Out On: October 14, 2025

⭐️ 5/5 Rating

Clementine Crane Prefers Not To was everything I wanted it to be and more. I have been battling reading slump after reading slump since going back to work in August, but I am pleased to announce that I finished this book in less than 24 hours 🥳 Not only did I read this book so quickly due to the fast-paced writing style, but I was actually laughing out loud as I read it.

Watching Clementine learn more about perimenopause, all that it entails and then begin an entire movement on social media about it was phenomenal. I think that society in general is lacking in awareness and authentic struggle when it comes to life, so envisioning a 40-something woman sharing her hot flashes with the world gave me an immense amount of joy.

Overall, this book was a hoot and I absolutely adored it. Clementine was an incredible character to get to interact with as a reader and I will be recommending this heavily to everyone I know!

Thank you so much to Alcove Press & NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book! 🥹🤍

From reading the blurb I thought this story was right up my alley but I‘m sorry to say I didn‘t like it as much as I thought I would. For me the whole story was a bit over the top and I really had trouble relating to Clementine. The way she let‘s herself be treated by her family was really bad but the way she acts throughout the book was absurd at times. I also had trouble believing how her family would just one day alter their behaviour after ridiculing her and her message for so long. I also felt like the story dragged on quite a bit but maybe that was just me.

A perimenopausal women experiences her first hot flash and everything shifts in the blink of a eye. Clementine Crane Prefers Not To had a premise that caught my eye, which is why I requested the ARC. While I appreciated the topic of discussion and agreed with many things brought up in the book (there were many important issues addressed about women's health, the lack of information or misconceptions about menopause, women's roles and expectations in society etc) the over-the-top humour, the exaggerated writing, and general craziness of Clementine's actions eventually got too much for me to even suspend disbelief and enjoy the rest of the madcap ride. It was an easy and engaging read despite this.

While it took a little while for me to get into the writing style and the book itself, it turned out to be a fantastic read that I have immediately recommended to my mother and aunt. Even though it will be especially great for middle-aged women, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

“Clementine Crane Prefers Not To” is by Kristin Hair O’Keeffe. I had a bit of difficultly with this book. In part, it’s because Clementine (the main character) allowed herself to become (as she calls it) the person who holds the family together. Look, I get being a parent - sometimes the interruptions from kids about not being able to find a book, needing money for lunch, or whatever are easier to deal with yourself - but at a certain age, dang it, kids can do their own hunting for a book and their own laundry. I know parents who have their kids doing their own laundry by the age of 8 and helping prepare meals for the family by the age of 6. It’s not that difficult - and kids want to learn this stuff. So, for Clementine to decide one day that she’s had it - I get it, but at the same time, why did you let it become that way? Also, being a person of a certain age, I get perimenopause and I get having medical concerns dismissed by doctors (note: if my previous doctor is reading this - NOT referring to you; enjoy your retirement!) but the medical office scenes just felt weird - from the doctor’s dismissal to the hijacking of the waiting room. Humor is hard to sustain and at times I think this book went for over the top humor in an attempt to be funny and, honestly, after a while it felt like a line had been crossed. For me, this book was okay. I think if one is experiencing perimenopause and all the wonderfulness (sarcasm) that entails, reading this book you’ll know you’re not alone, even if taken a bit over the top.

I am so conflicted on this book! Clementine Crane is a perimenopausal woman who has honestly had enough - enough of her incapable husband, her demanding and unappreciative kids, her boss, and mostly her hot flashes which have turned her world upside down. With her best friend cheering her on, Clem decides that she has had it and inspired by a Herman Melville story, proclaims as often as possible that she would prefer not to. Prefer not to carry the mental load of her family, prefer not to listen to her boss, prefer not to jump at her kids every whim. While I was laughing and nodding to much of this book, I was seriously SEETHING at Clem's family. The way I wanted to slap her husband and all of her kids for their disrespectful treatment of their mom (maybe it's the mother in me but I couldn't stand them!). Clem herself also frustrated me throughout the book by taking her mantra just a little too far for me. I know it was the point of her story but I found myself shaking my head at some of her choices. All in all, I thought it was a cute read that makes women feel seen. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I am a 41 year old mama of 2 and so much of this book resonated with me. Clementine, a mom of 3 and wife, has her first hot flash and it puts everything in her life into a whole new perspective. She is DONE with taking care of everyone and putting herself on the back burner. I felt this in my soul- but 3 stars because she went a bit crazy (ok a lot crazy) for me and it just did not seem realistic. To be honest, I started getting some anxiety alongside her! LOL The constant messages from her kids and her idiot husband had me getting worked up myself. All in all, it was a cute book and I enjoyed it, just not my fave.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Unfortunately, I preferred not to as well. Not for me.

Maybe right book, wrong time?

Menopause mamas, unite! This new tragi-comedy novel from Kristin Bair is a feminist anthem for women who have sacrificed and organized and put up with TOO MUCH in their lives, only to be saddled at a certain age with the sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause.

When library media director Clementine Crane starts having hot flashes, she is mortified, outraged, flabbergasted that no one told her she had those to look forward to one day. She makes sure her co-workers, friends, family, and doctor knows it too. It should be talked about more! There should be research! Something should be done!

She has a little bit of a breakdown/awakening, and starts a social media outlet to share the steam literally rising from her head, and the sweat dripping from uncomfortable places when they hit. And when her child has a homework assignment for a story that includes the words I prefer not to, she finds her new anthem. Suddenly Clementine prefers not to several times a day. She stops women in the grocery store, in the clinic, in the library, and tells them they can prefer not to too. It's that easy. Women are asked far too much sometimes, and it never occurs to any of us to just...pass. No thanks, I PREFER NOT TO.

Honestly, this novel is a riot. It's wonderful. Quirky, heartfelt, sympathetic, and hilarious. I think many people will relate to and love Clementine, who prefers her job title to read Connector of People to Magical Things instead of Director of Media at the library. She's smart, funky, and maybe a little too daring.

Grab your copy today and get it girl!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is MUAH…🤌 the ultimate chef’s kiss and so much more than a FIVE STAR read!

Clementine Crane Prefers Not To deserves ALL the stars. Truly. This is the kind of book I want to buy in bulk and hand out to everyone I know—friends, family, coworkers, even random strangers on the street. It doesn’t matter if they’re male or female, 16, 26, 36, or 46 like me. Everyone should understand what women go through during peri- or full-blown menopause.

Once I turned 40, then 41, then 42, I started calling myself “a woman of a certain age.” When a hot flash hits, I’ll mutter, “oh, the delights of being a woman of a certain age.” When I wake up drenched in sweat, it’s, “ugh, being a woman of a certain age sucks.” That’s why I connected so deeply with Clementine—her struggles felt both real and relatable.

Women’s experiences are as varied as the women themselves. While I haven’t yet hit the exact point Clementine is facing, I’m grateful for social media where women ahead of me have shared what to expect. Knowing I’m not the only one who nearly tossed trash bags in the fridge or left leftovers in the pantry has been life-changing. (I have ADHD, so I’m no stranger to being “here and there,” but this brand of forgetfulness? A whole different level!) That’s why seeing Clementine’s journey on the page—and more importantly, seeing women speaking up honestly about it—felt inspiring, validating, and honestly, a relief. I loved this story a million times over.

This was my first book by Kristina Bair O’Keeffe, but it absolutely won’t be my last. I cannot wait to dive into more of her work!

✨ Huge thanks to NetGalley, Kristin Bair O’Keeffe, and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC, expected October 14, 2025. My thoughts and words are entirely my own.

Clementine Crane is an excellent main character. Midlife, menopausal and highly put upon, she decides to start saying that she prefers not to meet the needs and expectations of those around her - including her husband and children. I very much enjoyed the whip-smart voice in which Kristen Bair tells this story, and the depth of character, their relationships and, most of all, Clementine’s humour, made this a 5 star read for me.

This book was such a fun, hilarious, and surprisingly relatable read. Clementine Crane’s “I prefer not to” attitude made me laugh while also hitting very close to home. As a 44 year old wife and mom, I saw so much of my own life reflected in her struggles. Between the endless invisible tasks, the pressures of family and work, and the exhaustion that comes with trying to do it all, Kristin Bair O'Keeffe truly captured the mental load that so many women carry.

I loved the way Clementine’s small acts of refusal grew into something bigger, and how her raw honesty resonated with others. While some parts felt a little over the top, I think that only added to the humor and the satirical edge of the story.

Overall, this is a novel that balances humor with real, relatable truths about motherhood, marriage, and finding your voice. This would be a perfect pick for anyone who’s ever felt like enough is enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an advanced copy of this book.

I read to the end though it dragged on and was repetitive. I liked Clementine’s character for the most part, though at times I wanted her to stop “preferring not to” and quietly move on.
At times I felt like her complaints sounded more gender-role based than pre-menopausal.
Overall, I thought the book was ok.

Clementine Crane is a wife of a checked out husband, a mother of three kids and has a career that feels stagnat - she has spent years quietly holding it all together. Then, one hot flash changes everything: facing perimenopause and the weight of endless invisible labor, Clementine decides to resist one “no” at a time. She shares her journey online, where her raw honesty and sharp humor makes her go viral and “I prefer not to" becomes a mantra. Clementine’s narration is sharp, funny and relatable - even though it may not be relatable for all. Imperfect but deeply engaging, I found this book entertaining.

The Book:
Clementine Crane has it all - a husband, a dog, 3 kids, a job, a best friend, perimenopause and 0 F's to give (or, as in the title and throughout the book, put in a much nicer way, she prefers not to).
Clementine experiences her first hot flash and no one seems to take this seriously - not her family and not her doctor - and this, as it should, incenses Clementine. Why did no one prepare her better for this? Why is no one helping her manage this? The doctor's advise is useless and her family is embarrassed by her. So, Clementine takes matters into her own hands and finds her people - Pissed off people with uteruses.

My Thoughts:
Pissed off or not, if you have a uterus, I think you should read this book - It's very funny and poignant and sees women and the demands placed on women - Think America Ferrara's monologue in Barbie but a whole book with very funny and frustrating examples and a perimenopausal woman dealing with them.
I loved this book and have already pre-ordered copies to send to close friends.

Clementine Crane Prefers Not To is a sharp, funny, and deeply relatable portrait of a woman finally drawing her own line in the sand. Kristin Bair captures the chaos of modern womanhood—family demands, career stagnation, emotional labor—with wit and warmth, turning Clementine’s burnout into both a personal reckoning and a rallying cry.

Clementine’s strike, equal parts rebellion and self-preservation, is narrated with humor that never undercuts the novel’s emotional truth. Watching her awkwardly, messily reclaim her boundaries is both cathartic and inspiring. This is a smart, heartfelt read for anyone who’s ever been the default problem-solver—and wondered what might happen if they simply said “no.”

“I prefer not to.”
That’s Clementine Crane’s reply when her husband tries to have a “we need to talk” moment—right after she tells him she’s not wearing pants. And honestly? It’s the battle cry every overextended woman needs.

From hot flashes to mental-load burnout, Clem’s small acts of rebellion turn into a viral movement that’s funny, raw, and so relatable. This book is equal parts laugh-out-loud comedy and “wow, that’s my life.”
Perfect for book clubs, hot-flash solidarity, and anyone ready to let a few things slide.

A rollercoaster ride through midlife with Clementine who goes from biddable to badass. She prefers not to participate in the culture of going along to get along any more and the fall out it beautiful.

Clementine Crane Prefers Not to by Kristin Bair is sheer perfection.

Clemetine Crane has many things that demand her time, her husband, her kids, her job with a demanding boss. And she manages, until Perimenopause, then she doesn't.

Clementine realizes there is no support system, so she finds her own.
I related to this book so much, having gone through so much of this.

I have to say I absolutely LOVED the text passages, so relatable.

I laughed so much. I feel like my new phrase is going to be " I Prefer Not To"!!!!

The characters and the story were amazing!

Highly recommend!

Clementine Crane Prefers Not To is a smart, funny, and heartfelt story about reclaiming yourself when life’s demands become too much. Kristin Bair perfectly captures the exhaustion, humor, and quiet courage of a woman learning to set boundaries and put herself first. I loved Clementine’s relatable voice, her sharp wit, and the empowering journey that unfolds. This book was both entertaining and uplifting, and I gave it five stars.