The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle

THE MUSEUM OF ORDINARY PEOPLE by Mike Gayle is a soothing read centered around a young woman named Jess whose mother’s unexpected death ultimately causes some re-evaluation of Jess’s life choices as well as her definition of family. Along the way, she helps create the title museum after cleaning out her mother’s home and finding an old set of encyclopedias which meant a great deal to Jess as a child. This novel seems to tie in well with the holiday season as it includes quite a bit of reflecting on past events and on memories and feelings that everyday objects often trigger. Booklist recommends the “moving and heartwarming” title for fans of Rachel Joyce and Freya Sampson.