A respectable debut by author Mikki Brammer, The Collected Regrets of Clover will tug at a reader’s heartstrings, especially those who have loved and lost.
Early on, the reader learns that Clover is a “death doula”—an intriguing, emotionally-demanding, and little-known profession the protagonist did not choose at random. Raised by her grandfather in NYC, Clover has allowed her past to paint much of her present.
Preferring solitude (save for a trio of beloved pets and an elderly neighbor, Leo) to socializing, Clover doesn’t seem like a typical 30-something city dweller. As several characters insert themselves into Clover’s day-to-day, the protagonist’s preconceived notions (and anxieties) slowly chip away as she looks internally and questions what it means to regret and what it means to truly live.
Though a bit slow through the first quarter, Clover’s story works its way into the heart. Readers will find themselves thinking about their own loved ones, their own regrets, and the mysterious way that human beings are connected and come to influence one another’s lives in various ways.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Ahhh this one was hard to get through for me, not because it wasn’t great, but because it made me so sad! Super well done and worth the read…and the tears!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and to share my honest review. As a person who has experienced loss as well as being a hospice nurse, this book touched my soul completely. It’s a story of death, dying, love, loss, regrets and how to live our lives to the fullest. Absolutely amazing book that I couldn’t put down and read in less than a day. Everyone should experience this beautiful story.

The Collected Regrets of Clover is about a death doula named Clover, who found her calling after being surrounded by death at a young age. It started when her elementary school teacher died during class and followed with her parents passing away while abroad in China. With her parents gone she was taken in by her grandfather and moved to New York City. Surrounded by routine, they frequented the same diner and bookstore during the week and spend most of their time together, When her grandfather passed while she traveling in Cambodia, her world changed and she felt a lingering guilt that he had died alone. Devoted to helping those transition to death, she found her calling as a death doula to help those who didn’t have anyone during their remaining weeks so they don’t have to die alone. Clover then finds herself caring for someone as she is passing and finds that her experience with her has taught her that she has to start living her life for herself rather than just for others.

Throughout this book Clover starts to find small wins as she starts to build relationships and friendships with new people and starts to find joy in her life outside of work. This book shows Clover blossoming as an individual and really take to heart the advice of people she has cared for. It was beautifully written book that approaches death in a natural light.

This book isn’t one that I would typically like but I found myself really enjoying this outlook and approach to death and seeing how it impacts others that are left behind. I rate this book a 4/5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

Clover is a woman who appears to have her life in order. She has a successful, if unorthodox, career as a death doula and has created a contented life with a simple routine and the love of her various pets. Yet something is missing. Her grandfather's death seems to come up frequently, and she can't seem to create new relationships, friendly or romantic. But soon, everything changes when she meets Sebastian, whose grandmother is dying. Clover is forced to live in the discomfort she has desperately tried to avoid, and who knows, maybe it will all be worth it in the end.

I was immediately intrigued by Clover. I found her to be not only relatable but very likeable too. She and many other characters felt very realistic, and they were all beautifully flawed creations. I believe it was the characters that made this such a phenomenal read for me. They are so fleshed out, and they captured my full attention while I was reading. I could not put the book down, and I was even reading while standing on the bus to get home; it was hazardous, and I don't recommend this activity. The novel's pace moved very well, with unexpected twists and new exciting plot points frequently introduced. I also thought the chapter lengths fit the flow of the book.

I was initially intrigued by this book because I listened to the Thanatology episode of Ologies with Alie Ward and found it fascinating. So a book about a death doula was right up my alley. I found this book captured how death and dying affect people. It delves into the loneliness, the regret, the fear, the love, the everything. And Clover was a perfect person to act as a vector for the reader to experience all of this. I also loved the idea of Clover noting people's dying regrets and trying to do those things in her life. Quite poetic!

Emotion was also used so well in this book. There were moments when I laughed out loud and cried and everything else in between. It was an authentic depiction of the emotions tied to death and dying. Especially scenes about Clover's grandfather made me miss my grandfather, who I was close with as a child. That nostalgic reminiscing with grandparents is beautifully woven throughout the book.

I'm usually not a fan of romance, but I've got to say this is easily one of the best books I've read this year. When it hits the shelves, I encourage you to check it out. If The Collected Regrets of Clover is anything to go off of, I think Brammer will have an incredible literary career ahead of her.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found the idea of this book very intriguing, but over halfway through, I still found myself not caring. I was not excited to pick the book back up. The storytelling was not my cup of tea.

This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this story of Clover, an introvert living in NYC. Her character felt real, with flaws and admissions of mistakes. I would definitely read other books by this author.

This book was so enjoyable and I could not put it down. I was drawn in from the first page! While I cannot say I particularly relate to Clover, I did empathize with her. I felt the general frustrations as an onlooker with her decisions and actions at times, but they were totally valid choices based on her personality.

I appreciated that the author made the characters so realistic - I feel like I have known or met each of them before. It was a delight of a read and I was sad when it was over. I became totally invested in the story.

The idea of death is (obviously) prevalent throughout, and there were a few moments that made me sit back and really think and go "oh, wow." That doesn't happen often. I unequivocally recommend this book.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own.

Thank you to the Author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Collected Regrets of Clover is a wonderful story about the intricacies of dealing with life, death, and learning to live without regrets.

Clover is a death doula living and working in New York city. She lives an isolated life where she only really interacts with her clients and their families. Clover lost her parents at a young age, has never been in love, has never really had a true friend, and was raised by her late grandfather. It is only after she meets Sebastian at a death cafe that Clover begins to see that life may hold possibilities for her that she hadn't allowed herself to dream of; she begins to blossom and it's a breathtaking site to behold.

The Collected regrets of Clover is beautifully written. This was one of the first books in a long time that I stayed up until 2:00 am reading. Mikki Brammer is an evocative wordsmith, and I cannot wait to read more from her in the years to come.

This book hooked me in from the first page. I was immediately drawn to Clover. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book in which I identified with the main character so deeply. I understand what it feels like to have been (essentially) raised as an only child and the profound loneliness that comes with it. I can empathize with the social awkwardness of trying to make a friend when you have none.
The plot ended up being sort of a “slow burn” but watching Clover learn to trust herself and take a few risks while healing from her own grief was worth it.

Death affected Clover from an early age. Clover is in kindergarten when her teacher drops dead during story time. Not long after she loses both of her parents to an accident while they are traveling. Clover is raised by her grandfather, and she ultimately becomes a death doula. She wishes for her clients to die with dignity and not alone. Clover keeps journals of her patients regrets, advice and last words. In the process of helping others, Clover has forgotten to let herself live. Clover meets a new client whose story of early love sends Clover on a journey.

This was such a beautiful story dealing with death, loss, regrets and a reminder to live life to the fullest. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. Highly recommended!!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Mikki Brammer for providing me with an ARC of The Collected Regrets of Clover.

Death doula Clover has dedicated her life to helping others die with dignity. Consumed by a desire to help others on their way out of this life, she goes to great lengths to avoid letting anyone into her own. In an effort to control her own experience and safeguard her emotions, she builds an impenetrable fortress around her heart. Clover's emotional journey and the souls she meets along the way remind the reader to embrace the messiness of life.

This is a very special book. It is touching, it is sweet, it is heartbreaking, it is uplifting, it is profound. I was deeply moved by this story.

I hope The Collected Regrets of Clover inspires you as much as it did me. Give it a read, you won't regret it.

5 Stars.

Clover Brooks first experienced death when her teacher dies in front of her during story time. Death touches her life again, sooner than she expected. Clover becomes a student of death, studying different cultures, rituals and traditions of death. But when her grandfather dies alone, Clover decides to become a death doula so no one else dies alone. Clover documents her clients regrets, advice and confessions into different journals. However, Clover has spent so much of her life helping others die peacefully and fulfilling their last regrets, she doesn’t realize how much life she is not living. When a client’s grandson tells her, hiding in the world of the dead is not living a life, Clover decides to examine her life.

This was an intriguing read, I had never heard of a death doula or death cafes and it intrigued me. The story was captivating as well, I like how the author wove the stories together, the characters were well written, engaging and added to the storylines. I enjoyed watching Clover blossom and realize just how much she was missing. The other characters guiding her along. It was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from Mikki Brammer.

Wow. I loved this book! Rarely do I feel compelled to highlight or flag certain paragraphs - but with this book there were so many nuggets of wisdom I wanted to capture and remember. This is also a book I wanted to talk about and dissect with others! I think it would be a really nice book club pick as it inspires deep reflection.

This is a beautiful and captivating story, and I didn't want to put it down. I loved Clover and her character development - I empathized with her as she navigated friendship, family, grief, and love. I will definitely be recommending this book, especially to those navigating their own journey with grief and loss. I appreciated how this book offers a different perspective on navigating death - I wish more people were open to discussing it. The more we put it in a box that can't be talked about, the scarier it is!

4.75/5

I loved Clover, the star of this poignant novel about death. Clover lives in NYC but has traveled the world studying death rituals in exotic cultures. When the story begins, Clover is working as a death doula (a new job category for me) at various locations in New York. Clover thoughtfully helps dying people reach the end of their natural lives.

Clover experienced overwhelming loss as a child when her parents died while vacationing in China. Clover's grandfather, a Biology professor at Columbia, became her loving parent when she was very young. They lived in a brownstone apartment in the West Village. Besides, her grandfather Clover had another friend, Leo, their neighbor. Clover regularly played mahjong with Leo but had few close relationships in her life. She convinced herself from an early age that she wasn't lonely.

At age 36, Clover begins to feel like she needs more people in her life, and that story is lovely to follow. I hoped for a beautiful love affair for Clover. I'll never know, but I'm sure she will be fine in the love department. Mikki Brammer has gifted her readers with a unique story, and I appreciate her creative writing. I loved this book!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer follows the life and musings of Clover, a death doula living in New York City. Now in her adulthood, she is realizing that her life is a bit isolated, by her own design, and she starts to unpack why that might be. Her reflection on her childhood and career choice are heightened when she is hired to care for a woman whose last wishes lead Clover on a journey that she didn’t expect.

This book is centered on the topic of dying, however it’s not the only focus of the story. It’s more about the thoughts and feelings experienced by those who are nearing the end of their lives, and Clover’s reflection on her own life. As an adult, she is making friends and experiencing crushes for what feels like the first time and navigating her way through it.

There were elements that I really appreciated about this book. I applauded the importance and value placed on death doulas in this book. Death and illness are unthinkable for so many, and I love a book that highlights grace, love, and honesty in this stage of life. I also appreciated that it was religion neutral and acknowledged spirituality without being specific, leaving the reader to apply their own beliefs.

There were also elements that didn’t land for me. Clover’s backstory and flashbacks felt underdeveloped. They gave the basics of how she became the person she is in adulthood, but it read like a bio and didn’t paint a picture. I also struggled with the way her trip to Guatemala was presented and the way she reflected on her parents, specifically the analysis on the maternal figure.

All in, a liked not loved book for me. I am drawn to novels that reflect on life and I am charmed by a character who is awkwardly making new connections, both platonic and romantic. But to do that well, I need to really feel the characters and their experiences, and I didn’t have that with this book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted advanced copy of this book – I am always grateful for the chance to read and share my thoughts.

Content warnings: Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment, Car accident, Terminal illness

"The Collected Regrets of Clover" has a great premise, that a woman who works as a death doula must learn to live her own life out with purpose. The characters are basically good and likeable people and the story has a happy ending. However, it has a lack of narrative drive and I found it difficult to want to read through to the end. I recommend t his for anyone who loves light, happy, feel-good kinds of stories. This book was just not for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Clover is an at once loveable character. I was drawn into her life and how close she is with death. I like how we see Clover question things that she is so close with and wonder if death doesn't just bring grief, but also a new perspective on life.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

I received this copy of The Collected Regrets of Clover, for an honest review from Net Galley and St Martins press.

Wow. What a beautifully written story. Mikki Brammer really wrote something bittersweetly beautiful. I loved it from start to finish. This book wasn’t a book you’ll read in one sitting ( okay it may be) but for me I took a slow pace, taking in the life of Clover, a death doula. From the beginning I was pulled in from start to finish. I was indulged in rhe story. Especially the main focus of one character Claudia. That’s where the story really begins and sends Clover to understand her life more. This read is absolutely brilliant!

Very emotional, touching book about Clover, who is a death doula. I have heard of birth doulas before, but not a death doula. Basically it is the same thing. A birth doula welcomes a baby into the world, (somewhat like a midwife, I suppose, but not the actual birthing). A death doula helps a person dying. They assist a person with getting closure and to a place of peace. They help finalize practical things like a last will, but it is more to help the person accept dying and come to terms with what they did or did not do, in their lives. It is a beautiful story encompassing difficult subject matters of death, loneliness, grief, dysfunctional families, bullying, and people that are labeled misfits.


I would classify it as a Women's fiction book, I suppose. Clover has lived most of her life basically as a loner, and now in her mid-thirties, after her grandfather has died (he raised her when her parents died, when she was 6 years old), finds herself very lonely, but doesn't know how to make friends, feels awkward talking to people, never has fit into the crowd. It is the story of an amazing woman, at a point when she wants a change in her life, but is afraid to make the change.


So often while reading, the author was expressing my exact feelings about life. Making the same statements I often tell myself. I felt such a connection to Clover, which I suppose could be a good thing, or not, depending on the characteristic I was identifying with. Sometimes while reading, I research things in the book, and this was one of those times. Clover goes to Death Cafes and yes, they are a real thing. Very interesting and needed in our society that often does not want to talk about this event that will come to us all.


A huge thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.