Secondhand Worth: A Memoir

by Holly Doherty

"The devil will get you!"

In a typical middle-class family, things aren't always what they seem…

By all outward appearances, Holly’s 70s childhood seems idyllic. But the walls of her Baltimore row home hold dark family secrets that make her life a living hell. And secrets love to breed in the dark…

Where the uncomfortable and loathsome become not only acceptable, but expected. And set the stage for years of systemic abuse at the hands of the most unlikely of abusers.

From forced participation in a nudist colony to unwitting indoctrination into a purity cult, Holly's swing-of-the-pendulum life leads to confusion, people-pleasing, and losing herself to the expectations of other people.

Until, at her grandmother’s funeral, she is confronted with the whispered question, overheard from a life-long family "Where did Holly go?"

Only by exposing dark secrets and questioning everything she believes is Holly able to confront her abusers, step into her grace and power, and learn to trust herself again.

Along the way, she uncovers universal truths about the lies we believe, the labels we wear, and the light that’s inside us when we have the courage to find it.

Secondhand Worth is a beautiful memoir of redemption and grace that doesn't shy away from the hard moments. Instead, it embraces them with grit, humor, and brutal honesty. It is a relatable look at how trauma unravels every sense of self-worth and what it really takes to weave a life of love, faith, and confidence.

305 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2023

Reviews

[Lis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was tough to read. The amount of trauma that Holly went through in her life will leave you questioning how she kept going. There were times I just had to put down the book and walk away, because I just didn’t want to know what happened next. Between her childhood abuser, the church, and her husband…this woman has dealt with far too much. However, through the trauma she was able to find herself once again. She didn’t recreate herself, she became the person she was meant to be. She persevered. Holly shows grit, determination and the strength to move forward. She truly is an inspiration. I’m so glad I stuck with this one. I truly felt that I was right there beside her at times, just wishing she would see her own worth. Thankfully, it happens. She realizes she is enough. What a heartbreakingly beautiful story that shows just how one can survive even the worst of times.

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you feel unworthy of love? We’ve all had problems in our childhood, but few of us can say, or will admit, to all Holly has endured. She was courageous to write this story, and I’m sure it took a lot out of her to share her trauma, but I’m also sure it probably helped her heal from her painful past that, at times, seemed unbearable. I’m so glad she shared this intriguing story, full of faith, confidence, and, ultimately, triumph through healing. There were also many moments of joy, and I particularly enjoyed reading about them. I’m glad that Holly now offers hope by coaching those of us who struggle to love ourselves because of our past—I’m so happy God healed me from that misconception.

[Rebecca Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been on my to-read list for over a year, and I am so happy that I finally got to read it. This book pulled at my heart strings in so many ways. Holly's ability to put into words how trauma feels for a little girl was heartbreakingly relatable. While I didn't deal with the same toxic relationship she has, it helped me see the toxic and narcissistic behaviors I accepted throughout my life. While the situations may have been different, her ability to be relatable to trauma victims is beautiful. It's hard to write about, it's hard to talk about, but it is necessary. I also appreciated her conflict with religion and her church. This is another relatable situation for myself and many others. I appreciate her breakthrough, and that experience was so beautiful for me to read. My one and only complaint, not even a complaint but more of something I didn't care for, was the perception of someone who smokes pot. I understand that Holly's experience ties Marijuana smokers with negative people from her past. However, I think that's just a coincidence. I know plenty of pot smokers who aren't narcissists and are some of the best people with the purest of hearts.
This was an amazing book to read, and I encourage everyone to read it. Thank you, Holly, for sharing your story of trauma, healing, and your journey to finding you. Thank you for reminding everyone that we are all worth it. 💜

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Secondhand Worth" is a beautifully written memoir that tackles abuse, trauma, self-discovery, and self-worth. I found myself wanting to hug Holly when she beat herself up mentally and cheering her on when she started finding her power. Her talks with God were encouraging and realistic. And it provided a sense of hope as Holly came into herself. I saw myself in this book, at a time that I needed to see it. She ends the book with a message to, “My Dear Reader.” If for some reason the book doesn’t move you, that surely will! “Secondhand Worth” is a great reminder to give yourself grace and allow yourself to fail.

[Cassandra Ulrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Doherty’s “Second Hand Worth” is her story about how her childhood and adult experiences affected her perception of her worth. She had to learn how to break the emotional chains others placed on her. Then, she had to want to break them. This is a powerful story about self-discovery, encouraging friendships, and an encounter with a healthy romantic relationship. Thanks, Holly, for sharing your story.