hank you to @us.macmillin, #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for a digital ARC of #TheCollectedRegretsofClover. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The concept of this book intrigued me. The protagonist - 36 year old Clover - is a death doula in New York. She makes a living helping people prepare for their death. Sounds like a heavy topic, but the author does a really good job of talking about preparing to die in a very honest and almost comforting way. And for me, that is the highlight of this book.

Yet, I almost abandoned this book less than 20% in. I just didn't connect with the characters in any way. I think Clover is meant to be quirky and socially awkward, but she's just sad. Her life has been negatively impacted by deaths in her own family. As a result, she lives a very lonely, isolated life by choice. The story unfolds predictably and Clover gets her "happy-ish" ending, but I just didn't care.

It looks like I'm in the minority with my opinion on this book. Overall, it was OK. Not sure I would recommend it.

A rare gem !
This book treat a difficult subject without being sad or too heavy. The writing is really excellent I could quote half of the book !! No stereotypes or cliché, so relatable. I really recommend it either you just want a good book or something on grief specifically.
I feel really grateful to have discover this book thanks to netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Warning this book should come with a free prescription for Lexapro. I have never been so depressed while reading than in this book. There are types of "Sad Reading" that we all love, you know the ugly cry kind.Think Love Story, A Walk To Remember, Titanic, where you have a pint of Ben and. Jerrys (wait scratch that--Edy's Cookies N Cream) sweat pants, messy bun alone on a Friday night let it all out sister.
BUT this is the type of read that was just gloom and doom for 95% of the book, it was so morbid. I give this book two stars (I would give it 1) if it were not for Hugo. Clover the protaganist whole life has been surrounded by death and people (including her parents) who were incapable of love. I couldnt help but feel tragically sad for her. Her job a "death doula" -could have made for a cool quirky read as I thought i was promised-- instead the author took this down a deep cliff. I felt no passion from Clover. She was just a "dud", no emotion, no life to her. Honestly her dying clients seemed to have more of a life than our Clover.
Don't get me started on Sabastian, I immediately started waing red flags with his inability to know her coffee order (total cliche in a movies and books) His treatment of Clover again, was just what I am going to sum up as what a "Pompous Donkey" --so there.
I was hoping at the end there would be some happy ending in regards to Claudia/Hugo, however again the reader is left with another heaping pile of gloom.
I'm sorry I did not think this was charming in anyway, and frankly I can't wait to get y hands on the cheesiest Hallmark book that I can to pull myself out of this deep state of depression brought on by this book .

Thank you Netgalley and Mikki Brammer for this advanced copy read. I was not influenced for this honest review. These are all my own opinions.

PS DON"T YOU LOVE THE COVER???

TW: Death, Close Family Members

This novel has taught me a lot about how to deal with my own grief, how to support those who have lost someone important to them and how to be there for someone you love who is reaching the end of their life.

Clover tends to live in her own world, only speaking to clients of hers who are close to death, as her occupation as a Death Doula. Throughout the story, Clover learns from her books of Advice, Confessions and Regrets from clients who have passed - categorizing them throughout their last few days of life. I found that although Clover did lack certain emotional characteristics and experiences, I empathized with her. I appreciated her development throughout the book and her ability to "be cautiously reckless".

I found Mikki was able to write about the difficult topic of death, and make it simple throughout the dialogue and the messages that were conveyed. I laughed and I cried, and I felt like I became friends with Clover, Slyvie, Leo, Hugo and Claudia.

A very special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy and the amazing opportunity to self-reflect and grow as a person, just as Clover did.

Good book if you can get through the first quarter of the book which is very morbid. The rest is easy reading and sorta funny as Clover tries to navigate her first friendships while being a death doula.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of THE COLLECTED REGRETS OF CLOVER by Mikki Brammer. I really enjoyed this beautiful story about making the most out of life and death. I'd never heard of a death doula, Clover's profession, but learning about it was really interesting. The best part was definitely just seeing Clover's character growth from being so isolated and grief-stricken to learning how to create a life she wouldn't have to regret when she died. The ending was so inspirational and filled with so many great little quotes: "Grief is just love looking for a place to settle," and "The secret to a beautiful death is to live a beautiful life," and many more. I loved it!

The Collected Regrets of Clover is a thoughtful and comforting book about living life. Clover Brooks came to know death early in life. First her kindergarten teacher dies while reading a story to Clover's class, then her parents die in an accident while on vacation. As a young child, Clover was raised in a NYC apartment by her grandfather who was a biology professor. Now thirty-six year old Clover is a death doula to comfort terminally ill people. Author Mikki Brammer provides readers with a good framework to discuss death and living, regrets and hopes. This novel is recommended for discussion groups and young adult readers.

〰️Review〰️

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer - 2/5 ⭐️
Book 17 of 2023

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

“A big-hearted and life-affirming debut about a death doula who, in caring for others at the end of their life, has forgotten how to live her own, for readers of The Midnight Library” [excerpt taken from St Martin’s Press).

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you’ll know by the above “for the readers of” what’s coming in this review. It’s rather unfortunate this entire story is solely about Clover. She is somehow self-righteous, inauthentic, and cloyingly obtuse all at once. Provided that she is a world traveller and a person who guides others to the end of their lives, one would assume she is empathetic yet that was rarely the case. Her character lacked perspective, resulting in Clover coming across as an underdeveloped, tiresome protagonist. While I am certain this is not a YA novel, it does comes across as such. I had to really dig my heels in to get through this and it proved that you can’t always judge a book by it’s cover; if so, this likely would have been much better.

The Collected Regrets of Clover is set to be published May 9, 2023.

I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me and kept me turning pages until I was done. Finished it in two days! The character development was strong, and the premise was unique enough that it didn't feel like anything else I've read.

I received an advance copy of The Collected Regrets of Clover, thanks to NetGalley. I was intrigued by the premise of this book and the role of a death doula in supporting people through the end of life process. The book was quick and easy to read and had some touching moments. However, the main character, Clover, fell flat for me. She came across as very immature and inexperienced, almost to the point where the book had the vibe of a YA novel at times. Clover was clearly still working through unprocessed grief from the death of her parents at a young age, and had never formed a true friendship or had a romantic relationship. It was heartwarming to watch her navigate her way through these new relationships for the first time in the story, but her character lost credibility and didn’t feel very believable as a result - the disconnect was too great between her professional career and her personal experience. I read the book quickly but was left feeling unsatisfied at the end due to these contradictions with the main character.

Nothing startlingly original here, but a well-told, gentle tale of a loss-ridden introvert opening up to life. Sad, hopeful and lovely

The Midnight Library is one of my favorite books so I knew that I had to read this one. It also questions the meaning of life/death and how your choices in life determine how your path runs.

Clover was a fabulous character! She is introverted and a little different, especially because she focuses on death and people who are wasting what little time they have left. Her life changed when she saw her first dead person. She was young and witnessed how her kindergarten teacher passes. That is when her path was chosen.

Her job is a death doula - what a fascinating thing this is. She spends time with people who are about to die and helps them through it. And death cafes...morbid but also interesting. People go here to talk about death and what they have experienced surrounding it. She likes to listen and absorb everything she can from their discussions.

When she meets Claudia her life changes. The journey this book takes you on is so thought provoking and enjoyable. I absolutely loved it.

This is a gem of a debut novel and I think it's one of my favorite reads of 2023 so far!

I had no idea that a book about death could be so beautiful and uplifting but that is what Mikki Brammer has created with this story about Clover, who works as a death doula in NYC.

From the first chapters I was hooked and completely engrossed in the life of Clover as we alternate between the present day and key periods of her childhood and young adulthood. Clover has always been a loner and struggled to fit in with her peers. We go on a very emotional journey with Clover as she works to figure out who she really is and what matters to her. The ultimate journey to a life lived without regrets.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading future books by Mikki Brammer.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me an advance copy of this book for review consideration.

This is a beautiful book! I was very emotionally invested in this one and enjoyed it from start to finish.

I loved this book. Such a good story about grief, and dying, and loneliness. I related to the main character a lot, so this story appealed to me. Look forward to more by this author.

This book was such an awesome read. It definitely sticks with you and will probably do very well judging from all the positive reviews. This book sucks you in from the very beginning and even though I would stop and read other books I always came back to this one eager to continue. It’s a book you can’t easily forget. It’s sweet and endearing, heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I didn’t want it to end. It gave me a lot to think about. A beautiful story about life and the way we should approach it.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC. I truly appreciate it.

This is a sweet story about a young lady learning to live life to the fullest while helping terminal patients with the best possible transition into death. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to thank the author for the ARC

Clover is a death doula. She sits with the dying and helps them along. As she sits with more individuals during their deaths, she collects their regrets and advice. She’s been so involved in helping others, she may have some regrets of her own.

For being about death, this book was more hopeful and pleasant than I thought it would be. It got into the job of a death doula, and how meaningful that can be. It made the process of death something that can be beautiful as well. I loved Clover and her development over time. I liked how there was a sub-plot with a story that really affected the character and her future.

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

The Collected Regrets of Clover comes out 5/9.

4.5/5

This is such a beautiful, whimsical book about death.

Clover is a 30-something who’s always preferred being alone. She’s a death doula who helps people prepare for the end of their life. But her newest client changes her life forever.

This book is a wholesome, emotional read that’s truly unique.

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

Book Title: The Collected regrets of Clover
Author: Mikki Brammer
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: May 9, 2023
My Rating: 3.4 Stars

Clover has always been fascinated by death, ever since her kindergarten teacher keeled over and died during class.
The following year, Clover's parents die in a tragic accident, and she is sent to live with her grandfather. It's a relatively solitary life but it's safe, warm, and assured.
But after finally losing her grandfather when she was 23 years old, and away traveling, she realizes the desolation of dying alone and becomes a - 'death doula'.,
( Hmm: Is it me or does anyone else believes they should come up with a better name? Perhaps “Doula Specialist”? )

Note: I remember "Me Before You" by author, JoJo Moyes, In that story I laughed and cried. However, one reader described it as a ‘feel worst” read as it really is sad
This story was recommended by a FB book group member ~ She said ~ Anyone who loved Eleanor Oliphant should absolutely read this! It is a heartwarming story book with the quirky Clover and how much death teaches us about life.
However, when I started it I feared it was going to be depressing but I was pleased that it was better than expected.
Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 9, 2023