Welcome to Hatters Museum of the Wide Wide World. This rather dishevelled museum is where Cate and her son, Leo, end up when they can no longer afford to stay in their flat in London and need a place to go. It's Cate's late husband's family's museum and yet she and Leo have never been and have no idea what to expect.

The setting is what initially drew me most of all to Where We Belong. Hatters turned out to exceed my expectations of the unusual and the unexpected, housing as it does a range of stuffed animal exhibits and other curious and interesting items from around the world. I was entranced by it and could absolutely imagine it in my mind's eye as a place that would grow on a person, as it does Cate.

However, the setting is only a part of what makes this book so appealing. I found Cate quite prickly to begin with but as the story of what happened in her marriage unfolded I started to understand her better. Then there's Araminta, the custodian of the collection at Hatters, again a frosty character to whom I warmed. Leo is a fantastic character whom I felt the author did a wonderful job with. As a whole, the characters are delightfully portrayed and gel perfectly, even down to the ones with only tiny bit parts.

This is a beautifully written story about family secrets and how a family's history echoes down over the generations. The more I read, the more I was drawn into Cate and Araminta's efforts to keep the museum going and into Cate and Leo's new life in Crouch-on-Sea, willing them to make something of it. There's a brilliant scene where Leo really comes into his own and I felt such a sense of pride in him. When the end came I was moved to tears because I was so invested in the characters. I found Where We Belong to be a gorgeous read, sad and moving, yet ultimately positive and uplifting, a story of moving on and finding a new normal. I highly recommend you make a visit to Hatters Museum of the Wide Wide World. I loved every minute I spent there. ( )