The Yard Sale

by Patricia Ann Preston

“The Yard Sale” (novelette) is all about humor & happy endings! Ever have a yard sale? Jennifer Riley hadn’t. Not until she desperately needed cash. She's lost her job, her house, and her husband has run off with another woman. She decides to have a yard sale. And with the help of Aunt Gale, a yard sale pro, and Uncle Buddy, the Karaoke King, her yard sale ends up on YouTube. From Early Birds to Tightwads to Prince Charming, Jennifer meets a host of quirky people and she realizes some things have a value greater than money. So come on down to Clayburn, Mississippi and have some fun at an unforgettable yard sale!

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Humor

33 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2012

About the author

Please note: I have recently updated all my short stories and published them under the name Patricia Preston on Amazon. They have new covers as well. Goodreads has some kind of policy that I can't change the covers and author name, so that is why this page still exists.

Please send me friend requests at Patricia Preston.
For more information about my available titles, go to http://www.patriciapreston.blogspot.com Thanks!

Reviews

[Beatrice Followill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

Cute fun read! Would love to go to a yard sale like this one ! The characters are likeable and fun. The moral of the story was great!

[Reina Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quick, fun read is full of quirky characters and, as the series title states, down-home humor. I enjoyed snippets of the next book in this series on Preston's blog some time ago, and had been looking forward to reading more of her brand of Southern humor. Yard Sale, while not as laugh-out-loud funny as I'd expected, delivered an enjoyable diversion and an unexpected, touching message. Well worth purchasing if you're a fan of Southern humor (like Ann B. Ross's Miss Julia).

[Donna Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful, charming, heartwarming slice-of-life story. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator, as well as all of the characters who were part of the yard sale.

[JulieAnn Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yard Sale drew me in quickly and kept me entertained for the whole way through. Jennifer is desperate to raise money after her divorce to avoid living and working with her mother. But despite the dire nature of her situation, watching the quirky characters shop and interact was both relaxing and fun.

Jennifer didn’t seem as worried as I would expect most people to be, which normally I would criticize in a book, but in this case, it worked. It was refreshing to see her shift her focus to narration about her friends, relatives, and neighbors. That’s what made this book so relaxing and comforting. We understood her situation, and yet, the message was clear: there is more to life than struggle, and the author portrayed that beautifully.

Fun characters. Realistic, engaging interactions, and lovely message.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Yard Sale by Patricia Preston is a Novella about Jennifer who is giving a yard sale and preparing to move and sell her home. Her husband recently left her for the church’s piano player. he emptied their bank account and told her she could have whatever was left which she assumed was close to nothing. She soon after lost her job, hence the sale. This yard sale is supposed to be helping her get funds for a new start but little does Jennifer know this yard sale will be her new start. I love that Patricia Prestons endings always are calculated to make you have that overwhelming happy warm hearted feeling and she nails it every time. From uncle Buddy and the karaoke to her aunt Gail and the neighbors not to mention the museum portrait in the archives this book is overloaded with charm Goodwill bad neighbors and an absolute happy ending I love it I love it I love it can I please have more ma’am. #BookSprout, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was small but mighty and packed a big punch at the end. I absolutely loved this short story about a woman who was going thru a divorce and had to sell her items, her house is in foreclosure and she lost her job so a triple whammy for her. Her aunt and uncle came to help her out with her yard sale and the hilarious characters that followed had me laughing out loud. Especially her karaoke singing uncle who brought a huge crowd to her yard sale a few great surprises along the way. Even though she’s down and out she stepped forward to help a single mom who didn’t make much money at her job which I found to be very heart warming. My favorite quote in the book is “Sometimes life wasn’t fair, but it wasn’t all darkness either. There was always light along the way. And every now and then, a miracle happened.” Just a really awesome short story with a big heart and lots of laughs.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Praveen Deshpande · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It was quick and short, with very little fluff.

I'm more of a visual person, so I like painting characters in my mind. I thought a bit more depth to few of the characters would have been great, but overall it was a good read. I really liked how the story turned out and the twist was something I did not completely anticipate. It was put together well.

I also enjoyed the themes woven throughout the story and there were a few moments that felt especially satisfying. The ending wrapped things up nicely and I was happy with how everything came together.

I also really liked the character Buddy, who is fun and a free spirit. Fallon was another nice character and Gabriel Landry as well. Overall, it was a good short story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shuvai · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Yard Sale by Patricia Preston is a quick, funny, and heartwarming read that turns hardship into entertainment. When Jennifer Riley’s life falls apart, her quirky yard sale—complete with bargains, music, and surprises—becomes the talk of Clayburn, Mississippi. Preston’s sharp writing and well-drawn characters, both main and secondary, make this one-day story lively and engrossing. With humor, charm, and a touch of mystery about Jennifer’s future, this short tale proves that even the toughest times can lead to unexpected joy. A delightful addition to the Humor and Happy Endings Series, perfect for anyone who enjoys light, fast-paced stories with a twist.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humbling lessons learned at a garage sale.

Jennifer is having a yard sale. Aunt Gail, a yard sale pro, is there to help her. The sale is the funeral for the death of her marriage after her husband, Clint, ran off with the church pianist. She needs every penny she can get so as not to have to work at her mother's beauty shop.

Yard sales have all sorts of attendees. There are the early birds, the tightwads and the hoarders. She's also had singers, thanks to her Uncle Buddy fixing the karaoke machine. But the appraiser might just be the answer to her prayers...

I received a free copy of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Lena]

This was such a fun, cute read. Jennifer's life took un expected turn, twice back to back. To get back on her feet, she has yard sale for quick cash with her Aunt Gail. What started out as a normal yard sale turned into a block party thanks to her Uncle Buddy. I loved the way the story turned. It Jen's misfortune turned into fortune, possibilities, and opportunities. It's a great reminder to look for the positives in bad sitations, surround yourself with encouraging and positive people, and never give up. You never know when your luck is going to change for the better.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read with heart and humor - I'm not much of a yard sale junkie but I would definitely stop in on Jen, Gail and Buddy's. Quirky buyers, local gossips and opportunistic neighbors are among the cast of characters who breezed through over the day. Meeting an old friend gave Jen a new perspective on her life's changes and a new acquaintance brings hope for her future. A delightful shorty that has brightened my morning imagining little Bucky Sue singing her heart out and the look of stupefaction on Clint's face if he ever discovers his folly.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can easily finish this in a lunch hour (or 90 mins).

My grandpa was a die hard yard saler and I could relate to all the characters in this story. Sorry for anyone who dealt with my grandpa, because I know he was the type to try to get something for nothing. :)

Sweet, hopeful story of starting over and how sometimes, strangers can be a blessing in disguise. Not sure I believe the Gabriel storyline, but it added to the feel good ending. :).

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Riley has a yard sale in Clayburn, Mississippi after her husband left her for another woman, her ex drained their joint bank account and she lost her job at the hotel and is broke. Jennifer meets all kinds of people while having her yard sale selling her ex-husband’s junk. Her Aunt Gail helps her with her yard sale while her Uncle Buddy plays karaoke on the porch. I really enjoyed this comical fiction short read novel.

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great way to end an awful day by reading this fun little story. I got to my share of yard sales and all the customers in the story have faces that I put to them from my experiences. LOL I LOVE Aunt Gail and I full out laughed at her antics. I was rooting for Jennifer, no grown woman wants to move back home! I don't want to give anything away. Read this little story and you will be smiling.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am volu lolntarily leaving a review.

[GinaB. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Yard Sale is a funny quick read. Jennifer had a yard sale cuz she lost her job & her husband cleaned out the bank account when he left town with the church piano player and said she could have everything else. She needed money & found valuable antiques her husband left behind, so she got the last laugh. I received this quick read with a great ending from Book Sprout & am leaving an honest review.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer starts a yard sale and has help from Gail. Jennifer meets various people, learning about her items as she sells. This is an extremely short story, following characters at a yard sale. This is a casual read.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

'With equal parts heart and humor, "The Yard Sale" is a feel-good comedy that reminds us that even in tough times, there's always light ahead.'

The characters were very appealing. Plot was humorous. World building was solidly drawn. All in all a very good read. Recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jennifer’s husband Clint runs away with the church organist she gets desperate and has a yard sale with the help from her Aunt Gail and Uncle Buddy. To say this is a hilarious book is an understatement. Enjoyed this short fun look at what yard sales really look like.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Shamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the cutest and most fun story. Jennifer is having a yard sale like no other after ending up on YouTube. The people that stop by were hilarious. She made more than money to fund her new life. She met friends and had a wonderful time. I really wish this had been so much longer, as I could’ve spent a few weekends at her yard sale lol.

[Jaime Penwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this little story. It felt very nostalgic to me as somebody whose nan always took them to yard sales. It warmed my heart right up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Virginia Ann Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heatwarming

It was a cute story. Full of warmth and happiness. Some of the customers at the garage sale were funny, and family members also. Liked Ms. Preston's writing ..will read more of her books

[Cait's Reading Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yard Sale by Patricia Preston is a short story about a yard sale. Jennifer is hosting a a yard sale as a way to turn her life around. I enjoyed the humor and relatability of what is like to host a yard sale. I enjoyed reading all the characters who were at the yard sale and a happy and hopeful ending to the story!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very short story but it was a lot of fun. It is full of quirky characters that I really enjoyed. I would love to see the same characters in a full-length novel.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

This was a fun book. The Yard Sale had wonderful characters who made the book easy to read. I liked it a lot.

[Reagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short fun read that feels like a true southern Saturday in the spring. Thoroughly enjoyed.

I recieved a ARC of this novel but voluntarily left this review.

[Dee Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so hard. This book is fun and heartfelt. It is a quick read and worth every second.

[Mike Billington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer's husband got all stupid one day.
He let his little head do the thinkin' his big head shoulda been doin' and he up and run off with the piano player from church.
Before he and that tramp (we all knew she was trouble, and she really didn't play the piano all that well, bless her shrunken little heart) hit the Cheatin' Highway for parts unknown, however, the sumbitch drained their joint bank account.
So now Jennifer is not just broken-hearted.
She's broke.
Period.
What to do? What do to?
Why, this bein' America and all, you really got just two choices when you're a woman and something like this happens to you.
You either write you a country song, get all gussied up and go to Nashville where you sing your way into America's boot-scootin' hearts.
Or you hold a yard sale.
Jenny can't sing so she held her a yard sale in Patricia Ann Preston's short story of the same name and it went just fine, thank you very much.
Preston, who is well known for writing sassified Southern humor, tells the story of this yard sale in Clayburn, Mississippi in a free and easy style that puts you on the front porch watching Jenny and her Aunt Gail go about their business while fending off across-the-street competition and dealing with folks who are looking for bargains.
She even takes a little time in this delightful story to update us on local-girl-made-good Darlene Durand (who used to be a Higginbottom before she went to Hollywood, changed her name and became a movie star. Lord that was so many years ago. Didn't she leave town in a hurry? Somethin' about her and the mayor?)
"The Yard Sale" is not long but it's full of characters: Jenny's Uncle Buddy, who sets up a karaoke machine on the porch; little Bucky Sue, who sings a lot like Loretta Lynn; Gossip Queen Theodora Mae Trussler and a few others all drop by either to pick something up for the house or just to see how Jenny's doin' now that she's also lost her hotel job in an economy driven downsize move.
Preston also throws a couple of nice little twists into the story. One involves a painting by the late Thomas Kinkade and the other features a handsome young antique dealer with a sharp eye and sharper looks.
If you like stories about regular folks doin' their best to get by in an uncertain world while still retaining a sense not only of humor but also of decency, take "The Yard Sale" for a test drive.
Go ahead and when you get back, why, kick the tires some and then look under the hood.
If you do, I think you'll like what you see and, if you're like me, you'll go lookin' for some other stuff Miz Preston has written.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Yard Sale" was a quick, fast read that takes place in the span of one day! It's hot and sunny and the tables are all set, ready to go. It's Yard Sale time!

I've never been one to do the yard sale thing, so I kind of cringed at the thought of reading about one, but I gave it a go anyway. Glad I did!

Each character has their own fun quirks that makes them unique and I feel like I knew them. Each and every one I could see in my mind so clearly.

You feel for the main character, Jennifer, as she is going through a rough bout in life at the moment and is forced to sell her possessions to survive. Struggling financially is never a good thing, having to sell things you don't want to sell...even worse!

I know this sounds kind of depressing, but it does get better...trust me! I was worried too, but it all works out in the end. And that is all I'll say.

Go pick up your copy now!

[Scarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh Starts and Southern Voices

This story was a quick and easy read. It had some heart, and having grown up in the South I found myself chuckling at how both the dialogue and narration voice conveyed the various accents and idiolects that were familiar to me.

There's no serious threats or conflicts in the story, mostly uncertainty about what the future holds and the unease of having to shift your life around from what you expected. It's also not romance-focused, which was refreshing. Poor Jennifer has had a rough go of it before the start of the Yard Sale, but by the end we start to see a new perspective on her situation and feel her anticipation of the next chapter of her life.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patricia Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia Ann Preston builds a hilarious cast of characters in The Yard Sale. I found myself rooting for Jennifer Riley as she puts her life back together after her divorce. I also found myself hoping her husband gets his just reward. And yes, there really are people like Buddy and Gail...they live just down the road from me.