Everything You Love Ends Up in a Yard Sale

by Jennifer Braunfels

312 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Hannah Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Edited to five stars...A whole day later, a book talk with Jenn, still can not get over this book. Just an emotional ride and so worth it.
A story of finding yourself, heartbreak, friendship…and Jennifer does it so well. There was a critical turning point right near the halfway point and it just kept me more roped into the story.

So so good!!

[Paula Boyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started out thinking this book wasn't really for me. There's a lot of drinking, partying, cheating, hang overs, and overall bad choices being made. About midway through the book, there's a turning point, and I began to enjoy the characters and their situations. Grace, the main character, is twenty-something and rents a place on the ocean in Maine with her boyfriend. She works from home at a mundane job while her boyfriend goes off to work long hours every day at his very important job as an architect. Since she found out he cheated on her, (he says he didn't) she's been suspicious of his every move. He seems to get lots of texts and calls that really make him laugh and smile. While he's at work, her sixty-something year old neighbor, Annie, befriends her, and they have lots of fun going out to lunch, walking the beach, shopping, and bar hopping. Annie is wild and crazy and wants to live life to its fullest. They confide in each other about everything, well, almost everything.
Grace stops by Annie's house unexpectedly and happens to meet Nichole, Annie's hospice nurse. The remainder of the story is sweet. Grace meets someone else who treats her gently and with respect, but has difficulty telling her live-in boyfriend to pack his things and leave. She spends more and more time with Annie and her family until Annie's final moments. At the end of her rental agreement, she packs and leaves Maine, not really sure where she's going or where she'll end up. If Annie has taught her anything, it's to take care of herself and her own needs first. She seems to be taking that advice.

[Kendra Chubbuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for the MPBN July Book Club. She is a Maine author, and this is her first novel. So far, I really like. We have had no power on the Island today, so I have taken advantage of it, and I have read most of the day! Lucky me. I love Grace, Annie, Say, Bill, Kelly, and Matthew. Great characters in this book. I liked the ending. I'm not too sure about the title although I know why she named the book this title.

The author wrote how it all works with hospice, the funeral home, etc. correctly. My Dad just passed this last May, and I felt while reading those chapters I was reliving my Dad's death all over again.

I thought the author did a good job with this book. It was a quick read and it kept me interested in the story. It could be a sequel as I want to know what happens with a few of the characters.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love finding books by Maine authors. Bring the tissues. This is the type of book that many people can relate to for many reasons. I personally did not love the main character, the way she was written I found to be obnoxious, but I appreciated enough of some other characters and the storyline to finish it in one day. Themes are miscarriage, cheating and cancer so reader beware. If these are subjects you prefer to avoid, this book is not for you.

[Jennifer Dupree · Rating 4 out of 5]

At its core, this is a book about friendship, although there's a budding love story, too. Annie and Grace meet at a low point in Grace's life and the two, unlikely as it is, become fast friends. This book is at turns tender, funny, and poignant. It's the kind of book that makes you sad when it's over because you'll miss the characters!

[Liane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything You Love Ends Up in a Yard Sale by Jennifer Braunfels hooked me instantly with its title. It’s a clever, poignant hook for a well-told story about impermanence and the healing power of female friendship, blending painful truths with humor.

[Karen Maheady · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Definitely not what I am typically interested in reading. A sweet book but a little too predictable and unbelievable for my taste. I did think the writing was good and unlike many books I’ve read lately it was the perfect number of pages for the story it was telling!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best. Real, raw, happy, sad… a beautiful story about friendship and love.

[Stephanie Doucette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great 1 st novel. Humorous and touching. Go Maine!!

[Tracy Brann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story about the power of female friendship, relationships AND set in Maine🥰. Excellent debut novel

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

[Juliet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected! Overall was an OK story, but it was very sad in a few aspects. I felt bad for the main character and kind of wish we had more of her backstory with Liam and her friend Say.

[Elizabeth Nevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this easy read. The characters were relatable and the story had all the feels!