4.5⭐️ Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

*The Collected Regrets of Clover* mood board: https://www.pinterest.com/barclayann27/book-reviews/the-collected-regrets-of-clover/

The narrative carries you through naturally, with an easy flow that allows the reader to wade in all of Clover’s memories and emotions as they come. The story is intriguing and unique. It is recommended to those who enjoyed “TheMidnight Library” and I can certainly see why. Many of the same themes are explored in both of the books, but in The Collected Regrets of Clover,” I felt that the regret of loneliness is actualized most fully.

Even if we are not recluse death doulas, it is easy to relate to Clover entirely for the fact that we have all felt lonely before with the fear of no remedy. For a book entered largely around death, and how the knowledge of it informs how we chose to live out our lives, it was a heartwarming read.

I found Clover an easy character to fall in with, lovable and dyamic. It was so easy to love and miss Clover grandpa just as she does. Their relationship is tender and a joy to read. Though Clover is a stellar main character, there was no other I ended the novel loving more than Claudia. Not only is her relationship with Clover the most interesting in the book, alongside that of Clover and her grandpa, but her personality and history won my heart entirely.

As I’m sure many will, like Clover, I found Sebastian to be annoying. I was happy to see the way his and Clover’s relationship ended up and that it didn’t t follow down the path the reader may have originally anticipated for them.

While the majority of the book had a me smiling to myself, there was the occasional moment that had me sighing with disbelief- some moments that felt a bit over dramatic in correlation to the other parts of the book that towed a steady line between what read as realistic, yet still exciting, and events that seemed a little bit too convenient. This is a slight spoiler, but a fair example: Clover’’s dear friend Leo dying of a heart attack in her arm. This scene, while sentimental and sweet, all happened very quickly and felt over the top in comparison to the grounded tone the majority of the book follows. There are only a few moments like this throughout the book, and not nearly enough to take away from the enjoyment of the novel in the slightest.

Clover Brooks is a death doula who ushers people on a compassionate journey at the end of their lives. Whether loaded down with regret, or harboring secrets yet untold, Clover's kindness and caring of each individual's story helps her clients find much needed closure.

This debut is such a poignant tale of a remarkable young woman, whose kindness towards others is so refreshing in a world full of people who often think only of themselves. I loved Clover's quirky character, and her vulnerability throughout this story.

The author weaves such a beautiful picture, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it and be immersed in Clover's world for a brief moment in time.

5/5 stars and I would love to see more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ebook for my honest review.

The Collected Regrets of Clover
Author Mikki Brammer
Publishing day, May 9, 2023

Thank you, @stmartinspress and @netgalley, for my #gifted e-arc! I chose this one based solely on its gorgeous cover and was so pleasantly surprised by this thoughtful and memorable novel.

"What's the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can't give yourself a beautiful life?"

Clover is a death doula - someone who is supportive and empathically assists her dying clients peacefully through the last days of their lives. For as long as she can remember, Clover has always felt more of a connection with the dying than with the living. While she was traveling, her grandfather, who raised her, passed away, and she missed his last days. Therefore, she makes it her goal to be present for others so that no one has to face the end of their life alone. Consequently, her life choices have left her lonely and with no real relationships of her own. I loved her voice and her heart. She's such a unique and special character.

Serendipitously, Clover meets with a new client, an older woman whose prognosis isn't wonderful. She's witty and brings out parts of Clover's personality that have been lying dormant just under the surface - or maybe that's her grandson's influence. Either way, Clover embarks on a life- changing journey to uncover a past love story and ends up learning so much about herself and what's missing from her own life.... Friendship, romance, connection, a reason to open her eyes and her heart, and to learn to live her own "one wild and precious life" (Mary Oliver).

It is truly a beautiful and insightful story of self-discovery, learning to live life to its fullest, and of hope and new beginnings. I hope you get a chance to read Clover's special story!

✨ Review ✨ The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer; Narrated by Jennifer Pickens

Wow - this book was intense -- I came in prepared to feel sad because of the topics of death & dying, but instead I was so sad for the character because of her loneliness but also the tough life she's had.

Clover is a death doula, meaning she supports them through their final days by offering comfort, company, a helping hand, support in processing in death, and more. In between jobs, she spends quite a lonely life in her dead grandfather's apartment, with her elderly neighbor Leo as her only real friend.

As the book progresses, Clover experiments with friendship and dating, both things she's never had good luck with in the past, as the girl fascinated with death didn't lead to building many strong friendships. I really felt so many feelings as she struggled to grapple with building these new relationships with the characters that surround her.

The new client she finds in the book and the journey it sends her on made this book an absolute delight. It made me smile; it made me sad; it made me feel all the feels. I loved the journey she went on this book and it left me feeling fulfilled.

The book tackles difficult topics of death, grief, loss, and more, in a way that felt refreshingly honest and open. I loved the breadth of ways in which someone could die well in this book, with an open heart and a path forward. I really appreciated that. I also appreciated the ways in which the book argued for an expansive view of grief - not one bound by time or cultural convention, but one that adapts for each person in each moment.

I did struggle a little with some of the ways that Clover felt immature or disconnected; and I think some of the things that happened felt a little extreme/unrealistic, but at the same time, I appreciated how it drove the story forward. I also wondered a bit about her possible cultural appropriation of certain grief rituals, and where the boundary lay between using these as tools for guiding deaths and crossing a line of appropriation. Overall, the book didn't talk much about this, and I'm glad it didn't take this angle father.

Overall, I enjoyed both the print and audio versions of this book, and highly recommend it as a book full of feels.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: women's fiction
Setting: NYC
Pub Date: May 9!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ themes of death, dying, grief
⭕️ feeling big FEELINGS
⭕️ character growth in friend/dating relationships

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and #netgalley for advanced copies of this book!

I cannot believe that this was a debut book. It is one that I've thought about since I finished it almost 3 weeks ago. It's also one I will continue to think about.
After her kindergarten teacher dropped dead in front of her and her classmates, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than with the living. After losing the grandfather that raised her, Clover becomes a death doula while living in his New York City apartment. Her job allows her to dedicate her time and life to those who are at the end of their life. Clover spends so much time with people who are dying that she neglects to spend time with those who are living. One of her new clients pushes her to live her life instead of sitting alone in her apartment living vicariously through romance movies.
This story is just so beautifully written. I wanted to hug Clover. I wanted to be friends with her. I wanted to cry with her. I wanted so much for her. There were so many moments where I could relate to her and her story. The way death and grief was discussed in this book was written so well.
I absolutely loved all of the side characters in the story. They each brought their own personality and love for Clover to the story. There aren't a lot of books out there that have made me sob like this one did. There were some good tears throughout the story. This is one I will highly recommend!

I've to admit, this one hit a little close to home. I have some close family dealing with serious health issues and in some ways, it feels like I'm already grieving their loss. So I was a little nervous going into this book - I was pretty sure it was going to wreck me.

I've heard of death doulas before - simply put, they are people who assist the dying and their loved ones through the death process. Death is a part of life - why not make the transition as comfortable as possible? But obviously, the topic of death is a taboo one. Clover is well-suited for the role of death doula. She is single and only has one friend - an elderly gentleman, one of her last connections to her deceased, beloved grandfather. Other than her job, her time is filled with binging romcoms and watching her neighbors, a lovely couple in a happy relationship. Beyond being alone, she is profoundly lonely and wishing for love and connection. As part of her role as death doula, she documents the last words of her clients and categorizes them into three categories - regrets, advice, and confession. It is the regrets of one of her clients - a 91-year-old woman, along with her grandson - that prompts Clover to really pursue what it means to live.

Be warned: this book is emotional. TW for death, obviously, and if you're like me and experiencing tough health stuff with someone close to you, you may want to wait on this one. On the other hand, the lovely resolution of this book might provide you with some comfort and peace.

How could a book about death be so much fun to read?

Clover works as a death doula, which means she spends her time with people who are dying. She provides calm, nonjudgmental companionship during a person’s final days, because no one should die alone.

While compassion and empathy come naturally to Clover when she’s with the dying, the living present a problem. She’s socially awkward, struggles with friendships, and has no experience with romance. Then one dying woman changes everything.

This book is beautifully written, whimsical but powerful. I was left thinking about my own relationships, the things we say and the things we don’t, and all those moments that make up a life.

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

Short synopsis: Clover is a death doula, someone whose job it is to usher those dying into the next life. She has a book she notes down the last words and regrets of those who have passed in her care.

My thoughts: I was consumed with this debut. So many hidden gems within these pages. This book does talk about grief, and dying but I felt like it was done in an uplifting way. This one will leave your heart warm and wanting to drop everything to take that trip you’ve been dreaming about. To live life while you can, and take very opportunity that presents itself to you.

I loved the unlikely friendships in Leo and Bessie, the quirkiness and compassion of Clover, Claudia and her zest for life and words of wisdom, and of course Grandpa and the lessons he taught.

Read if you love:
* Fun heartwarming characters
* Unexpected friendships
* Taking chances
* Lost love
* Living life

“The truth was, I wasn't trying my best- I was only living a shell of the life I knew was possible. And I regretted it.”

Be prepared for me to gush about this book because it is currently sitting at number 1 for my top reads of the year!

From an early age, Clover experiences death around her and becomes fascinated with it, later becoming a death doula. After the death of her parents, she goes to live with her grandpa in New York. Though we find out quickly that her grandpa has also passed away, the author does a fantastic job of weaving stories of Clover growing up with him with her current life. When Clover isn’t helping others make peace with their fears and regrets as they prepare for the end of their lives, she leads an isolated life, binging on rom-coms and spying on (while avoiding) her neighbors. When she takes on a new client, Clover’s world begins to open up and she starts to realize what living really means.

What I loved:
💐 The main plot is Clover’s personal journey, but it’s sprinkled with a bit of friendship and romance that really rounds out the story. The main themes are grief and life, but were done in such a relatable, accessible way.

💐 The secondary characters were written with such care and dimension. Each was given an equal amount of thought and the page time was well balanced throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed Clover’s relationship with all of them. Nothing felt forced or clichéd.

💐 The writing is so impeccable that I found myself highlighting so much, from beautiful prose to thought-provoking revelations.

👉🏼If you enjoy a strong sense of place, age gap friendships, found family (not exclusively FF, but has the same elements) this is for you!

✨ QUOTES:

“But since death had shaped my life from the time I was five, I wanted to observe it, to decode it. I wanted to find sense in the thing that felt so senseless.”

“I’d learned the hard way that when people ask you how you're doing after a loved one's death, they don't really want to know. They want to hear that you've moved on because they can't stand to look at your pain.”

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love the premise of the book - a death doula who guided by a recent client confronts the regrets in her own life, but it just didn't make the bar. I found Clover to be frustrating at times, I think because she reads as neurodivergent but instead of presenting that it's explained that it's because of trauma (which those can be tied together, but it left a bad taste for me). I did like that we see not just a romantic relationship, but also multiple platonic relationships bloom over the course of the book. I found it frustrating that Clover offers only traditional burial options (burial or cremation) to Claudia even though we know Clover academically studied different death practices, and listened to other options at the death cafes. I was hoping for more of the different cultural death practices especially since Clover travelled extensively, but they are barely mentioned which I found frustrating.
I appreciated the arrival of Hugo - I felt like everything from that point on was exactly what I was wanting from the book, but unfortunately that was the last 25% of the book.
I think there are some great ideas and great conversations to be had around this book, but it just wasn't the book for me.

The premise of this book is so interesting. I had never really heard of a death doula before receiving this book. I really liked that although our MC is a death doula, the book is more of a celebration of life. I was expecting a more dramatic, or dark story and I was pleasantly surprised.

The Collected Regrets of Clover 💐

I was so hopeful for this one! The cover is absolutely gorgeous, a debut author and a compelling story about a death Duala.

Clover is a quirky, introverted female who has always been preoccupied by the concept of death. She finds value in holding conversations about it and helping those pass on. She keeps journals/records of last encounters of these moments (but I won’t say more to spoil). I really thought this book was unique and put a spotlight on our societies avoidance of death. It also provided me with so much insight on how other cultures and parts of the world process death.

Sadly, I really struggled to get through this one. Although it was so interesting, it felt slow moving, the tone was off and the characterization was lacking. I noticed myself being avoidant of picking up my kindle and eventually just glimpsed at the last 30% of the book.

I have seen mostly stellar reviews for this one and it is also a BOTM May pick! So don’t let this deter you.

Ty for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

☘️The Story: Clover Brooks is a death doula who spends her professional life spending her days with chronically ill folks who are nearing death. She collects the regrets of her clients in a jar and tries to negate their regrets by counteracting them in her own life. She meets a guy who wants her to spend time with his sick grandmother under false pretenses — as his family is not good to death. Clover quickly bonds with the grandmother and is determined to find out what happened to her long lost love.
Over the course of the book, she learns that she has to let people in and take care of herself.

☘️My thoughts: This one didn’t work for me as the love story just fell flat and the characters were somewhat stilted. However, this book will likely be a hit as it will appeal to folks who like clean romance, cozy mysteries (although this is not a mystery) and similar type books.

Thank you to SMP and Netgalley for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Clover is a death doula. She spends her life helping people die and collecting their regrets, advice and confessions. By focusing on death, Clover hasn't allowed herself to live. But things start to change when a new client (and her grandson) come into Clover's life.

This book was recommended by a fellow Bookstagrammer after I mentioned that Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is one of my favorite books. Clover and Eleanor give off very similar vibes and I love them both.

I loved the way Clover's story was told and the descriptions of a life isolated from connection were heartbreaking and honest. Highly recommend checking this one out!

I didn’t realize I was way overdue for a book like this. While the subject matter is serious, this is a hopeful and uplifting story that will leave you feeling inspired to live the life you always wanted.

Clover is a death doula who helps the dying transition peacefully, but she could use a little help when it comes to living a fulfilling life. She keeps 3 journals titled: Regrets, Confessions and Advice. Each filled with words from her clients who have since died. These journals made me think about my own loved ones who have passed and what they would have left in the journals and how their words would have impacted me differently if I heard them while they were still alive. This book leaves us so much to ponder and discuss. I had a doula during my pregnancy and birth and she was in invaluable! I think death doulas are so important as well and after reading I delved into the topic in more depth. I encourage everyone to do the same.

I knew from the very beginning that this book was going to be a hit for me. Clover was such a compelling character. Once I was introduced to this woman who provided companionship and comfort to those nearing their death, I wanted to know more about her. No doubt, Clover had a big heart, but for all the ways she embraced death, she was failing to embrace life.

Clover had her reasons for why she shut her heart to others. As if the short time with her parents wasn't bad enough, the bits of her past where she put herself out there with friends and romantic partners helped me understand the whys. I was terribly disappointed in the people who Clover had allowed into her heart, and her recollections hit close to home. I cried for both myself and Clover. Her hurt and loneliness was captured so well by Brammer, and I felt it in my bones. But, not to fear, dear readers. This book took the turns I was hoping for.

Clover had collected people's last words which she categorized as regrets, advice, and confessions. She honored those who passed by trying to atone for their confession or fulfill one of their regrets, but it wasn't until she agreed to be Claudia's companion that she began to expand her world, push beyond her comfort zone, confront her past, and begin seeing possibilities for herself.

Overall: A touching and uplifting story which I have zero regrets reading.

Clover is a death doula. She makes sure people have an easy transition from life to death. She keeps a book on people’s regrets that they share on their deathbed. But, she is struggling herself with the death of her grandfather. She has quite a few regrets in her own life and these regrets are keeping her from moving forward and living her life to the fullest.

This tale had me crying and laughing. It is pure enjoyment to read about Clover and her quirkiness. And I don’t think I have ever been more proud of a character in a book in my life as I was at the end of this novel. You will need to read this to find out!

I fluctuated between 4 and 5 stars. I settled on 5 because of all the emotions this story puts the reader through. I swear…my feelings were all over the place! And Clover is one heck of a character and I will be thinking about her for days to come.

Need a story which will have you emotional and reflecting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. Releasing May 9, 2023

"'Intelligence will only get you so far in life...and the same could be said for wit and charm. But two things will serve you better than any others.'

'What are they?'

He took a thoughtful sip of coffee. 'Infinite curiosity and a keen sense of observation.'"

Ever since she saw her kindergarten teacher drop dead while telling a story, and her parents died while on a frivolous vacation, introvert Clover Brooks has been a little obsessed with death. She studied the death traditions of different cultures in college, and when her grandfather that raised her died alone while she was doing research, she decided to become a death doula, to help terminal patients navigate through their end-of-life experiences.

Clover records the final words of her clients in three dilapidated books with the spine inscriptions, REGRETS, ADVICE and CONFESSIONS to honor and hopefully learn from their wisdom. Clover received this advice from Olive, a, a cartographer with a melanoma who made her promise to always wear sunscreen:

"Whenever I moved to a new city or started a new relationship, I'd always change my perfume...that way I'd be able to look back and relive my best memories...whenever I smelled it."
One day Clover meets a man named Sebastian at a "Death Café," a gathering of people to discuss various aspects of death. Sebastian is struggling with the death of his beloved grandmother Claudia, and hires Clover to be her death doula. Clover instantly connects with Claudia, a colorful character who tells Clover all about her life as a photojournalist:

"Before I ever took a photo of anyone I'd take the time to get to know them--asking them about their childhood dreams....And then, as they were talking, I'd start clicking the shutter."
When Claudia reveals a painful story of lost love, Clover and her neighbor Sylvie who might just be Clover's first friend her own age, seek to find the man in question. In the process, Clover begins to open to new relationships.

Clover's character is reminiscent of the protagonists in the books Meredith, Alone, and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, in that she is painfully shy, awkward, and fearful of failing at friendships with her peers. But The Collected Regrets of Clover delves deeply into the processes and rituals surrounding death and dying in a way that feels beautifully authentic and uplifting.

"One young creative life blossoms as another one ends; there was something beautiful about the tenuous reality of being human."

Thanks #NetGalley for the ARC for The Collected Regrets of Clover in exchange for an honest review!

Hardcover 320 pages, Audiobook 9 hours, 49 minutes.

Clover Brooks faced death at a young age. Not her own, of course, but rather the sudden death of her kindergarten teacher while he was reading aloud to the class, and a short time later, the deaths of her own parents. After that, she was raised by her widowed grandfather in Manhattan. She enjoyed her quiet life with him, but when he dies suddenly when she is continents away, she is determined to keep others from dying alone if she can help it. She becomes a death doula and carves out a quiet, but wistful, life in her rent-controlled apartment with her elderly neighbor, Leo, as her best (really, only) friend.

But the arrival of a new neighbor--who wants to be her friend!--along with the relentless attentions of Sebastian, the grandson of a new client, Clover finds herself braving new territory and wondering if she has, perhaps, been missing something. On a weekend trip to find her dying client's long-lost love, Clover may have found her own new love.

You might not think a book about a lonely death doula could be entertaining and uplifting, but you'd be wrong. I loved this book and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. #TheCollectedRegretsofClover #NetGalley

Clover is a death doula - helping to usher the dying through the last days of their lives. Sometimes she provides comfort. Other times she helps them work through their guilt and regrets. But a new client makes her question if in helping people with their deaths has Clover been forgetting to live?

So I had taken a nice break from crying through a book. That is until this one came along. This book does start with the “awkward, aloof girl who doesn’t like relationships”. BUT it takes such a heart warming turn despite the book being largely about death. Highly recommend this one!