Objects of My Affection

By: Jill Smolinski

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

In the humorous, heartfelt new novel by the author of The Next Thing on My List, a personal organizer must somehow convince a reclusive artist to give up her hoarding ways and let go of the stuff she’s hung onto for decades.

Lucy Bloom is broke, has been dumped by her boyfriend, and had to sell her house to send her 19-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 home of reclusive and eccentric painter Marva Meier Rios, Lucy grabs it. Armed with the organizing expertise she gained while writing her book, Things Are Not People, and fueled by a burning desire to get her life back on track, Lucy rolls up her sleeves to take on the mess that fills every room of Marva’s huge home. Lucy soon learns that the real challenge may be taking on Marva, who seems to love the objects in her home 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.

Laugh-out-loud humor, heartfelt writing, relatable characters, and a charming premise all come together to make Objects of My Affection the next read for the fans of Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin, and Allison Winn Scotch.

©2012 Jill Smolinski (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A wonderfully written, heartfelt novel about what to keep and what to let go of as you move forward in your life.” (Claire Cook, best-selling author of Must Love Dogs)

“A hoarder and organizational expert clash in this light, amusing novel from Smolinski…A charmingly breezy tone marks this warm appraisal of our addiction to stuff.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

“I loved this deeply felt, bravely honest tale of a professional organizer who discovers just how messy life and love can be, but that everything truly does have a place. A treasure of a novel.” (Melissa Senate, author of The Love Goddess’ Cooking School)

Great Feel-good story

I enjoyed the story. It was relatable, entertaining, and perfect to learn stem to before going to sleep. The reader had an annoying way of making all of the men talk slowly. It could be distracting. But overall, I enjoyed the book.

Great story, but wrong narrator

Fantastic story, despite the narrator being all wrong for this! She uses a sexy “nighttime DJ” voice that would be perfect for a novel targeted at men. She’s very talented, but this is the wrong audience for a sexy voice like this. Makes no sense.

Intriguing Listen

Loved the story, especially as an artist myself; however, the narrators voice was quite whiney and even felt oddly breathy at all the wrong times.
Get past that and enjoy the story!

Loved this!

Sweet little story, the plot is not so easily guessed so it makes it interesting & I loved the ending.

A Nice Suprise

I read many of the free books, or at least try. This one was extremely well written and a great story. I really enjoyed it!

good read

I enjoyed this book. characters were well developed and story different. liked the ending with nit everything resolved but nice work on the growth of each cjaracter.

An Uplifting Novel

This book was so refreshing. I typically go for the mystery, thrillers and was looking for something more lighthearted. The characters were interesting, with the main characters being likable and relatable. This book was such a comfort to me during a rough time since it was so relaxing and trigger free. And it was still a page turner. I loved the ending!

Spoilers Abound! (but read the review - it's good)

IN MY USUAL STYLE - SPOILERS ABOUND (But it's a good review, you should check it out.)

Objects of My Affection is a fairly lighthearted, easy read. In a nutshell and because I can’t help myself: Girl is dumped, out of work, out of her home, and sharing a room with her girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter. Lucy is desperate to start over.

This all seems like a typical start to an airy novel until you reach the part of her new job. Meet sarcastic, once-famous-totally-eccentric-now-hoarder Marva. Oh, how I love this old gal's snark. At first, the reader wants to shake Marva for her rude, impetuous behavior, but as the story unfolds, and it does so beautifully, we see the wounded, insecure person even those we hold in higher esteem (age, notoriety, status) hide.

As the book takes its familiar feeling twists the underlying story, the one that hit a home run for me, is the relationship between Lucy and her son; a 19-year-old addict who uses and abuses his mother, rinses, and repeats. We learn why she is essentially homeless, penniless, and heartbroken.

Jill Smolinski’s depiction of this volatile, gut-wrenching mother-child experience will resonate with anyone who has ever had a lost or wandering child, one who makes you feel weak, insignificant, a failure as a parent. Throughout the latter half of the book, Lucy and her son hit on raw, emotional, and real-life events, feelings, and thoughts that occur when dealing with a situation such as addiction.

As is to be expected, everything works out for all parties as we would hope – all tied up in a nice bow. I’m not necessarily an advocate or fan of that type of ending, but, in this case, with so much at stake (child’s life, mom and child relationship), as a reader, I needed it to end this way. Not sure I would have recovered if it hadn’t. The ending gives hope to those of us who have walked in Lucy’s shoes, either in the past, present or future.

Well, done, Jill Smolinski – you brought to light the ugliness of parenting an addict without a slap in the face. Marva, our brash antagonist is the perfect balance to bring levity to this heavy situation. Your message was not lost on this reader from a personal perspective: Never give up on your child. From an outsider's perspective, what I hear you say, is: You have no idea what it's like, but it isn't easy, and it isn't pretty.

I would highly recommend reading this, or gifting it to someone who doesn't understand your shoes if you are a parent navigating child addiction; it will subtly get their attention.

objects of my affection

really enjoyed it, pleasantly surprised and I completely related to the character! highly Recommend

Very good story

The story was very good. The reader took some getting used to. She sounded bored.