Worthless Treasures

2026 Honorable Mention Winner for Spiritual Fiction Eric Hoffer Book Awards

Worth isn't always measured in dollars and cents. Sometimes it's measured in the heart.

Professional organizer Diamond Lange helps clients declutter their homes and let go of what no longer serves them. But when her mother, Eva, suddenly passes away, Diamond is left with a house overflowing with junk and a promise she regrets making.

Although Diamond considers everything in her mother's house trash, Eva left behind a very specific list of five seemingly worthless objects—a piano, a rag doll, a ceramic vase, a vintage necklace, and a star painting. Eva requested these items be passed on to others who will cherish them as much as she did.

At a time when Diamond questions her own self-worth, she sees little value in the items on the list. Who in the world would accept--much less appreciate--a piano that will always be out of tune, a doll that's lost half its hair, or any of the other worthless items on Eva's list? But to assuage her guilt, and Eva's perceived disappointment in her, Diamond determines to honor her mother's last wishes, commencing an emotional journey through dusty memories and buried regrets.

The unexpected arrival of an old flame, the threat of her childhood home being demolished, and a child's urgent health problem force Diamond to consider what truly matters. What ultimately defines the worth of an object, of memories, and even of herself?

A poignant, heartfelt novel about family, memories, and the value we place on the things we leave behind, Worthless Treasures will resonate with readers who love stories of self-discovery and the beauty of finding meaning in the unexpected.