The Museum of Ordinary People

The Museum of Ordinary People is a timely treasure of a read. Spilling over with Mike Gayle’s trademark warmth and tenderness, it’s so insightful and thought-provoking on loss and grief, as well as the meaning of possessions and how we might take a fresh look at the things we once took for granted. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to re-read as soon as you’ve finished it. Just beautiful – Holly Miller, author of The Sight of YouMike has an uncanny ability to create characters that are immediately familiar and relatable and to draw the reader into their world, ever eager to follow where they lead. The Museum of Ordinary People is a keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds. It is a delightful read – Ruth HoganOne of my favourite writers, and this is his best yet…a relatable and yet brilliantly original story - this is a novel I could recommend to so many people – Clare MackintoshMike gets better every year and every book. He’s becoming a real chronicler of our times – Jenny ColganA new Mike Gayle novel is always a treat. The Museum of Ordinary People is filled with warmth, tenderness and character. It really made me think, too - I love that it encourages us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. A gorgeous novel – Beth O’LearyUplifting and poignant * My Weekly *A joyful celebration of life, it’s also a study in grief, second chances, and what can happen when you truly believe in yourself. * Heat *This is a beautifully written read that’s full of heart * Fabulous *A powerful read * Bella *This is a tale of loss and friendship by an author who has a way of making the ordinary things in life seem extraordinary * Candis *This will resonate with anyone who has lost someone they love * The Sunday Post *A real gem of a book * Yours *A poignant look at grief and the things we leave behind * Huffington Post *This thought-provoking, tender and brilliantly observed story shows Mike Gayle at his very best * Sunday Express, S Magazine *‘A poignant novel about memory, loss and new beginnings.’ * Woman Magazine *This novel is pure, unadulterated feel-good, and Gayle is a master puller of heartstrings. It radiates an unforced kind of goodwill, which makes up for some of the overly expository dialogue and unabashed sentimentality … Fans of uplifting-lit authors like Fredrik Backman will likely be suitably charmed * Kirkus *

Moving and heartwarming, this is a story about love and loss and holding onto the memories thatmake us who we are. Fans of character-driven relationship fiction by Clare Pooley, RachelJoyce, and Freya Sampson will want to pick this one up

Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating with a degree in Sociology, he moved to London to pursue a career in journalism and worked as a features editor and agony uncle. He has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, the Guardian and Cosmopolitan.

Mike became a full-time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by the Independent as ‘full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations’, and by The Times as ‘a funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic’. Since then he has written eighteen novels, including The Man I Think I Know, selected as a World Book Night title, and Half A World Away, selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages. In 2021, Mike was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

He lives in Birmingham with his wife, kids and greyhound.

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