We humans are interesting creatures. Some of us attach memories and meaning to our possessions and some of us are quick to let the material things go.  What happens when two women – one who hordes possessions as a way to hold onto her past and one who has let everything go in hopes of a better future – find themselves working together?

Lucy Bloom, is a mom on a mission to save her teenage son who has fallen victim to drugs. She has lost everything because of his addiction – her boyfriend, her house, and her safety shield. Now, hired to help organize and clean out the house of eccentric artist Marva Meier Rios, she’s got a deadline to meet.  And even though there are days when she is convinced she’ll never finish in time and lose her much-needed bonus, by the time the auction and yard sale are done, she’ll not only help her son, but she’ll save herself and Marva in the process.

 

This book delves into the struggles of a single mom trying to come to terms with her own shortfalls while learning that sometimes tough love is exactly what’s needed – both for yourself and those you care about. And while there are some heavy themes, there are also many moments of levity that had me laughing to myself.

 

For both the story and the fantastic audiobook performance, I give this a solid people-are-not-things score of 4 stars.

 

Book Blurb

 

Lucy Bloom is broke, freshly dumped by her boyfriend, and is forced to sell her house to send her nineteen-year-old son to drug rehab. Although she’s lost it all, she’s determined to start over. So when she’s offered a high-paying gig helping clear the clutter from the huge home of reclusive and eccentric painter Marva Meier Rios, Lucy grabs it. But she soon learns that the real challenge may be taking on Marva, who seems to love her objects too much to let go of any of them.

While trying to stay on course toward a strict deadline—and with an ex-boyfriend back in the picture, a new romance on the scene, and her son’s rehab not going as planned—Lucy discovers that Marva isn’t just hoarding, she is also hiding a big secret. The two form an unlikely bond, as each learns from the other that there are those things in life we keep and those we need to let go—but it’s not always easy to know the difference.

 

You can find this book on Amazon.