Where do I start with this book. It was absolutely beautiful. As soon as I read the first chapter I was lost in the story. I devoured it in one day and then was sad when I finished. Loved reading it. It was so Beautifully written, very easy to read. It had a Great undertone to the story and a beautiful message one I think most people could relate to. I keep saying beautiful because I don't know how else to describe it. Loved it Loved it, loved it! Can't wait to read more from this author 💗

Well this was interesting completely different from my normal read, it was interesting and I am glad I read it. It however took me a while to read and I had to keep dipping in an out

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

This was such a super wholesome read - perfect for fans of Matt Haigs The Midnight Library, it gave me all of the feels and i definitely shed a few tears! xx

What a breath of fresh air, a book where romance and a relationship is not at all the goal to have a happy life. I enjoyed the writing style, the beautiful quotes, the courage to write a book that deals with death and all that comes with it and Clover's search for herself. Absolutely recommended!

Oh what an absolutely gorgeous book. I laughed and cried, I loved it so much. The characters are wonderful - Clover, Leo, Sylvie, Claudia, Hugo, Bessie and the rest. This book was just such a delight. Uplifting, inspiring and simply wonderful.

I loved the sound of this one when I first read the synopsis but unfortunately I just no longer have any urge to read it. I'm not sure if that's down to my mental health so I really do apologise.

Lovely book and storyline however I would have liked to know more about what happened after she stopped collecting regrets

We cant be reminded too often of what's important in life, and The Collected Regrets of Clover does that in abundance. Clover is a death doula, working with people at the very ends of their lives to ensure it can meet their wishes as far as possible. Throughout the story of her working with such a wide range of people, we as readers get to see what they felt was important in their one precious lives and what they regretted. There's a love story as well but for me, the power of the story is the message about about grabbing opportunities when you can and making the most of your live whilst you still can.

This was an unusual story, I was unsure about ho0w depressing this story would be. However, it was not depressing it was a beautiful story that celebrates life.

There were some characterisation issues and some parts that felt forced and unrealistic but overall it is such a moving story that you can forgive all those things,

It is the first book I have read by Mikki Brammer but I would not hesitate to pick up another one. Thank you NetGalley, Mikki Brammer and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this story.

The collected regrets of Clover is a beautiful story about learning to know yourself even when you think you already know everything. It is about growing as a process and not a result, as well as the importance of who and what you choose to be.
Starting with an intriguing first chapter that shocks the reader from the first line, the book proceeds by taking you to know the main character as she is in the present, and as she was in the past. This way of narrating the person lets the reader see how past experiences help shape who we become. It also gives a good rhythm to the chapters, alternating between now and then.
In the first chapters we as readers get to know Clover as a thirty-something that enjoys her own company and is contented living as she does. But is it really so? [SPOILER] The more we read the more we perceive that Clover herself is indeed satisfied with what she is doing in her life, but feels some things are missing from it, and we get to see her decide to try and get out of her comfort zone.
I must admit that I can totally relate to the anxiety of meeting new people and try to turn them into new friends, as well as maintaining the relation once it is established. I think that the friendship between Clover and Sylvie is realistic, and I appreciate them being able to talk about many different topics. I did not love how Clover seems to be extremely teenager-y about her relationship history; I do like how well she fares in relating to people in her job and in being herself with her friends because it does feel she is an adult in those cases, but when she talks about never having had a relationship I felt like I was reading the diary of a fourteen years old. I imagine that it is because the author wanted to show how inexperienced she is in that field, but I think a person in their thirties would behave differently from a teenager.
That said, it is also possible that the author just wanted to show the difference between [SPOILER] how Clover relates to Sebastian and how she relates to Hugo. When reading the blossoming of the relationship with Hugo I finally felt at peace and at ease after being irritated with everyone when Clover and Sebastian tried to date.
In general, I think that one of the best things about this story was how death and people dying and it being the end of their lives were treated with calm and honesty, and not necessarily as the worst thing in the world. There is a point when Clover says that she could not say anything at Claudia because everything would have been wrong and because Claudia just needed her to be there and to listen and to see her, and it was the most honest moment of death I have ever read.
I also loved the feeling of hopefulness and light-heartedness I felt after finishing the book. It does not happen often for me to be happy and sort of relieved at the end of a book, but in this case Clover (and the author Mikki Brammer) let me go with the hope of finding myself and what I really want to do in life, just as Clover succeeds to do.
I am incredibly happy to have been able to read this book prior to its publishing, and for that I must thank NetGalley and Penguin General.

It took me a long time to read this book. But it shouldn't have because it was beautiful. It has such a good message. I should start with what attracted me to the book. I love the cover and the title itself. I love books about second chances and death is always terrifying and intriguing. Therefore, this was a perfect book for me to read

You immediately love Clover, she's so vulnerable but real. The other characters take a while to whole heartedly love, but they add depth!

I loved the plot and how Clover makes it her responsibility to fulfil everyones regrets, although I feel it could have been taken a step further. The ending was perfect!

“But the secret to a beautiful death is to live a beautiful life.”

Though its subject is confronting, The Collected Regrets of Clover is a life affirming debut from Mikki Brammer.

Thirty-six-year-old Clover Brooks works as a death doula in New York City, a vocation inspired in part by being absent when the grandfather who raised her passed away. It is her privilege, she feels, to support people during the last precious weeks, days, or hours of their lives, but in surrounding herself with death, Clover has forgotten how to live.

Clover is a sympathetic character who lives quietly in the rent controlled apartment she grew up in with only her rescue pets for company. Her history of loss, including both her parents at six years old and her grandfather, has left her with unresolved grief that has affected her ability to make secure social connections. Given the nature of her job, Clover’s relationships are generally fleeting, though she visits death cafe’s (gatherings for people to discuss death and dying) when loneliness threatens to overwhelm her. It’s at one of these meetings that she meets Sebastian who hires her to support his beloved grandmother, Claudia who has end stage pancreatic cancer.

Claudia is a wonderful character, at 91 years of age she is a tough, no nonsense type of woman, who has lived a full life, but is not without her regrets. Though Clover has always kept a professional distance between herself and her clients, she and Claudia quickly develop a close bond, and whereas in the past Clover has simply recorded the last words of her clients in one of three notebooks titled Regrets to be examined later, this time she decides to play an active role in resolving one. It is in attempting to track down the source of Claudia’s biggest regret that Clover is challenged to finally face her own.

In balance with the thought-provoking exploration of the themes of loneliness, regret, death and grief, Brammer also examines compassion, grace, friendship, and love. Though occasionally maudlin The Collected Regrets of Clover is never mawkish, instead it’s ultimately inspiring and uplifting. I also found it informative, fascinated by the unfamiliar role of a death doula and the services they can provide.

A captivating and stirring novel, The Collected Regrets of Clover is a reminder that life is too short to not take chances with your heart.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will definitely read more by this author.

I devoured this book! It was a really lovely read and resonated with me.

This novel looked directly at how we see and experience death and that is refreshing. Clover was an interesting main character especially as we got to see her foibles too. It was fascinating to see how she made meaning out of her life experiences and became a death doula.

This was a beautiful story about soul searching, romance and friendship. I enjoyed getting to know Clover as she began to grow as a person. Lovely.

Clover Brooks has been fascinated with death since she watched her kindergarten teacher die during class. She grew up to become a scholar, travelling the world to learn about different customs and rituals. When her grandfather dies alone, Clover returns to New York and becomes a death doula, bringing comfort to the dying and their families. Occupied by others’ wishes, regrets and grief, she forgets about her own life and becomes a recluse. Soon, a new neighbour and a client force her out of her comfort zone...

The Collected Regrets of Clover was a surprisingly hopeful read. It touches on the subject of death and grief but also love, friendship and living life to the fullest. The author speaks openly and honestly about death, which many still consider taboo. Clover’s experience shows different reactions to dying and grieving, from fear and regrets to acceptance. I found this read quite emotional because of this subject matter.

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading about Clover. She is rather lonely and distrustful, keeping people at a distance to avoid disappointment and suffering. I loved watching her gradually open up for love and friendship, especially her relationship with Claudia, a photographer who teaches her about her passion for art and life.

Absolutely loved this book. A unique story following an unusual but oh so likeable character with a very different job. Very readable, super interesting and ultimately leaves you feeling great about life.

This book is heartwarming, sad and happy at times. Gives you hope. I enjoyed it and would recommend to everyone.

The Collected Regrets of Clover is a story about a woman named Clover who works as a death doula in New York City. Although Clover is in her thirties, she has been stuck and withdrawn from society since her grandfather died thirteen years ago, so this book is really a coming-of-age novel even if she's doing it a bit late.

I particularly liked the bits of the story with Claudia and Hugo.

I listened to the audiobook version of the book and I really enjoyed the narrator's voice.

Sometimes you read a book and you just know that it will stick with you for the rest of your life. This is one of those books. This story follows Clover, a death doula, as she navigates her own life, and the deaths of those around her. After each parting, she leaves the dying's words in her notebooks, as a way to remember their lives.

I found myself completely immersed in the story, unable to put the book down. I was so interested in Clover's life, and intrigued by every encounter. Through reading her journey, I also found myself thinking about some of my own regrets, some advice that I've been given, and what I might do differently if I had the chance. It's hard to put into words how meaningful this story is, and I believe everyone should have this book in their collection. It is one that I know I will read again and again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin books for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.