By Christina McLaurine
Content Warning: domestic abuse
The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton is a debut novel by Eleanor Ray. The protagonist, Amy Ashton, is a collector who finds it’s easier (and safer) to surround herself with things. After suddenly losing the most important people in her life 11 years prior, Amy opts not to create any space for new people in her life. Instead, she fills her life and her home with her things: wine bottles, mugs, cookbooks, newspapers, and a cornucopia of thrift store finds. This is because at the end of the day, her things, her treasures, will never abandon her. However, when a new family moves in across the street, something in Amy shifts and she starts to question if life is better with her things or if she can make some space for new people in her life.
The novel is told solely from Amy’s perspective and is divided between the past and present. This gives the reader a complete picture of how important the people she lost were and how much it affected her. Getting glimpses of who she was then and who she is now, the reader can’t help but cheer for her to heal from her past and create a more vibrant future.
Considering Amy’s trauma response is the defining characteristic of her personality and central to the overall plot of the story, The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton never feels heavy or draining. In fact, the emotional load of the novel remains light throughout the novel, such that the resolution and Amy’s growth felt rushed, not quite matching the pre-established pace of the novel. The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton is a novel filled with quirky characters, tender moments, and a bit of mystery that will draw in the reader and keep them captivated until they turn the last page.
Thank you to Gallery Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!