Clover is a death doula in NYC who has devoted her life to helping others close out their lives in meaningful ways. By doing so, she has let her own happiness and fulfillment fall by the wayside. This book follows Clover as she navigates honoring the death of family, her clients, and strangers while balancing her own goals and dreams.

This was such a sweet little book! So glad I snagged an ARC audiobook from netgalley because it was so cute! I loved the quirky main character who is a little socially awkward but so endearing and has such good intentions (vibes like “The Maid” and “Lessons in Chemistry”). I loved the life lessons that she gathers along her professional and personal journey.

The audiobook was done very well as well. I thought the narrator did a wonderful job conveying Clover’s quirkiness and ability to connect with others.

Would recommend this book to those who like reading about quirky main characters, NYC setting, contemporary fiction, and those who liked “The Maid” and “Lessons in Chemistry”.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

🎧Song Pairing: Here Comes Goodbye - Rascal Flatts (I wanted some sort of tear inducing funeral song… check)

💭What I thought would happen:

I had NO idea but I did get some crying vibes from it. I mean I thought someone would die..

📖What actually happens:

Clover is a death doula. She has seen more death than many people. Her job is to ease people into their passing, to lend an ear, a hand, whatever is needed at the time. She is told many confessions and regrets on people’s death beds, these words carry more weight than peoples last words which often are jibber jabber.

Clover meets Sebastian at a death cafe where he hires her to be with his grandmother in her final days. They discuss her love that got away and Clover is determined to find him, to bring her closure.

🗯Thoughts:

Oh my lawd! This one is a gut punch. I had no idea there was such a thing as a death doula, what a unique concept. This writing was rich and well thought out. If you want to feel raw and exposed this is the book for you.

Read if you like:
😭 Crying
💕 Character driven books
📚 Literary fiction
❤️‍🩹 Lost love
👯‍♀️ Unlikely friendships

Absolutely fabulous! Touching, thought-provoking and well written-who could ask for more? This book chronicles the life of a death doula as she tries to make peace with the loss of her loved ones and find love for herself.

“There’s a reason I know this city is full of lonely people. I’m one of them.”

As someone who was an introverted & lonely child who grew up in Brooklyn, NY, this book hit me hard emotionally.

The premise of this book may sound morbid or bleak, but please go into this with an open mind. This was a book that truly celebrated life.

From the opening sentence “The first time I watched someone die I was five.” I knew this was going to be something special. The main character Clover is a death doula in NYC. Prior to this book I had never heard of a death doula before, and my god, what a harrowing yet beautiful occupation.

This was a poignant and thoughtful coming of age tale/adventure full of wit, charm, and emotion. Clover, like me, is a late bloomer, and I can always relate to female main characters like that. She lived vicariously through endless romcom movie marathons, and that was me for a very long time.

This book has marvelous side characters, a plot that will keep you thinking, and will ultimately leave you with a desire to say I love you more often, and to “be cautiously reckless.”

This audiobook was also wonderfully narrated by Jennifer Pickens. It was engaging, easy to follow, and easy to get lost in. The writing & narrating itself was gorgeous. I don’t have any complaints on that front!

Read this if you:
- Enjoyed Maame and want to read a coming of age tale with a twist
- Enjoyed the themes in The Midnight Library (specifically regrets)
- Enjoy books with moody vibes & books that will make you ponder the meaning of life
- Enjoy quirky main characters and heart warming adventures
- Prefer to read a book in the company of your pets over going out & socializing

✨ & lastly: ✨
“The secret to a beautiful death is to live a beautiful life.” 🫶🏻

Thank you Macmillan audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

Clover Brooks is a 36 year-old death doula, a person helping people who are dying find some solace in their final moments. a student of her beloved grandfather, she has notebooks full of advice, regrets and confessions people share in their last moments. However, she wasn't present when her grandfather passed. She is lonely but does not necessarily want the company of others. Her only friend is her neighbor Leo, a man in his 80s. When a new neighbor moves into her building, an opportunity to form a friendship and broaden her horizons opens up. At the same time, Clover is immersed in her latest job, during which she bonds with Claudia, a former photojournalist with terminal cancer. Now, Clover finds herself reflecting on how she has been living and what she wants to do to make the most of whatever time she has left. A lovely, compelling story.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

Totally unique concept but unfortunately it was lacking something and I just couldn't get as into it as I had hoped.

4.5 stars rounded up.

I loved this book. Just adored it. I am often drawn to books about death workers, and this was just such a loving look at all the ways that loss shapes us. It was a lot about the ways that people fear death and what gentle accompaniment can look like, but also the ways that death and rejection can break us in such similar ways. It's a quiet and loving and kind story. And this is a minor spoiler but mostly a reassurance--sometimes in books where we can see the ways that someone's pain is hurting their ability to live their life, the ways that it "improves" is to turn them into someone unrecognizable, with totally different values and unbelievable decisions. Particularly in books about lonely women, i find that is worth worrying about. So if you also sometimes avoid books about lonely women because of that risk, let me put you at ease: this book does not do that. There is growth, of course, because it's a book. But the Clover at the beginning would still definitely understand and see herself in the Clover at the end.

NetGalley ARC

Rating: 5/5⭐️
Pub day: May 9, 2023

“Grief is just love looking for a place to settle.”

After the death of her parents when she was just six years old, Clover moved to NYC to be raised by her grandfather. She is now in her early 30s and is a death doula who spends much of her time sitting vigil with people that are dying.

I finished this beautiful book on the last day of April and both the profound message and intricately crafted characters will leave a long lasting impression on my life. I’m not sure how to accurately express how deeply this touched my heart, but I will say that I cried both happy and sad tears on multiple occasions. The story did start a little slower, with a lot of background and character development but it only took about 20% until I was fully invested and loving every second of it.

This is a book that deals with the heavy topic of death so it might not work for everyone but I absolutely loved the journey and the feeling of hope after I finished the final sentence.

I did a combo of audio and digital, both of which would be great options. The audio was so good thanks to the narration by Jennifer Pickens. Her voice was so soothing and exactly what I expected.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the alc and St. Martin’s Press for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

*quotes from advanced copies may be different in the final copy.

I'm conflicted about this book. The premise is unique; Clover is a death doula, a profession I was unaware existed. It intrigued me. However, the book itself dragged. I only liked a few of the characters, Clover NOT being one of them. Her earlier solo travels and chosen profession alluded to a different person than she is portrayed to be in the present. It felt inauthentic. Plus, it took forever for anything to happen in the story. If it wasn't for the ending, I don't know if the novel itself would have even merited a three star rating. Disappointed.

Such a beautifully written story. I loved absolutely everything about this treasure of a book. The characters are all like hugs from your best friend, well rounded and people who you will wonder about long past reading this story.

Audio Narration was well developed and very much brought this story to life.

This is a lovely book about a woman named Clover, who is living in NYC. She is great at her job as a death doula; she is kind, patient, and thoughtful. However, she's not so great at living the rest of her life. She's closed herself off and is lonely. As this story unfolds, Clover slowly starts opening up to the possibilities in her own life. It isn't an easy transition, but it is lovely to read about this person, who is so caring begin to find joy in her own life. Whoever hired the narrator should get an award - she was the perfect voice for Clover. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Have you heard of a death doula? That’s what Clover does, she takes care of people as they get ready for death. Sometimes for a night, sometimes for weeks or months leading up to it. Clover spends all her time soothing, caring for and assisting people get ready for the one thing most people fear.

This book was incredibly thought provoking. Clover is a powerful character. She is a lonely woman who has protected herself so thoroughly that she doesn’t have many relationships in her life. She is a bit stubborn and stuck in her ways. Until a series of people and events have her changing her ways begrudgingly.

I adored her grandfather and his thoughts on life. This book was heartbreaking but also so insightful and sweet. It had amazing reminders about making the most out of life but also how okay it is to grieve in your own way on your own timeline.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the audiobook and @stmartinspress for the ebook! This is out on May 9th.

#thecollectedregretsofclover #mikkibrammer #stmartinspress #macmillanaudio #kindle #tulips #ebooks #reading #readmore #bookstagram #canadianbookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookworm #bookthoughts #bookishcanadian #bookishthoughts

The Collected Regrets of Clover is a heartwarming, life-affirming story centered around death, managing to break your heart and heal it all in one. Clover's character sort of reminded me of Eleanor from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine in that they're both loners who experience massive life changes through human connection, and I think people who loved that book will find a lot of joy in reading this one. I love when a coming-of-age story centers someone older than young adult because it shows how people at any stage of life can feel lost and begin to find themselves. If you're looking for an emotional literary story with a lot of heart and hope, I would highly recommend this for you!

4.5/5

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the free copy.
This book is about Clover, a death doula. I had never read a book from this perspective, so I was intrigued as soon as I read the synopsis. I thought this profession was so interesting the more I learned about it from Clover. Death is such a hard thing for so many different reasons, so Clover's story and job were eye-opening, and I think lots of readers will learn about death and grief while reading this story. I enjoyed how Brammer wasn't afraid to talk about death in so many different forms and aspects. She had Clover dig deep into this topic, I think not only to help herself, but to engage the reader in thinking about this hard topic. She was able to illustrate death and grief in natural ways without making this story too depressing. It was heavy, but I didn't find it to be overwhelmingly sad. My only complaint is the detachment of Clover throughout the first 70% of the story. I wanted to feel a bit more than I was. But the ending did help make up for this.
Jennifer Pickens did a wonderful job capturing the tone and feel of Clover. Her performance brought this character to life and kept me wanting to listen so I could see how Clover hopefully grew. I don't think there's a better person to do this character - so great job!

4.5 stars.
This book was comfy, cozy, emotional, quietly joyful and heartbreaking.
The collected regrets of clover starts a bit slow for me. I was unsure for about the first 30% but I couldn’t get through the last 30% fast enough.
Clover has been surround by death her entire life and in the process of others lives ending she’s forgotten to live through her own. Clovers growth through the books as she finally started building new relationships and living her life was so satisfying. This book was an easy read and has the kind of life advance you need to stick with you.
The narrator did a really good job and matched Clovers character so well.

Clover is a death doula. Clover had experienced death at a very young age when her kindergarten teacher died right in front of her. The following year, her parents were killed in a boating accident and she was sent to live with her grandfather, who became her hero and role model. However, even as she grew older, her fascination with death never faded. Now she is 36 and she goes to death cafés, where people talk freely about death and face the subject without being judged. She never goes to the same cafés because she doesn't want to be asked questions about her life and her work, she just wants to talk and listen to other people's experiences on a subject that is so familiar to her.

The reason so many people die with regrets is because they live like they're invincible. They don't really think about their death until right before it happens".

She has never been close to anyone, she was considered a freak at school, no one wanted to stay around her and she was treated like an outcast, so at some point in her life she decided not to get close to anyone so she wouldn't suffer.
All the people in her life are people who have very little time left to live, she's afraid of surrounding herself with living people who might judge her and treat her badly, keeping everyone at arm's length to avoid rejection.
At a death café she meets Sebastian and through him, Clover meets Claudia who has stage four pancreatic cancer and only 2 months left to live. She also befriends her new neighbour, Sylvia and she feels like she has a friend she can count on. Thanks to all these new people in her life, she will learn not to be afraid of life and to trust people again.

"Don't let the best parts of life pass you by because you're too scared of the unknown."

You wouldn't say that this is the first book by this author, I read it in one day because I was so into the story and I wanted to know more.
I didn't read the blurb before I read the book, so when I found out what the protagonist did for a living, it hit me hard. I actually put my Kindle down and thought "I can't read this story, I can't read about death". I kept going and I have to say that the subject was faced in the right way and it wasn't a heavy read (but not a light read either, don't get me wrong).

I can honestly recommend this book, it was a moving and immersive read and it is different from the books out there lately, which is obviously a great thing.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

“I regret existing out of habit”


I am so in love with this book, it’s not even funny. If there is one word I could use to describe it, it would be “tender”. Despite its main topic (death), It brings so much wisdom and warmth. As someone who has been surrounded by death my entire life, this book was a safe place for me to land and grapple with the many thoughts, questions and traumas I have experienced over the years. Clover was the perfect main character, and I will forever remember her.



“Grief, I'd come to realize was like dust, When you're in the thick of a dust storm, you're completely disoriented by the onslaught, struggling to see or breathe. But as the force recedes, and you slowly find your bearing and see a path forward, the dust begins to settle into the crevices. And it will never disappear completely- as the years pass, you'll find it in unexpected places at unexpected moments.”

This quote truly spoke to my heart and made me feel so seen and understood. It’s been a little over a year since I lost my grandmother, and it is so true what Clover says. In a world (and family) that has been devastated by death, it is a difficult topic to talk about, but Clover manages to bring us into the darkest depths of her soul and see us through it. It’s IMPORTANT to know about death. It’s important to be there for the ones we love and realize that yes, it is a natural part of life. It is important to listen to our loved ones and allow them the safe space to speak about it and meet it head on when the time comes. In the end, it isn’t about us.



“Maybe the biggest risk in life is taking no risks at all”

The way Clover works through her own regrets is so raw and realistic. I found myself having to check myself a few times because in a way.. I am her. It’s important to be “cautiously reckless”. Buy the expensive dish detergent. Go on that trip. SAY what you really feel.. just don’t let life pass you by. I think we can all find a little piece of ourselves in Clover.



“And instead of constantly asking ourselves the question of why we're here, maybe we should be savoring a simpler truth: We are here”

We. Are. Here.
You. Are. Here.
I. Am. Here.



Be ‘cautiously reckless’, friends. Go live your lives. (And read this book).



Thank you NetGalley for the privilege to read an advanced copy of The Collected Regrets of Clover. I cannot wait for its pub day on May 9!

4.5 stars - I’m actually having a hard time formulating the proper thoughts on this book. But I wanted to start by saying that the narrator has the perfect voice and tone for this emotional story. We meet Clover. She is a death doula who lives her life avoiding her own grief. She meets Claudia, a client, who helps her open her eyes to the world in a different way. This story was heartwarming and heartbreaking. It was such an interesting way to review and discuss grief. I really loved it. There were moments of “cheesiness” but all that did was fill me with warmth. This book is a great reminder that regrets don’t have to be permanent. I highly recommend this.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio production on behalf of St. martins Press for tis audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you MacMillan audiobook for this review! Clover is one of the most interesting characters I have read in a while, a death doula with such a resonant connection with death, such a respectful approach to those who need her most, that she is forgetting perhaps to see the living and life around her. I loved how this book gave such a thoughtful development of Clover with insights into her thoughts; Mikki Brammer shows thoughtful restraint and balance with voicing a character who is struggling socially, making her sympathetic and caring, a bit quirky perhaps, without making her hard to relate to.

There is such a lovely story in here, with Clover finding herself at a crossroads, in a good way, where she can begin to see how much she offers many people, not just those nearing the end of life.

I really thought the narration was powerful, this is the kind of story that really worked for me as an audiobook as I valued being inside Clover's thoughts. Jennifer Pickens' narration was really excellent.

Clover is an introverted lone-wolf who collects advice, confessions and regrets from her clients who she helps to die with dignity. She has a very limited social life and as a woman in her 30s has not made many friends or had any romantic relationships.

This book would appeal to fans of quirky characters who find the courage to come out of their shells, as in “The Maid” by Nita Prose, or people who like to contemplate how to make the most out of the one life we have to live, like in “The Midnight Library.”

This novel did not delve into any indication of what is to come in the afterlife, yet this story did explore the themes of losing people we love, and how those facing the end of their lives can find closure. Despite being a book focused mostly on dying, it was not depressing and provided a sense of hope for the living.