A wonderful celebration of life from the perspective of a death doula. The Collected Regrets of Clover is charming, surprising, and utterly compelling.

Clover is 36. She lives in NYC and spends most of her time working as a death doula, helping people who are dying find some solace in their final moments. She is lonely but does not necessarily want the company of others. Her only friend is her neighbor Leo, a man in his 80s. When a new neighbor moves into her building, an opportunity to form a friendship and broaden her horizons opens up. At the same time, Clover is immersed in her latest job, during which she bonds with Claudia, a former photojournalist with terminal cancer. Now, Clover finds herself reflecting on how she has been living and what she wants to do to make the most of whatever time she has left.

I adored this story and read it in one sitting as I was completely drawn into Clover’s world. It stands out as one of my favorite reads of the 200 books I’ve read so far this year. I have no doubt this novel will be a well-deserved bestseller when it releases in May 2023. Clover is one of the most lovable and sympathetic literary characters I have encountered and it was a pleasure to follow her and cheer her on as she learns more about what she wants out of life.

Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing debut.

This is a poignant story in which the beginning is so sad it takes your breath away. A thoughtful meditation on life and death, it’s also one of the clearest depictions of loneliness I’ve read - how painful it is, and how we sometimes perpetuate it in an attempt to protect ourselves, and how complicated it is to overcome. Probably best read in a season where life is going well and the sun is shining.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book