Book: The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle

This Birmingham author has been on my radar for years, so this was already a five-star charity shop find!

I enjoyed spending time with the key characters, but I wish I had known more about Jess’s mum. I could easily read a whole book or two about their stories. 

Writing that sentence made me realise how much I loved reading this book; it only took me about four sittings. Although the story is set in London rather than Birmingham, it continually references the Midlands.

The final quarter felt somewhat predictable, and when the big twists came, I was surprised by how the characters reacted. Why would they choose to tell the truth if it would hurt the people they love most? Why wouldn’t they want to stay within the law? It seemed out of character.

Ultimately, despite these developments, I enjoyed the book and look forward to exploring Mike Gayle’s extensive back catalogue.