Member Reviews
Wow! What an intricately woven story with family drama, magic, suspense and romance. This novel had me captivated as the characters came alive and I felt as if I was part of the journey.
Nicole has this really bad habit of relocating items to where they tell her they need to be. She is an object relocater, not a kleptomaniac. Even though her family thinks otherwise.
Complex characters with real problems, scars both emotional and physical.
Thank you Kerry Anne King, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
New Wrinkle On Oft-Derided Issue. I don't suffer from kleptomania myself, but as someone who is Autistic and is interested in unique takes on various issues society deems "mental disorders", I always appreciate books that can take a topic that is often derided and make it much more "human" and much less "other". Here, King does just this, and she does it in a whimsical manner that has its share of tragedy as well. An excellent book that rarely takes the "conventional" route, and yet tells the story of how one person's "mental disorder" can actually work to be a very positive thing when the person learns to truly harness her power.. Very much recommended.
Nicole, or Nickle, has an interesting gift….or curse…depending on the way you look at it. This gift leads her into some tricky situations, bringing moments of danger, fear, romance, and true friendship. I found this book very interesting and hard to put down. I couldn’t wait to hear how Nickle got herself out of the various situations. Loved it!
Kerry Anne King perfectly blends the elements of drama, mystery, humor, and romance into one enthralling story. I loved the mix of characters that I found myself cheering for and the anger I felt towards the bad guys. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
Other People’s Things was a unique idea for a book; Nichole relocates items to the place they want to be, unfortunately this is also seen as stealing and causes problems with her family and husband. When Nichole relocates some money, it sets off a series of events which changes her life, and those around her forever.
A quirky book - part crime, part serendipity, where Nicole "relocates" objects that need to be elsewhere, although sadly others look upon this is as stealing. Would be interested to read Kerry Anne King's other book to see if it has the same unique twist too.
I really enjoyed this book! Loved the ideas of objects having the power to "tell" somebody they are in the wrong place and that their correction could create happiness (or chaos). The character of Nicole was so endearing, the fact that she could not resist the call of the objects to be relocated and the misunderstanding from friends, family (and the authorities!).
Sometimes the romance aspect of a book can ruin it for me but it was handled perfectly in Other People's Things. I could imagine more books featuring Nicole and would definitely read them.
What an interesting read! I'm sure the idea that objects have energy on this earth is not new, but it's new to me. Nicole's character is fun and what she does is thought-provoking. Characters development was hit and miss. Kent's character was predictable and boring. Andrea's is amazing and intriguing. However, I do think in some way Hawk and Nicole's relationship is awkward. Perhaps, Hawk's introduction into Nicole's life and how his character developed was awkward. I can't pinpoint it; however, it doesn't read smoothly as the others. Overall, it was worth the read.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
OTHER PEOPLE’S THINGS by Kerry Anne King is a charming, magical and heartwarming story of family, friendship and unexpected connections that will stay on my mind for a long time to come. Nicole “Nickle” Woods has a unique “gift” – she has an overwhelming need to relocate objects to their rightful place in the universe. Unfortunately, when she moves things that don’t belong to her, she is accused of stealing and frequently lands in jail. Her already complicated life is cast into further chaos when she rehomes a stack of cash from her husband’s drawer and he throws her out. Her sister offers her a second chance by giving her a job in her housecleaning business, but before long Nickle is compelled to move a book from one client’s home to another. Doing so sets off a chain of events that reveal secrets and long-buried trauma that will change her life and those of several others around her. The storyline is so unique and well-crafted. The characters are wonderfully-portrayed and so believable that I felt like I knew them personally. The story has a little of everything – mystery, family drama, romance and magic. I was engaged in the characters’ emotional journey from beginning to end. OTHER PEOPLE’S THINGS is a captivating and original novel and I highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.
I absolutely loved this novel. So very different from any other I have read; yet it is clearly a Kerry Anne King novel. Both of those are very good things. The author always finds very interesting topics to write about and then weaves them into storylines that are engaging, and enthralling. She has a general storyline which takes the reader from one idea and then there are delicate twists and turns that lead the reader onto a very different path than one thought it would go.. She does this so well it is only after one is finished reading, that they realize they expected a and b to occur when y and z actually did.
I loved the concept of the novel and the relocation program premises. It really is a wonderful starting point and the ending is exactly as it should be. Another amazing read by Kerry Anne King.
This is a must read novel for when you can read straight through. Don’t knock it aside or put it on a TBR.
Rating: 4.9
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** I read an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Nicole has just gotten out of jail and moved back into her family home. She was in jail for robbery. Yes, she touches the items that she is accused of stealing but she doesn't really steal them -- she relocates them. The items talk to her and tell her that they want to be somewhere else - so she takes them from one place and puts the items where they tell her they want to go. Unfortunately, her reasons don't get accepted by the police or her family and she's sent to jail. Yes, Nicole is a flawed character and seems a bit unbalanced at times but she's lovable despite her quirks or maybe because of her quirks. Out of jail, with her marriage on the rocks and a jail sentence being threatened for stealing money from her husband, she appears to have reached rock bottom but her determination and cheery attitude just keep her moving along.
After she promises her sister that she's won't move any other objects, her sister hires her to help clean houses. She uses the mantra 'Better than jail' over and over to keep her from relocating any objects...until a book talks to her at one house and she just has to take it. She relocates it to another house and when the owner of the house finds it, the walls she has set up around her begin to crumble and things change for her and for Nicole. With Nicole out of a job, her family all agrees that she should go back to her wonderful and rich husband who is begging her to come home. She fell for his smooth manner before but now that she knows what he's really like, she has no intention of going back to him so he threatens to have her arrested for the $20,000 that she relocated from his office and he wants it back. With the family drama continuing, throw in a private investigator, an unhinged pharmacist, a psychiatrist and a best friend and this book is full of delightful twists and turns. Despite all that's going on, Nicole stays upbeat and happy with her life.
I've never read a character like Nicole. She could make you laugh and make you cry. At times the whole world seemed to be against her but she stayed upbeat and happy with life. The book has lots of characters but Nicole is the one who shines the brightest.
This is a book about family and love and forgiveness with a bit of danger and treachery mixed in. It's a fun book to read and Nicole is really a great character to know. She's a character that will stay with me long after the last page of the book.
Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review.
Nicole, ‘Nickle’, has a problem. Well, it’s a problem with the law, because she feels compelled to relocate certain objects. She can feel when they are not meant to be where they are, and where they should be moved to instead. She can’t help it, but unfortunately, to the rest of the world, it looks a lot like stealing. Like the battered paperback book that needed to be taken from one client’s house to another, when she was working as a cleaner with her sister. It seems harmless enough – it’s just a book. But Nickle’s ‘relocations’ start to have more of an effect than she ever imagined. While her family desperately tries to intervene, to stop her from stealing anything else, her ex-husband will do anything to get back something she stole from him. PI, Hawk, has been hired by her ex to track Nickle and the stolen goods down, but even he starts to let his curiosity about her ‘gift’, and Nickle herself, get the best of him.
This was such an interesting premise for a book! I absolutely loved watching the multiple mysteries unravel and discovering the significance of the relocated items. Both Nickle and Hawk were fascinating characters and the ex-husband, Kent, was infuriating. Nickle’s family’s insistence on believing Kent over her at every turn made me want to slap them all 😅. This one had my blood boiling and my heart melting all in one.
If you love quirky and unique books, with a touch of magic, that are difficult to put down, I’d highly recommend picking this one up!
Nicole (Nickle) has a troubled past – constantly in trouble with the Police for theft, her family have finally lost patience with her. When she steals from her husband, he too, turns his back on her and she’s forced to try and make a new, honest, life.
However, she doesn’t steal because she wants to – objects call to her to be relocated, and she’s helpless to refuse them.
The idea for this story really appealed to me – and I felt it was handled well for the most part. However, there were some elements that were a little too skirted over, for me to find it believable (as such). In many ways, the fact the relocation/catalyst angle wasn’t made more of means I’m not sure that this really is a magical realism book. It’s more of a sprinkling of MR on an otherwise typical romance/contemporary read.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just I think the author could have done more with it. Equally, in parts, I found the writing to be a little immature, and perhaps better suited to a YA audience. That’s why I can’t quite mark it a four. Otherwise, it really was an interesting and enjoyable, lighthearted read.
I don't think I have read a book like this before- it was really unique . Lots of suspense but humour and honest storytelling too. I am a sucker for an underdog story but not usually one to choose to read a love story but I actually enjoyed this because they were both underdogs coming together. It was a glimpse into someone's family drama and what it must feel like to be imprisoned for something that feels out of your control. I'd never thought about this before. Great main character. I loved how she finds confidence and strength and I felt like I really went on a journey with her. I would like to read more about her and think this would be a great series of books.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Other People’s Things is an intricately woven story that is an amalgamation of intense family drama, some mystery, a bit of romance, and a wonderful dose of magic. There are so many layers to this book—the more I read, the more I uncovered, with revelations that were startling, surprising, and often took my breath away. Each of the characters—Nickle, Hawk, Andrea, and all of the rest, were complex and genuine—real people with real problems, with physical and emotional scars, people who have built walls to protect their hearts while also preventing them from truly living their best lives. My heart was engaged from the very beginning, through all the ups and downs, twists and turns, an emotional journey that I felt deep down. This captivating book was constantly surprising me, with its original and unexpected plot that was as entertaining as it was heartfelt. I was so thoroughly involved in the lives of the characters, that it is hard to say goodbye to them—they are going to take up space in my heart for a long time!
I loved this book, it's not what you expect. Who is the main character depends on who you ask. Some would say a kleptomaniac, she will explain she is relocator of objects that want to be in a different location. She only moves things that need to be moved. I found this to be so much more, loyalty, family,friendship, dysfunction and love all intertwined. Parts a sad story, some happy, some romance, some nightmare inducing but all together a great story you won't regret reading. Thank you Kerry Anne King, the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Nicole is a mover of objects – she doesn’t steal (despite what her family and friends might think), she just relocates things to where they most want to be. With her marriage falling apart, a potential prison sentence looming and nowhere left to turn, Nicole is determined to change her ways.
She’s doing so well until she encounters a tatty old paperback book while helping her sister clean houses and moves it to another client’s home, triggering a life-changing series of events.
Other People’s Things is told from three perspectives: Nicole, Andrea (recipient of the book and somewhat of a recluse) and Hawk (a private investigator with a heart of gold, hired by Nicole’s ex-husband to monitor her movements).
The story is packed with mystery and suspense, as we see Nicole deal with a range of crises, family tensions and abusive relationships. I particularly liked how the author interspersed stories written by Nicole, breaking off at dramatic moments to keep the tension building.
This book has a touch of everything – thriller, family, magic and romance. A really wonderful story with a varied cast of relatable characters (especially Hawk who I adored!).
I keep seeing Kerry Anne King books recommended so I had to try this one and it did not disappoint.
I loved the premise and the story did not disappoint. When we meet Nicole she's a mystery, she keeps getting herself into situations that embarrass her and alienate her family. She seems unable to change the outcome. Being a misunderstood and flawed woman, she was an easy character to connect to. The book is also filled with a variety of other intriguing characters. This one keeps me turning pages and ignoring my chores. I finished it in one afternoon because I just had to know how the story turned out!
I give this story 4.5 stars.
Thank you to the author, Lake Union and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found this book fascinating and it was a delight to read such an original story. The story is beautifully written and the characters are intriguing. The story unravels beautifully and is a fantastic easy but interesting read with more depth than many books released recently. A great holiday or weekend escape.
A loveably flawed heroine who destroys relationships and her own life with the best of intentions. A decades long family mystery. A nuanced cast of characters, and King's ability to have you laughing and crying within the span of a few pages. You're going to love this one!