This was a really sweet and unique book. It was an easy read and the characters were well developed, but I just didn’t connect with Clover. I wish more of the story would have focused on Claudia’s days in Corsica… her story was far more interesting.

Clover’s parents die in a tragic accident when she’s six years old, leaving her to be raised by her grandfather. Years later, he too passes away while Clover’s traveling. Clover is so affected by him dying alone, that she becomes a death doula, dedicating her life to help people have the most peaceful end possible. Clover has always been a loner, but when she goes on a mission to help grant Claudia, a dying old woman, her final wish, she begins to want more for herself than the lonely life she’s been living.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this extraordinary book in exchange for an honest review. It’s already my favorite of 2023!

THIS. BOOK. I just wanted to give it a big hug when I turned the last page. Set in New York City, Clover is a quirky, brutally honest character with a heart of gold that I instantly adored. I loved going on this truly special journey with her and related so much to the beautiful relationship she had with her grandfather.

Though this one does feature heavily about death, do not let that deter you from reading it. I promise it’s inspirational, hopeful and thought provoking in the best way possible. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and I literally highlighted half of it with lines that stuck with me and quotes I wanted to remember (and of course share).

This debut novel will for sure be on all the best seller lists when it debuts in May. I’ll be over here eagerly awaiting Mikki Brammer’s next release!

“The Collected Regrets of Clover” is a debut novel by Mikki Brammer. Having lost a parent about 18 months ago, I knew this was going to be a difficult book for me to read. In some points, it was - but it was also comforting (except when I wished that my parent had had someone like Clover to have been in the room upon the time of passing). I greatly enjoyed the depth that went into the “death doula” concept. I also liked how Clove had her routine and while a bit lonely, she was content. Around the 60% mark, the book took a wander into a direction I had hoped it wouldn’t, but I realized that it was necessary for the book - and Clover - to grow. I greatly enjoyed the sensitivity around grieving (and, yes, I too was tired of the questions asked upon my parent’s passing). I liked how Clover tried to fulfill the regret of those who passed under her care (while dying my hair blue wouldn’t make my top 10 list of regrets, I can see how for someone it could be). There’s a lot to think about from this book - not only about death, but also life. A well written book - and I can understand why some have suggested that if you liked “The Midnight Library” (Haig) that you would like this one. I’d caution that if you felt the feels reading Midnight Library, you’ll (again) feel the feels.

There aren't enough words to describe how much I loved this book. Clover was such an incredible character. I loved her vulnerability and honesty and how real she felt. Her struggles with anxiety were very relatable. I loved learning about death doulas and their roles across various cultures and religions. This was such a great read and I've already told so many friends and family members to put it on their TBRs for 2023!

3.5/5. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy and chance to review! There’s a lot to love about this book, and I think this is really going to resonate with a lot of people when it comes out, but this was more of a “like” than a “love” for me. It may just come down to the mood I was I was in, and maybe another day it’ll be a higher rating for me, but I think I would have liked this a lot more if the entire thing had been the last 30% or so of the book. Up until that point, it was a little bit of a struggle for me to really enjoy this.

That said, there are a lot of things that do work here. Clover as a character is deeply sympathetic, and you’ll have a hard time not having your heart break for her. The supporting cast, for the most part, is full of lovable characters. And there are a lot of really beautiful sentiments about life and death throughout.

I think what kept me from really getting into this most of the way through, though, is the heavy handiness. This book is about death, but it’s mostly a big message of “live your life” or “don’t think about life so much, live it!” - and it is NOT subtle about that. And while it’s hard not to feel bad for Clover and root for her, it’s also hard not to feel like you’re reading through the lens of a 20 year old until the book constantly reminds you that she’s 36.

So I don’t know, maybe I was just feeling cynical while reading this, but this was too preachy for me to really love it.

I have never even heard of a death doula and now I want to be one! Clover a 36 year old loner helps people on their death beds in pretty much whatever way they want or need. She keeps a record of their regrets, confessions and advice. I liked that Clover seemed to remember all the people she helped usher to the other side. I liked her narrative sense of humor, however I did not necessarily like (or dislike) her or any of the other characters, they all seemed bland to me.

This novel is absolutely stunning. Such an incredible story of love and loss. Inspiring and so rich. I absolutely adored this novel.
My one side note is—as a healthcare professional I have to point out that fire in a hospital is extremely dangerous bc of the oxygen being an explosive. Lol otherwise, a perfect read. I hope Mikki writes many more!

This was a beautiful book — thank you so much for the pleasure of reading it in advance :)

It was emotional and thoughtful with well-developed, lovable characters, and a meaningful message. Truly everything I look for in a book, and can't wait for the official publication!

This is the story of Clover who works as a death doula, helping others prepare for their upcoming end of life. Clover is very good at her job, but realizes that she is lacking close relationships and a life of her own. A new client helps her realize what's missing from her life and reexamine her needs and priorities. This story is beautifully written, and will make you think about your own days.

It’s been a really long time since I read a contemporary romance that got me giddy and excited to read each chapter but The Collected Regrets of Clover renewed my love of romance books.
Clover is a one of a kind main character that is overflowing with interesting qualities and with many outstanding side characters, this book held my attention every single time I picked it up.

At times bittersweet, at times beautiful, at times overly sentimental, this is a highly unusual novel and a highly immersive one. It’s hard to put the book down. And from 50% onward, I didn’t.

With the main character (Clover) employed as a death doula, as well as discussions of thanatology and death cafés, the content is certainly original. From the outset, I felt that here’s a story I haven’t read before! Clover turns into one of the most memorable characters I’ve encountered in recent fiction — a quirky loner, afraid of emotional commitment, who’s nevertheless introspective and self-aware. She’s also devoted to her clients (the dying) and wiser than most people I know when it comes to thinking about and discussing the end of life.

I enjoyed the book and think it’s well written. And there’s a great deal to think about — how to think and talk about death, how to talk to the dying, and especially the importance of living a good, full life, to avoid having regrets at the end of it.

As much as I enjoyed the book, I thought there are probably too many coincidences and too many perfectly charming, big-hearted characters (though I liked them all!). By about 75%, much of the rest seemed predictable and a little too fairy-tale for my taste. A regrettable title — one that I’ll never remember, though I’ll remember the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Advanced Reader Copy.

Clover. We meet our new-age-named protagonist as she is orphaned and is embraced by her loving academic grandfather. Perhaps due to her desire to understand her feelings about her parents death, Clover embarks upon an educational and spiritual voyage and becomes a “death doula” - similar to a birth doula, providing education, support and assistance to the patient and their families, but at the event of the patient’s death. Clover is exceptionally comfortable with the concept of death, from the perspective of many different cultures, which can be an unusual characteristic in the Western world, and she learns a lot about human nature and life from tending to her patients who have advice, confessions, and regrets. Clover is retained by an especially uptight and closed off blueblood family to tend to their matriarch upon her terminal diagnosis, and unravels several generations of advice, confessions and regrets about this exceptional individual and her story.
The Collected Regrets of Clover was extremely well written and such unusual subject matter - I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot about people and relationships through the insightful reflections presented. Mikki Brammer was able to convey rich descriptions of the characters and their personalities, motivations, and dispositions without relying on physical characteristics which was refreshing and unique.

I loved getting to know Clover and not only her work as a death doula, but also her personal history. I liked the progression of Clover's personal revelations. The pace felt realistic but also not too slow. Isolated and introverted, Clover realizes that she's not living the life she wants. Her own grief and losses are keeping her from moving forward. Clover slowly integrates her dying clients' advice (often in the form of regrets) into her own life as she grows in allowing others into her life and taking risks. I really enjoyed this one.

"But the secret to a beautiful death is a beautiful life."

Clover is a death doula. She sits with people as they die and she makes sure they are not alone. And yet, she's mostly alone. She has one friend who is 76 and that's it.

This is the story of how through the help of a new client, some unexpected friends and some tough but real words she slowly starts to change her life.

This character driven story is beautiful and is full of reminders that life is for the living. It's for taking chances, it's for being cautiously reckless and it's for living the moments we're given to their full capacity.

with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer.

This was such a sweet novel that surprised me about as much as it made me smile.

Clover is not only devastated at the loss of the man who raised her, her grandpa, but at the excruciating truth that he died alone. Since then, she has dedicated her life to being a death doula, ensuring that no one on her watch will have the same end. And while Clover's quiet life of solitude suits her, some unlikely characters begin entering her life, forcing her to start living hers.

First off, death is an endlessly fascinating topic, so you had me there. I also really enjoyed the non conventional friendships and romances in this story. I felt like the author was winking at us, saying, "yeah, I know the formula, and I'm not doing it." Every chapter of this made my heart happy, especially the ending.

As someone who enjoys no plot fiction, this was definitely one of those books, although it took a while to realize. I expected a turn for Clover earlier than almost at the end of the book. It was hard to connect with Clover, but the events that took place kept me reading.

I loved this book so much. Between the subject matter and the characters I was drawn in first chapter. The book is so well written I gobbled it up and knew immediately I would want this as my book club pic.It's not often you read a fiction book about a subject matter most authors don't use but I found it fascinating. I feel in the love with the main character Clover and enjoyed watching her grow and transform.
Clover experienced many losses as a young child but the hardest was her beloved grandfather. Clover was not with him when he passed and the news that he was alone has haunted her for years, so much so that she became a death doula so she can comfort people in their last minutes of life. Clover has learned how to make her patients comfortable, how to help them seek forgiveness or send one last message before they go, maybe they have regrets and people they want to make amends with, Clover will do anything she can to grant their last wishes.
Spending her life serving others in commendable but also prevents Clover from making any meaningful personal relationships. As a friend or foe points out, this may be on purpose. Clover becomes close to one of her patients and her family and the opportunity for a new life, love, and happiness are in her near future. Can Clover let go of some of her fears and learn to let people in without the fear they will leave her? She'll have to learn to trust and allow herself the life she deserves.

Interesting storyline with a likable main character. I had never heard of a death doula before. Is this a real thing? I appreciated that it was a clean read with no overt political undertones.

I really enjoyed this book and flew through it in less than 2 days. The book tells the story of Clover Brooks who becomes a death doula after her grandfather dies alone while she is traveling. She is quirky and clearly does not know how to have a relationship with someone who isn't actively dying. The writing flowed and the characters were not just likeable but relatable. It touches on some deep points and makes you think about how you would reflect on your life at the end. This is a really great debut novel and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Clover is a death doula who hasn't dealt with her own grief. A new neighbor and a new client help her escape the prison she's created for herself. A lovely story.