Aster scoops Chandler-Wilde's 'deeply relatable' book on possessions

Aster has scooped Lost & Found: 9 Life-Changing Lessons About Stuff From Someone Who Lost Everything from Bloomberg journalist Helen Chandler-Wilde.

Commissioner Nicola Crane acquired world English rights from Sarah Williams at Sophie Hicks Agency. The book will be published in March 2024.

Williams commented: "I look at every single object in my house slightly differently after reading Helen’s captivating book, which is the perfect blend of memoir and smart-thinking that will completely change your perspective and relationship with all of your stuff."

Chandler-Wilde lost everything she owned in a storage unit fire in Croydon where she has stored all her possessions after a break-up. Devastated, she re-evaluated her relationship with owning material things. In Lost & Found Chandler-Wilde combines her personal experience, self-help advice and expert opinion with interviews from behavioural psychologists on nostalgia, a nun on what it’s like to own almost nothing and consumer psychologists on impulsive spending.

"When I lost all my things I was given a rare chance to start again," said Chandler-Wilde. "In the unsettling peace of an empty home, I realised that we expect our possessions to do a multitude of things – to express our personalities, create beauty, or become talismans of past joy. And while I missed some of my things, I learned that I couldn’t rely on my stuff to satisfy every need I had. In this book I will share what I’ve discovered from years of research and conversations with experts, with the hope that you’ll be freed from those expectations and able to make better decisions about your stuff too."

Jessica Lacey, commissioning editor, added: "Helen transforms a challenging life event into a soul-searching exploration. By losing everything, Helen was able to re-evaluate her life and scrutinise her relationship with her belongings. Well-researched and deeply relatable, Helen offers smart reflections that will leave you challenged and energised to see the world differently. Move over Marie Kondo!"