Careful What You Wish For by Hallie Ephron (Review by Missi Gwartney)

Rating: 4.3 out of 5.0

Are you a “spark joy” kind of person with your belongings or tend to keep things around? What would you do if your husband was a “collector” (or as you’d call him a hoarder) and you weren’t? This is exactly the position Emily Harlow finds herself in and to make matters worse, she is a professional organizer who prides herself on helping people declutter their lives. Emily’s husband, Frank, and his ever-growing collection makes her wish she could apply her business practices at home. Following her own rule of only decluttering your own belongings, has kept her at peace for now but just how long can she survive without trying to get Frank to see her side of things and jeopardizing everything?

The Freeze-Frame Clutter Kickers is Emily’s business and may have met its match with their new clients: Mrs. Murphy and Quinn Newell. Mrs. Murphy is a widow looking to finally “clean up” her late husband’s belongings and wealthy Quinn Newell wants to part with her old life belongings and settle into her new marriage. While these clients seem worlds apart with nothing in common, they end up intertwined when a strange discovery is found among Mrs. Murphy’s belongings. Emily gets caught in the middle and is always at the wrong place at the wrong time. Emily’s instincts lead her on a fast paced chase for the truth and she quickly realizes that not everything is what it seems. Emily will have to decide if what she is searching for is worth risking not only her business and marriage but also her freedom and the life she knows.

This book was a quick read with an easy to follow plot and relatable characters. There are some great (although not unexpected) twists and turns. Your left wanting to put yourself in Emily’s shoes and search with her. It’s easy to get drawn in and see if your “detective work” is correct. If you’re looking for a quick, uncomplicated yet not totally predictable read, then I’d highly recommend this book. Just remember to be “Careful What You Wish For”…