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The Museum of Second Chances
Jo Leevers
Publication Date: July 1st, 2026
Amazon Publishing UK | Lake Union Publishing
363 Pages
Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women’s Fiction
This was such a great book. The story is about 61-year-old Evelyn, who lives in a coastal town. Every morning, she takes walks looking for unwanted items, smashed china, things people have lost, and other misplaced treasures. She keeps these in a museum known as the Museum of Maritime Curiosities, honestly believing these items deserve to have their stories shared. Evelyn’s favourite item is a bit of lace that was left on her blanket when she was abandoned as a baby, and she hopes one day someone will recognise it and solve the mystery of her backstory.
When the local council decides to shut the museum down, Evelyn is forced to get the community together to help her fight to keep it. This ragtag bunch of people become each other’s biggest supporters—and Evelyn’s—and the secrets of these objects just might be revealed.
This is my first book by the author, and I can’t wait to read her backlog. The story was poignant and beautifully written. This is my favourite type of story: “up-lit,” which is community-focused with a bit of a mystery and a whole lot of quirkiness. I loved how the author balanced the cozy community vibe with the important issue of identity.
Evelyn is a wonderful leading lady. She’s a bit of an introvert, and her hobby of finding discarded objects stems from a deep desire to find herself. I enjoyed watching her come out of her shell to fight for the museum, and how she brings the locals along for the ride to fight for the town’s heritage.
I didn’t miss the subtle way the author writes about family ties, friendship, and the grief we all have. Although it took a few chapters for me to get into the book, the slower pace of the story fits perfectly with the themes, and it never gets too sentimental. This was a heartfelt and uplifting story that reminded me that the things and people we have lost are out there waiting to be found.
The blend of a quirky local museum, a found-family community coming together, and a lifelong personal mystery is the absolute sweet spot for a great up-lit novel. If you love character-driven fiction, as I do, I can highly recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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