Returning to her fractured past, a woman is determined to end a cycle of heartbreaks in a moving novel about family, sacrifice, and redemption by the bestselling author of The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves.
When Bess Rollins’s parents die in a tragic accident, she is forced to abandon her dream job overseas. After three years away, she returns to her family’s estate in the Finger Lakes, a veritable monument to her brilliant late grandmother, and a reminder of the wreckage Bess left behind.
There’s the guilt over leaving her younger twin siblings, Casey and Caleb, and she struggles to rebuild a bond that may be irrevocably broken. Amid the grief, resentment still looms toward her reckless and self-indulgent mother and father. And then there’s Luke Monticelli, the devoted man Bess walked out on but never stopped loving.
Haunted by her regrets at every turn, Bess soon realizes that the past is far more complicated than she ever knew. With each secret that she uncovers about her family, Bess comes closer to healing their wounds, seizing a second chance at love, and fulfilling dreams that can lift them all—right here at home, where she belongs.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary eARC of this book. All opinions are my own and were not influenced by receiving the complimentary copy.
Rating: 4/5
Spice: closed-door
The Museum of Lost Dreams is a historical fiction novel following multiple timelines/generations of women. It deals with secrets, family sacrifice, and restoration of relationships amidst grief and trauma. I enjoy reading really emotional stories that wrestle with very real decisions and circumstances of life, and this fit the bill. It started slowly setting up the timelines, but I found myself completely enthralled towards the ending as everything converged.
What I liked
- The relationship between the family members felt so real. I loved how Bess cared for her younger siblings but learned to balance how to be their older sister and not just a stand-in parent. The strained relationship between her grandma and mother was portrayed very well, and a lot of the things we see end up making sense and forming strong character backstories.
- Rich people doing rich right! I loved that the focus of this book was not on amassing unnecessary wealth, but on how we can set up a legacy for our generations while also using the resources we have to bless the world around us. The theme was very clear in the decisions Bess especially took, and I liked how it was modeled.
- The side characters didn’t feel like an intrusion, but added more depth to the story. From Raisa to Luke, I enjoyed seeing how they improved the lives of Bess and her family; but also how they grew alongside them. Very encouraging to read.
What didn’t quite work for me
- The pacing was extremely slow at the beginning, I nearly put the book down. Between the dual timelines and the difference in years not being that much, I was very confused and had to keep flipping back. But, the payout was great as we continued to learn more about their backstories
- Nitpicky but referring to “Africa” generically “Africa” and not where she was, which was Zaire. However, other countries like the Philippines were explicitly named. I know it’s historical and probably reflects the general sentiment, but some parts of the overseas charity work gave “poverty porn” a bit
All in all, this was a poignant and touching tale on how our trauma and past hurt influences our lives and affects those closest to us if we do not heal and receive the help that we need. Would recommend if you love emotional stories that deal with family hurt, rebuilding trust, and are extremely character-driven.