense of empathy with her throughout the story.
I loved how the chapters in Everything in Beautiful swiftly changed between two timelines. The “past” chapters were always titled (I think the finished copy will contain illustrations of the objects too, the e-ARC didn’t have those, sadly) with the name of the treasure that Amy collected during that time. This made reading the book really fascinating! There was also a mystery aspect to the storyline, and I couldn’t wait to see how everything turned out in the end. The supporting characters were beautifully written as well. I especially loved Daniel and Charles – Amy’s littol neighbors who made her come out of her shell with their loving nature.
Equal parts heart-warming and heart-breaking, Everything is Beautiful mesmerized me in the best way possible. The book comes out on the 4th of February, 2021. Please read it when it comes out, you’ll fall in love, I promise.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own *
Amy’s story explored themes of grief, solidarity, and friendship. The title of the book itself holds a very special message. You see, Amy hoards the simplest of things – mugs, empty bottles, ashtrays, clocks, mirrors, basically all kinds of stuff – because she finds beauty in everything out there.💖 She lost two of her favorite people in the world in just a span of 24 hours, so she holds on to her “treasures” to find a sense of happiness in her lonely life. I loved reading about her. Her “closed-off” demeanor made her a very interesting character, since the chapters kept revealing a different side of her life until the very end. I felt a deep sense of empathy with her throughout the story.
I loved how the chapters in Everything in Beautiful swiftly changed between two timelines. The “past” chapters were always titled (I think the finished copy will contain illustrations of the objects too, the e-ARC didn’t have those, sadly) with the name of the treasure that Amy collected during that time. This made reading the book really fascinating! There was also a mystery aspect to the storyline, and I couldn’t wait to see how everything turned out in the end. The supporting characters were beautifully written as well. I especially loved Daniel and Charles – Amy’s littol neighbors who made her come out of her shell with their loving nature.
Equal parts heart-warming and heart-breaking, Everything is Beautiful mesmerized me in the best way possible. The book comes out on the 4th of February, 2021. Please read it when it comes out, you’ll fall in love, I promise.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own *
January 30, 2021
Sometimes it's impossible to part with the things we love the most....
“When Amy Ashton's world came crashing down eleven years ago, she started a collection. Just a little collection, just a few keepsakes of happier times. Things that others might throw away but to Amy, represent a life that could have been.
Now her house is overflowing with the objects she loves - soon there'll be no room for Amy at all. But when a family move in next door, a chance discovery unearths a mystery long since buried and Amy's carefully curated life begins to unravel.”
In the current world of worry, depression and unpredictability, this book was like therapy for me. It really picked me up and although heart breaking at times, it was uplifting, fascinating, funny and with a mystery element to keep you intrigued, I was unable to put this book down and felt bereft when I was finished.
I made a true friend in Amy, feeling like a kindred spirit - Amy with her endless collection of ornamental birds and knick knacks and her peculiarities and me with my boxes and piles of books in every room I couldn’t think to part with. I adored how she saw such beauty in living and all things inanimate, describing them so vividly with wonderfully, vibrant colourful similes and so obviously filled with love. Who could have imagined the beauty in an empty wine bottle or an unused ashtray?
All the unique characters were excellently portrayed, from the gossipy, nosy neighbour to Liam, Amy’s office admirer. The way the story was narrated, with events as they unfolded in current time and Amy’s life before her world crumbled, the two intertwined seamlessly and kept you wanting to turn the pages faster than you could read them.
“Everything is Beautiful” and everything IS beautiful about this book - from cover to cover, page to page - you’ll find this book hard to put down and will live with you forever, it certainly will with me! This book comes highly recommended and I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
5 gloriously beautiful stars!
Eleanor Ray has an MA in English Literature from Edinburgh University. She lives in London with her husband and two young children.
Eleanor was inspired to write her debut novel by the objects her toddler collects and treasures – twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies.
Many thanks to Jo Wickham and Little Brown for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
You can purchase this stunning story from the following link -
https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/titles/...
“When Amy Ashton's world came crashing down eleven years ago, she started a collection. Just a little collection, just a few keepsakes of happier times. Things that others might throw away but to Amy, represent a life that could have been.
Now her house is overflowing with the objects she loves - soon there'll be no room for Amy at all. But when a family move in next door, a chance discovery unearths a mystery long since buried and Amy's carefully curated life begins to unravel.”
In the current world of worry, depression and unpredictability, this book was like therapy for me. It really picked me up and although heart breaking at times, it was uplifting, fascinating, funny and with a mystery element to keep you intrigued, I was unable to put this book down and felt bereft when I was finished.
I made a true friend in Amy, feeling like a kindred spirit - Amy with her endless collection of ornamental birds and knick knacks and her peculiarities and me with my boxes and piles of books in every room I couldn’t think to part with. I adored how she saw such beauty in living and all things inanimate, describing them so vividly with wonderfully, vibrant colourful similes and so obviously filled with love. Who could have imagined the beauty in an empty wine bottle or an unused ashtray?
All the unique characters were excellently portrayed, from the gossipy, nosy neighbour to Liam, Amy’s office admirer. The way the story was narrated, with events as they unfolded in current time and Amy’s life before her world crumbled, the two intertwined seamlessly and kept you wanting to turn the pages faster than you could read them.
“Everything is Beautiful” and everything IS beautiful about this book - from cover to cover, page to page - you’ll find this book hard to put down and will live with you forever, it certainly will with me! This book comes highly recommended and I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
5 gloriously beautiful stars!
Eleanor Ray has an MA in English Literature from Edinburgh University. She lives in London with her husband and two young children.
Eleanor was inspired to write her debut novel by the objects her toddler collects and treasures – twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies.
Many thanks to Jo Wickham and Little Brown for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
You can purchase this stunning story from the following link -
https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/titles/...
March 1, 2021
Eleven years after Amy Ashton was encouraged to gather a selection of precious memories in a shoebox, her home is filled to the brim with keepsakes. Bundles of newspapers tower in the hallways, boxes block the stairs, wine bottles cover the floor, coffee mugs and cookbooks clutter the kitchen, ceramic birds perch on every flat surface, vases hold dead bouquets of honeysuckle, and lighters and ashtrays (even though Amy doesn’t smoke) are stacked in teetering piles.
Told in alternating chapters between present day and the past, why Amy came to stuff her home with ‘treasures’ is gradually revealed in this heartrending and beautiful tale by author Eleanor Ray. A capable and valued administrator at a financial advice firm, Amy is unassuming, her wardrobe is dull, she never wears makeup and avoids social events. Few would imagine what the intensely private woman returns home to each night, and Amy prefers that no one cares, she is content with just the company of her ‘beautiful things’ that remind of happier times.
Amy’s neighbour, Rachel, cares though, and blames her for an ongoing problem with mice. When a new family moves in next door, Rachel thinks she has found an ally in forcing Amy to change, but with a well paced and thoughtful plot, it doesn’t happen in the way that you may expect. I loved the unexpected way in which some of the elements of the story developed, and though I had an inkling of what the main twist would be, I wasn’t disappointed to be proved right.
Amy is slightly awkward and intensely vulnerable, but despite her extreme behaviour, there would be few who would not find her sympathetic. I found myself feeling strangely protective of her, perhaps in part because I’m a bit of a hoarder myself. There are also several delightful supporting characters in the book, including the two charming young sons of Amy’s new neighbour, and an elderly retired shopkeeper. It has its villains too, who are satisfyingly dealt with.
Everything is Beautiful may begin as a story of tragedy and grief, but ultimately it is one of healing and hope, which I found moving and am delighted to recommend.
Told in alternating chapters between present day and the past, why Amy came to stuff her home with ‘treasures’ is gradually revealed in this heartrending and beautiful tale by author Eleanor Ray. A capable and valued administrator at a financial advice firm, Amy is unassuming, her wardrobe is dull, she never wears makeup and avoids social events. Few would imagine what the intensely private woman returns home to each night, and Amy prefers that no one cares, she is content with just the company of her ‘beautiful things’ that remind of happier times.
Amy’s neighbour, Rachel, cares though, and blames her for an ongoing problem with mice. When a new family moves in next door, Rachel thinks she has found an ally in forcing Amy to change, but with a well paced and thoughtful plot, it doesn’t happen in the way that you may expect. I loved the unexpected way in which some of the elements of the story developed, and though I had an inkling of what the main twist would be, I wasn’t disappointed to be proved right.
Amy is slightly awkward and intensely vulnerable, but despite her extreme behaviour, there would be few who would not find her sympathetic. I found myself feeling strangely protective of her, perhaps in part because I’m a bit of a hoarder myself. There are also several delightful supporting characters in the book, including the two charming young sons of Amy’s new neighbour, and an elderly retired shopkeeper. It has its villains too, who are satisfyingly dealt with.
Everything is Beautiful may begin as a story of tragedy and grief, but ultimately it is one of healing and hope, which I found moving and am delighted to recommend.
March 10, 2021
Readers of Carpe Librum will know that I love reading - and watching documentaries - about hoarders. There's something uniquely fascinating to me about the physical manifestation of their grief, personal trauma or mental illness and the appeal of the before/after transformation process and subsequent recovery - albeit rarely achieved - is irresistible.
In Everything is Beautiful, Eleanor Ray has created the perfect setting and background story for a hoarding character in the form of Amy Ashton. I was really able to get inside Amy's head and understand just how her hoarding started and how difficult it was for her to make any space in her house - or her life - for anything else.
The introduction of new neighbours and the way in which they immediately inserted themselves into Amy's life reminded me a little of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman but in a good way. Like Amy, I don't have children, but the neighbour's children and their interactions with Amy were instantly relatable and heartwarming and I loved their presence in the novel.
There's also a compelling mystery that is slowly unravelled and I was eager to find out what happened to Amy's boyfriend after he and her best friend disappeared twelve years ago. Right around the time Amy's hoarding started.
This book is being marketed at fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and I can see why. I actually had the same reading experience with both books, despite the many differences between the two main characters. I became heavily invested in the wellbeing of Amy (as I did Eleanor), and I wanted to see her character grow and heal from her trauma.
Everything Is Beautiful by Eleanor Ray is a heartwarming contemporary novel and I found myself enjoying an unexpected five star reading experience. Highly recommended.
* Copy courtesy of Hachette Australia *
In Everything is Beautiful, Eleanor Ray has created the perfect setting and background story for a hoarding character in the form of Amy Ashton. I was really able to get inside Amy's head and understand just how her hoarding started and how difficult it was for her to make any space in her house - or her life - for anything else.
The introduction of new neighbours and the way in which they immediately inserted themselves into Amy's life reminded me a little of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman but in a good way. Like Amy, I don't have children, but the neighbour's children and their interactions with Amy were instantly relatable and heartwarming and I loved their presence in the novel.
There's also a compelling mystery that is slowly unravelled and I was eager to find out what happened to Amy's boyfriend after he and her best friend disappeared twelve years ago. Right around the time Amy's hoarding started.
This book is being marketed at fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and I can see why. I actually had the same reading experience with both books, despite the many differences between the two main characters. I became heavily invested in the wellbeing of Amy (as I did Eleanor), and I wanted to see her character grow and heal from her trauma.
Everything Is Beautiful by Eleanor Ray is a heartwarming contemporary novel and I found myself enjoying an unexpected five star reading experience. Highly recommended.
* Copy courtesy of Hachette Australia *
March 16, 2021
Everything is Beautiful reads like a sentimental story. And although it contains emotional chapters of calamity and sorrow, its overall message is one of hope and acceptance.
The protagonist, Amy, lives in a home full of accumulated treasures, trinkets, and articles from her past. What most would see as a hoarder’s den, Amy sees as a trove of memories, with each item linking to a different experience. When a family including two young and adventurous boys move in next door, Amy’s piles of junk begin to tumble down, forcing her to come face to face with different elements of her own history. The book flashes back to each of her recollections, all leading up to one traumatic event that tore Amy’s world apart and left her obsessively collecting the pieces.
Eleanor Ray has a friendly and inviting writing style that makes the book easy to digest. She also treats Amy’s collection of clutter with a sympathy and kindness that’s warming to read. I like the normalcy of the dialogue between the characters which helps it all to feel very realistic. Sadly, my attention waivered from the third chapter and remained unsteady to the end. As much as I enjoyed the writing and the use of flashbacks, I struggled to connect to the story and the characters.
When it comes to the character of Amy, her development is gratifying to read. But there were many times where I found her behaviour frustrating. I felt like there was a human element missing to her personality that crossed the lines of interesting to perplexing. However, I love that Ray avoided using Amy as a tool for humour. As much as I appreciated the glimpse into her life, I still found myself feeling less engaged as the chapters went on. I also disliked almost every character besides Amy’s neighbour, Richard, and his sons, Daniel and Charles. While they were a source of joy, the others felt more like a distraction.
There are a few parts of Everything is Beautiful that remind me of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. And I think fans of Gail Honeyman will also enjoy this novel. There’s a nice humour to the narrative that brings levity to its heart-breaking events. But while the non-linear narrative is done well, unfortunately this just wasn’t captivating enough for me to feel excited through to the end.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
The protagonist, Amy, lives in a home full of accumulated treasures, trinkets, and articles from her past. What most would see as a hoarder’s den, Amy sees as a trove of memories, with each item linking to a different experience. When a family including two young and adventurous boys move in next door, Amy’s piles of junk begin to tumble down, forcing her to come face to face with different elements of her own history. The book flashes back to each of her recollections, all leading up to one traumatic event that tore Amy’s world apart and left her obsessively collecting the pieces.
Eleanor Ray has a friendly and inviting writing style that makes the book easy to digest. She also treats Amy’s collection of clutter with a sympathy and kindness that’s warming to read. I like the normalcy of the dialogue between the characters which helps it all to feel very realistic. Sadly, my attention waivered from the third chapter and remained unsteady to the end. As much as I enjoyed the writing and the use of flashbacks, I struggled to connect to the story and the characters.
When it comes to the character of Amy, her development is gratifying to read. But there were many times where I found her behaviour frustrating. I felt like there was a human element missing to her personality that crossed the lines of interesting to perplexing. However, I love that Ray avoided using Amy as a tool for humour. As much as I appreciated the glimpse into her life, I still found myself feeling less engaged as the chapters went on. I also disliked almost every character besides Amy’s neighbour, Richard, and his sons, Daniel and Charles. While they were a source of joy, the others felt more like a distraction.
There are a few parts of Everything is Beautiful that remind me of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. And I think fans of Gail Honeyman will also enjoy this novel. There’s a nice humour to the narrative that brings levity to its heart-breaking events. But while the non-linear narrative is done well, unfortunately this just wasn’t captivating enough for me to feel excited through to the end.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
June 14, 2021
The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton is women's fiction with a bit of a mystery element.
The narrator is Amy Ashton (3rd person POV). She is such an unusual heroine. She is quirky and kind. She had a trauma happen to her 11 years before. And now her house is completely full of "treasures".
The book focuses on a mystery. Something happened to Amy's boyfriend Tim and best friend Chantel years ago. This was an interesting part of the book.
Another main part of the story has to do with a friendship between Amy and the family that moves in next door.
Amy is a major hoarder. And honestly how she acted made me so uncomfortable.
The story is mostly told in the present. But at the end of each chapter we get flashbacks of her past.
I didn't really like all of the stuff from the past. But the things that I did like a lot: 1) Richard and his kids (the new neighbors), and 2) the mystery (of what happened to her boyfriend and best friend).
I also really enjoyed the resolution of the mystery and the ending. Overall this book was good. I just didn't love all of the stuff from the past.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book.
The narrator is Amy Ashton (3rd person POV). She is such an unusual heroine. She is quirky and kind. She had a trauma happen to her 11 years before. And now her house is completely full of "treasures".
The book focuses on a mystery. Something happened to Amy's boyfriend Tim and best friend Chantel years ago. This was an interesting part of the book.
Another main part of the story has to do with a friendship between Amy and the family that moves in next door.
Amy is a major hoarder. And honestly how she acted made me so uncomfortable.
The story is mostly told in the present. But at the end of each chapter we get flashbacks of her past.
I didn't really like all of the stuff from the past. But the things that I did like a lot: 1) Richard and his kids (the new neighbors), and 2) the mystery (of what happened to her boyfriend and best friend).
I also really enjoyed the resolution of the mystery and the ending. Overall this book was good. I just didn't love all of the stuff from the past.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book.
December 28, 2024
4/5 ⭐️
Una historia muuuuy tierna con saltos temporales que me han encantado y con un misterio que se resuelve con el paso del tiempo. Aunque con un final algo predecible. Pero overall lo recomiendo ❤️
Una historia muuuuy tierna con saltos temporales que me han encantado y con un misterio que se resuelve con el paso del tiempo. Aunque con un final algo predecible. Pero overall lo recomiendo ❤️
March 12, 2021
Amy Ashton is a dull and rather awful person. Ten years ago, her lover and her best friend disappeared at the same time, and she became a hoarder. Now a family has moved in across the street from her, and in a super- obvious and rather misogynist trope, Amy has a meet-cute with the dad and his boys. When the kids make a mess in Amy's yard, she uncovers clues to the disappearance and begins to investigate. She learns that her lover was killed by the best friend's lover, a cop, and that the best friend went into hiding. Able to put tis trauma behind her--and rather quickly and easily--Amy cleans up her house and kisses the dad.
I loathed this. It was trite and predictable, although the best friend's behavior didn't make a whole lot of sense. the lover and Amy seem to have had a very immature relationship, and I didn't understand their supposed rapport. Overall, the writing is clunky and the characters stereotypes, and the use of mental illness as a plot device seemed unsympathetic and uninformed.
I loathed this. It was trite and predictable, although the best friend's behavior didn't make a whole lot of sense. the lover and Amy seem to have had a very immature relationship, and I didn't understand their supposed rapport. Overall, the writing is clunky and the characters stereotypes, and the use of mental illness as a plot device seemed unsympathetic and uninformed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2020
I find myself drawn to female characters who are sweet and good-hearted, but a little quirky. Amy Ashton was just that sort of character. Hurt by her best friend and boyfriend who she'd assumed betrayed her and disappeared together, she lived a hoarder existence, believing that "things" couldn't hurt her the way that people could.
This book engaged me from the very beginning. I couldn't get through the pages fast enough, wanting to know the truth behind the disappearance of Amy's best friend and boyfriend. I continually rooted for Amy, hoping she'd eventually find the love and happiness she deserved.
Readers will be charmed by Amy's endearing peculiarities. The Missing Treasures is a warm and cozy read that will leave readers feeling gratified.
This book engaged me from the very beginning. I couldn't get through the pages fast enough, wanting to know the truth behind the disappearance of Amy's best friend and boyfriend. I continually rooted for Amy, hoping she'd eventually find the love and happiness she deserved.
Readers will be charmed by Amy's endearing peculiarities. The Missing Treasures is a warm and cozy read that will leave readers feeling gratified.
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