I don't know why I didn't connect more with this book. It's a cleverly written account of twelve year old Clover Quinn and her dad Darren, and their attempts, their very different attempts, to come to terms with the death of Clover's mother Becky when Clover was only about six weeks old.

I identified with Clover a lot. She's a sweet child, but a bit isolated from her peers. She likes her dad's allotment, and museums. In fact she decides to make a museum to her mum, in secret. Gradually her story unfolds. Darren's story unfolds. Becky's story unfolds. This book is very skilfully done. It's well written. Why didn't I engage with it more? I don't have an answer. I'd recommend anyone to read it. Just .... not me. ( )

3.5 stars. Enjoyable but nothing special ( )

Several years ago I won an advance reading copy of Carys Bray’s first novel, A Song for Issy Bradley and found it an absorbing and moving work. Bray’s second novel is equally affecting and finely observed. The Museum of You tells the story of twelve-year-old Clover Quinn and her loving but emotionally wounded father, Darren, who live in a cluttered house in Merseyside. It is unclear exactly when Clover’s mother, Becky Brookfield, died, but the girl has no memories of her. Clover’s father is unable to part with any object even tangentially associated with his partner—mind you, this seems to be his relationship with all items: they could come in handy some day, couldn’t they?

This summer Clover does not need to go next door to be cared for by the Dickensian Mrs. Edna Mackerel; she’s old enough to be left on her own while her dad, a bus driver, does his regular route to Liverpool. Clover spends her days gardening in the Quinns’ allotment, sometimes accompanied by Dagmar, a Czech immigrant girl from school and the victim of bullying. Clover also occasionally visits her grandfather in his retirement home or her mentally ill Uncle Jim in his bedsit. However, her main project this summer is to unearth artefacts from the second bedroom in which all of her mother Becky’s belongings remain. Clover’s been to several museums, mostly with her school, and she’s even spoken to a curator. Now she wants to create a museum of her own, with exhibits that reveal who her mother was. In the process, she will be discard the flotsam and jetsam of the years that have accumulated in the house.

Little by little, a picture emerges of how Darren got to be the way he is and who Becky really was. There are a number of surprises. One of the most startling is that Becky’s was a “denied pregnancy”. She did not know she was pregnant until she went into labour. Mrs. Mackerel actually delivered the baby in Darren and Becky’s kitchen. The reader follows not only to find out how much Clover got right about her mum but also to learn how Darren will respond to the museum that tells not only Becky’s story, but Clover’s, Jim’s, and his own. This is an emotionally rich, sensitive novel. I’m glad to have finally read it. ( )

I have just been utterly charmed by Carys Bray. This is the most lyrical and honest story of a young girl who just wants to find out more about the mother she never knew. It pulled every single one of my heartstrings and I found it to be quite beautiful and poignant, with many unexpected laugh out loud moments.

Clover has visited many museums in her short life and she gets the idea to create exhibits of her mother's possessions so she can find out more about her. Clover's mother, Becky, died when she was a baby so she is being brought up by her dad, Darren. Clover herself made a surprise entrance into the world as Becky didn't even know she was pregnant. Darren hasn't been able to part with any of Becky's things so Clover goes through them, without Darren's knowledge, to choose her prize exhibits.

This book really is more about feelings than events and Clover buried herself into my heart as each page turned. I also have a special place reserved for Mrs Mackerel, Clover's neighbour. She shouts all the IMPORTANT words but often gets her sayings all mixed up like looking in a HAYSTACK full of NEEDLES. I knew I was going to love Mrs Mackerel as one of the early lines was about Mrs Mackerel lending Catherine Cookson books to her friend and telling each other which supermarkets have gin on special offer. I wouldn't mind a friend like that myself.

I know A Song for Issy Bradley was one of the big hits of 2015, so after reading The Museum of You I can definitely see why there was so much excitement about Carys Bray's debut. I plan to add A Song for Issy Bradley to my book wishlist and if it's half as good as The Museum of You, it'll be a winner.

I received this e-book from the publisher, RandomHouse UK, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Brilliant, just loved it. Fantastic characters especially Mrs MACKEREL, you will KNOW what I MEAN WHEN you read this WONDERFUL book ( )