I wasn't sure what to think about this book initially. I was fascinated by the idea of a death doula and someone who was holding onto the past (as many are prone to do), but as things got going, I was so pulled into the complication for so many of us when it comes to remembering those who have passed: what is our responsibility between hanging onto them and putting part aside to live for ourselves? Anyway, I loved it once I got 30 or so pages in and I've thought back about it several times since completion.

I really enjoyed this book called The Collected Regrets of Margaret Clover. It could of been a very heavy book but it was actually very hopeful. Would recommend.

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. Clover is a death doula. She is there for people to give them peace in their last days. She collects their last thoughts, their confessions and their regrets in 3 separate notebooks at her house. But Clover is dealing with her own loss, and her a hiding herself away from life.

As she cares for her latest elderly “patient” she goes on an adventure to discover a lost love, but she ultimately finds herself.

I really enjoyed The Collected Regrets of Clover. The premise could have made the story very heavy and sad, yet it was very hopeful. As Clover rediscovers herself, she opens herself up to others.

I was also able to attend @lbtheloverofbooks discussion with @mikkibrammer and it was so interesting! That discussion can be found here: https://youtu.be/TpjAUluVmC0?si=wXpSp77CEFA0lhVg.

Thank you to #netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced e-copy of #thecollectedregretsofclover

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

4.5 Stars. After the grandfather that raised her passed away, Clover Brooks became a death doula, connecting with those that are dying and helping them leave this earth peacefully. However, dedicating her life to death has led Clover to having no life of her own, until her latest client, a new friend, an old friend, and a new neighbor help her take a look at her own story.

This was an uplifting, thought-provoking story that helps you to reflect on life. While a main theme of the book is obviously death with Clover’s profession as a death doula, it’s actually a hopeful and optimistic story. Clover is a likable, quirky character, and I really enjoyed following her journey!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Don’t let the best parts of life pass you by because you’re too scared of the unknown. Maybe the biggest risk in life was taking no risks at all.” {pg. 288}

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my gifted e-book!

While the romance aspect of this book wasn't my favorite, the rest of it was absolutely fantastic. The premise and the obsession with death was so uniquely told and the theme of living a beautiful life is something every reader can connect to. This is a must read, whether you like romance or not.

I went blind reading this and I was pleasantly surprised. I was not expecting the unfolding live story at the end. I was not quite fond of Clover as in some moments she was so naive that it was hard to believe she was almost in the 40s. Overall, it was a lovely read.

- 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.