- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- this was a solid debut, filled with death and life, with one person trying to live life to the fullest all while being surrounded by death. a good read for those who like journeys of self discovery!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

To be perfectly transparent, I picked this book up because my daughter’s name is Clover. The premise of a death doula was interesting, and I’m happy to say that part of the book delivered for me. The story overall was less literary than I prefer, and a little saccharine. Great for someone who enjoys a Hallmark movie now and again.

Clover comes of age in this book about a death doula who finally is facing life and reality. This story involves relationships, romance, coming of age, and finding reality in daily life.

This book was amazing. As someone who has dealt with death quite a bit and struggled with grieving, I think this was a fantastic way to talk about it and a beautiful perspective. I loved the characters.

Clover, a death doula, specializes in caring for others as they near the end and helps reflect on their lives, yet she struggles to fully live her own.

This book starts off with death -- kind of dark and depressing, but through Clover, we soon come to understand the beauty in death. Through Clover’s story we learn about the death of her teacher and her parents but also about her relationship with her grandfather as he raised her in New York. Fast forward, Clover’s basically a lonely hermit residing in her late grandfather’s apartment and living through the lives of others.

I really appreciated the conversation around death. it’s honestly such a privilege to be able to help someone through their last days and I loved seeing all the advice, regrets, and confessions Clover would keep in her notebooks. Brammer did a great job in addressing death but also showing guilt, acceptance, regrets, reflection, friendship, love, vulnerability, and so much more.

As for the characters, I found Clover VERY introverted, awkward, peculiar, and she had a lot of cringey moments but I loved seeing her thrive in her work, grow, and slowly come out of her shell. Sebastian was a BIG YIKES!! -- he gave me the ick but I guess he meant well? I definitely preferred seeing Clover’s relationships with Claudia (Sebastian’s grandmother), Leo, and Sylie (neighbours) though -- so sweet.

(spoilers)

I loved that this book wasn’t focused on love, however, the romance and talk of relationship were so cute! Clover + Hugo are honestly a match made in heaven and they’re both like cute little puppies together -- so glad they found each other!!

At five years old, Clover lost her parents and was sent to live with her grandfather in NYC. After going through so much at such a young age, she struggled to make friends and act "normal". Without any other relatives or friends to speak of, It's just the two of them against the world.
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Twenty years go by and Clover's life is almost the exact same as it was when she arrived in New York, except for the fact that her grandfather has unexpectedly passed away.
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As strange as it seems to people, Clover is more familiar with dying than living. She becomes a death doula and helps those in their last days by listening to their advice, confessions, and regrets.
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Overcome with grief, Clover has to reevaluate where her life is going. She is quite literally alone in the world and has zero social skills or experience to branch out and make it on her own. Thankfully, she has two women come into her life at the perfect moment - a new neighbor turned best friend, and a new client in need of a death doula.
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As she befriends her new client, Claudia, Clover embarks on a life-changing journey to track down the woman's own true love before she passes. Little does Clover know, she is going to find herself and her first chance at love along the way.
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For a book that centers around death, grief, and regrets, The Collected Regrets of Clover is surprisingly heartwarming and inspiring. You will fall in love with the awkward, kind, and charming Clover and root for her until the end.
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Thought-provoking and sentimental, the end of this book will leave the reader with one ultimate question: If you want to have zero regrets on your deathbed, what would you change in your life, and how would you live differently?
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Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

☘️ It’s been a while since I cried while reading a book, but this one had my tear ducts working overtime!

☘️ This book is about death, but it isn’t morbid. Rather it is about celebrating and embracing life and living to the fullest. It is about giving to others and accepting help. It is about grieving and forgiving. It is heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure.

☘️ I loved Clover (FMC). She was so focused on helping others die comfortably and with dignity, that she forgot to have a life of her own. But that changes throughout the story and her growth arc was a beautiful thing to read.

☘️ I also loved the mysterious love story that Clover was trying to solve for one of her dying clients. It was poignant and beautiful. Cue the tears.

☘️ I know this is a relatively short review, but you should read this book without too much info – I think you’ll appreciate it more that way. I’ll just wrap up by saying this is an amazing and beautifully written debut from the author, and one I won’t soon forget. It skyrocketed into my Top 10 reads for 2023.

Thank you @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I thought this was beautifully written. It’s a sweet, sentimental story and I think it might be the perfect read for anyone experiencing a tough time surrounding the death of a loved one. There was a bit of humor, a bit of poignancy, and a lot of heartwarming moments.

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. Pub Date: May 9, 2023. Rating: 4 stars. For a debut, this novel is thought provoking, delicate, heartwarming and a breath of fresh air. So many thoughts to ponder and questions arise after reading this lovely novel about a death doula. Clover is a woman who wants to see the good the world and make the world safe and better for everyone around her. She puts people first, which throughout the journey of the novel the reader will see can become problematic for her. I loved her journey and just wanted to give Clover a big hug because she is a force we want in this world. Just read this novel, you won't be disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #thecollectedregretsofclover

Death. It is a hard topic to talk about. When someone is dying someone will say “they are not doing well” instead of that they are on their deathbed. This is a MUST READ in my opinion for the reason of normalizing death through Clover and her life experiences. It also touches on regrets in a way that I and I believe many others can relate to. Maybe this will be the book to change my life? It would be cool to look back at this review in a year and see how far I have come. Getting back to the main point of this review, this simply is a good, well written, relatable novel I think is worth a read. 5 out of 5 stars.

This one took me about ~1 month to get to 50% off - I’m not sure why, but the beginning was slow for me. Once I powered through, the last 50% flew. I think this book ended being like a big warm hug. The emotions of all of the characters at the end just had me a little like 🥺.

I will say, after pondering on this one, I feel like this is a direct, didactic book for someone who may be dealing with grief or a sick loved one. It is veryyyy on the nose — and I think it does the job, the message is so clear — life is how you live. My only small critique is that it could’ve been more nuanced vs this big radical change and end message in Italics

That being said — still really enjoyed the reading experience and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t trying to not tear up!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The depth of connection I felt with Clover and the profound insights gained through her perspective was astounding. The author's skill in infusing the narrative with heartwarming instances and a delicate touch of humor truly lifted the story, rendering it an uplifting and captivating read. Furthermore, the valuable lessons embedded within the tale were enlightening. Witnessing Clover's growth throughout the book was an absolute delight. The characters were exquisitely developed, leaving an indelible impression that ensures the lasting impact of this story. I wholeheartedly endorse this book and eagerly anticipate indulging in more works by this gifted author.

3.5
A new and fresh perspective from our protagonist who is a death doula. Apparently it's a thing and I've never known and I would actually love to chat with a real death doula in real life!

Clover has experienced being with close to 100 people at their death. Quite the number. During this time she has garnered a very specific sense of what people really think about and consider at the time of death. She often hears their last regrets or thoughts and jots them down in her little journal.

Clover then takes the opportunity to "live" out these peoples regrets, whether its eating a certain food, going a certain location, or reaching out to a certain person, she tries to live regret free from the "collected regrets" of those she has helped pass on.

This was a quiet and introspective book and at times a bit redundant. I was entertained but not captivated.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-copy of this book.

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 09 May 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Clover witnessed her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a Peter Rabbit story time & ever since has felt a stronger connection & affinity with the dying than she has with the living. After her grandfather dies, she decides to become a death doula in NYC in the hopes of offering solace & peace to those nearing the end of their life.

WHAT I LIKED:
- a beautiful core message of celebrating life, making the most of every opportunity & living with no regrets
- a unique profession to learn more about
- very similar vibes to Eleanor Oliphant

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- slow moving story with a heavy focus on death that I had difficulty dipping in & out of
- inconsistencies with Clover's character as she was often portrayed extremely naively despite being 36
- I didn't need the romance sub-plot at all

This heartwarming debut novel drew me in right away. Clover is a slightly quirky and very lovable character. I was fascinated by her job and how the book spoke so frankly about death but never felt heavy or dark. I loved her self-awareness and how she learned to trust her intuition. This is lighter and sweeter than I usually like but this touched me and I really enjoyed it.

“The secret to a beautiful death is living a beautiful life.”

As an anxiety ridden 20-something who struggles deeply with the concept of mortality, this book definitely intimated me. Thankfully it proved, at times, to be cathartic. Reading from Clover's point of view was quite interesting, as she's a death doula–a profession I'd never heard of before picking up this book. Really, at its core, this story about death is a celebration of life, living well, connecting with others, and taking chances. Those are all messages I can stand behind.

If you're looking for contemplative lit-fic about life and the choices we make, this is probably right up your alley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Format: Audio

4.75🌟 - I really really liked it!

Thank you @stmartinspress for the #gifted copy & tote!

A story of grief, healing, self-discovery, and love! A book that is quiet in nature but will leave a strong impact on you.

I resonated with Clover as a FMC, and thought this was such a lovely read! It was balanced with Clover’s personal journey of growth and her unique line of work being a death doula leaving this as a memorable read.

Comforting, heartwarming, and tender this is one that I will absolutely return to again.

This was so much more than I expected it to be, and my only regret is that I didn’t read it sooner.

It’s not a light read; there are few moments of humor and the subject matter is obviously not one of joy, typically. But it’s also not dark, or grim. It’s bittersweet, and unusual, and a little bit like watching the final tug of an invisible stitch that makes the whole seam disappear.

Clover has an unexpected occupation.

From childhood - the loss of her parents soon after watching her teacher collapse right before her eyes - Clover has found she has an unusually strong bond with the dying (and not so much with the living).

Raised by her grandfather in a snug but love-filled New York apartment, Clover floats through her days with her nose in a book or quietly observing the world around her. When her post-school travels leave her on the other side of the world when her beloved grandfather passes unexpectedly, Clover returns home with a determination that she will atone for her absence by being there for others in their final moments.

And so she becomes a death doula, her entire life consisting of little but being a supportive companion for those reaching the end of theirs.

But when she becomes unexpectedly attached to one particular spitfire of a client, the wishes of this wildly loving old woman send Clover on an adventure to find out what regrets she still has time to undo for her. As their final days together rapidly approach, Clover finds herself surprisingly willing to focus on her own regrets as well, and take the chances that could make her finally feel like her own life is one worth experiencing.

"I was still here, still living. But was I just existing out of habit?"

No, I definitely did not sob during many parts of this and use up half a box of tissues........okay, fine, you caught me!
This is one of the most beautiful, touching, and hopeful stories I have ever read. Some books just understand you in a way you didn't even understand yourself prior to reading them and this is one of those books for me. I won't go into a lot of detail about that, but suffice it to say, this book is special to me in so, so many ways, and I'm grateful it exists.

The Collected Regrets of Clover deals with grief, loneliness, isolation, and regret, but it never feels preachy. Mikki Brammer handles these topics with so much care, showing how fears can manifest into routines that feel too scary to branch out of, but how beautiful the end result can be if you slowly open up and challenge yourself little by little.

Clover is a death doula. She talks to and comforts people who are actively dying, listening to their confessions, stories, and regrets, ensuring they not only have a peaceful transition, but have someone by their bedside and aren't dying alone. The catch, however, is that she has social anxiety and rarely interacts with people outside of her job. But that changes when both a new neighbor moves into her building, and when she encounters a man at a death cafe who just so happens to have a grandmother in need of a death doula.

Clover's friendship with Sylvie is SO LOVELY. Seeing how apprehensive Clover was to trust Sylvie at first, and then build a friendship that felt so natural and ingrained in her that it became second nature to refer to her as "my friend" at the end...it was just so beautiful and powerful. I wasn't the biggest fan of Sebastian, though. Every time she brought up how there weren't any sparks with him, I think I cheered. Oops. But he was basically the reason she found such great companionship with his grandmother, Claudia, and then eventually met a guy she DID have sparks with.....so he gets points for those things, I suppose.

Finally, I absolutely love the dichotomy of Clover having such a social occupation, but going home to a dark and empty apartment. I think this separation makes so much sense for her character and is something I deeply relate to as well. She deals with so much anxiety about the unknown, about saying the wrong thing to people and people judging her. She doesn't have friends (aside from an elderly neighbor) and has never been in a relationship, and she spends so much time worrying about how little she understands people. Yet, she sits with people as they take their final breaths. As they make one last confession or share a life-long regret. What's interesting is that she says she doesn't understand how to connect with people, but what is death if not a wonderful way to forge new connections? To learn about who people were and how they lived and what they wished they had done differently; to listen intently and allow their memories to live in your actions? I like how scared Clover is to do things and meet people in her personal life, and how her guard falls down when she's at work. She thinks she's fumbling around in the dark, but her hand is actually centimeters from the light switch.

I paired this with the ALC, and I absolutely ADORED Jennifer Pickens' narration. She narrated this story with so much emotion and brought Clover's personality off the page and to life. I already loved the book, and Brammer's writing, but Pickens' narration made it feel like I was sitting with a friend who was telling me a story, instead of just listening to an audiobook.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this ARC/ALC! I had a lovely experience reading and listening to this story <3

I apologize, I wanted to red this book, but was unable to read this book in the permitted timeframe. Life got in the way, but now I am back, so if this is released to me again, I will download, read and review it.