Loved the story. I was really invested in the characters. Clover is relatable and funny. Definitely enjoyed this book.

“Clover Hendry’s Day Off” is by Beth Morrey. This book is advertised to be akin to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but unfortunately Ms. Morrey seems to have missed the boat. Although I haven’t seen Ferris Bueller’s day Off, looking online, it’s a story of a teenager and his two friends deciding to skip school and their adventures. They are basically evading their principal. From what someone told me, they have adventures - but it’s 1980s wholesome adventures. Teenagers skipping school and having adventures works … when you change it to have the central character be a middle-aged woman with responsibilities it’s VERY different. I’m not sure that Ferris did things to be mean - but as Clover’s day continued, she went from being “I’m standing up for myself for a change” to being mean if not criminal (the bunny napping scene I felt was too out there -along with stealing the artwork). I understand “enough is enough” and discovering a backbone, but Clover just turned mean - and it wasn’t as funny as I hoped. I really wanted this book to be a good one - I need some escape from life right now, and unfortunately, all I really wanted to do was get as far away from Clover as I could, opposed to applauding her for standing up for herself. I can see how this book may be appealing to some, but for me it was (sadly) a miss. This is the second book I've read by this author, so I'm thinking that maybe her writing style and plots just don't work for me.

Clover Hendry’s Day Off was the breath of fresh summer air that I needed, and I basically read it in one sitting. I was intrigued at first by the unique hook: Farris Bueller’s Day Off but with a perimenopausal 46 year-old woman and mother. It’s creative and got the book in my hands, but I stayed around for the insightful storytelling, unraveling mental state, and eager for a satisfying resolution—which I was given.

Clover Hendry is a push-over TV executive producer. She does her own job and everyone else’s. She tips poor service, says her please’s and thank you’d, does not correct insults, and bribed people into liking her with bagels. She would never say no even when stretched too thin. She would never stand up for herself…until today.

An email and mishandled dishwasher pushes her over the edge, and an expired Vicodin and two antihistamines later, she’s a new woman. The “New Clover” is going to get hers today. A day off, a walk through the park, a discussion with her narcissistic mother, and a secret revenge plot ensues.

This story was spectacular, but like in the original Farris Bueller’s Day off, there were times that I was truly annoyed with the MC. Especially when she was clearly behaving horribly and unaware as to why anyone could possibly be mad at her. At the same time, she was often humorous, endearing, and a generally fun MC to follow. Her insight induced by Vicodin-clarity was actually pretty bold and brilliant at times.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this novel and am thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to arc for this story which is sure to be a triumph.

I wish there was a 3.5 option because there were moments I felt more connected to Clover and her day of freedom, but it wasn’t often enough and those moments weren’t compelling enough to push this up in the ratings. It’s a fun premise, for sure, but Clover’s escapades felt so stacked on top of each other that I found myself asking, “Really? Again?!” instead of truly enjoying the humor and unfiltered confrontations she had with the other characters. To be fair, this all had to happen over the span of a day, so I understood the pacing - it just didn’t consistently work for me.

I've often wondered what it would be like to just totally go off character and say what is on my mind instead of "people pleasing". Clover Hendry did just that and it was delightful. It was a middle aged woman's attempt to have a "Ferris Bueller" day off and I loved it. There were so many parts of the story that I could relate to. As I followed Clover's journey through her fun antics and moments of self discovery, I found myself both laughing and crying, sometimes simultaneously. I thoroughly enjoyed this book . Thank you Netgalley r sending this ARC for review consideration.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

Clover Hendry decides to take the day off and gets into all sorts of shenanigans. I’m giving this book two stars because it was a fast read but not really my cup of tea. I found Clover to be unlikable.

I received an ARC of Clovery Hendry's Day Off from the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons via Net Galley.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, as it sounded like a lot of fun and something I could relate to as a similarly-aged woman.

However, I found Clover to be unlikeable throughout the novel, which takes place over the course of a single day with flashbacks to her life mixed in. She was meanspirited in many of her antics, and I don't feel like there was ever a real acknowledgment or learning from it. I don't feel like there was enough explaining of how this day would affect her moving forward in her life, or really any benefit from it. I'm not sure I would have liked it more if these things were more present, but I do think it would have helped me to see the value in her behaviors more.

If you are looking for a re-make of Ferris Bueller's Day Off but with a middle-aged woman and find revengeful antics funny, then you might like this book more than I did. I do believe this book would be great for others; it is well-written and interesting. I just wish I would have known more about what to expect going in; it's likely not a book I would have chosen had I known more!

Clover Henry’s day off is a good time, and the witty repartee that comes out of Clover’s mouth (as well as her thoughts) are often laugh out loud funny. It’s refreshing to have a middle aged protagonist.

This book is about Clover, a repressed Woman, who never speaks her mind and catastrophizes all the time about everything. Clover wakes up and takes the Vicodin her husband told her to never take and then gets bumped on the head at the train station. This seems to give her the freedom to loose her mind, to lose all filters and not only speak her mind, but behave in ways that most people do not.

For me (American) there is nothing like British writing. It’s in a class all by itself and I really enjoy it. Beth Morrey does not disappoint. This is tight writing with adult vocabulary and wit. The characters are well developed and one gets a true sense of who they are. With Clover, we get inside her head, with chapters alternating between present day to past memory.

The thing I enjoyed most about this book was Clover’s wit, particularly when she put rude people in their place with her words. I didn’t really care for was the criminality of some of Clover’s actions. By this I mean she breaks and enters, steals an animal, engages in property destruction and assault. It was acceptable because I thought of it like the pendulum swing: when trying to change something, one often goes to far the other direction before finding middle ground. Worthy of note is her friend Petroc who does not hesitate to call Clover on her behavior and remind her of balance. In the end, Clover does realize the error of her ways and does her best to make amends to some without completely selling herself out. She seems to find balance in the end, realizing that being nice is okay as is speaking one’s truth with some filters.

Excellent read !!! A real page turner you will want to keep turning the page to see what happens next. Highly recommend it.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley.

I was so looking forward to this book. I was so excited to read it. I could not get into it. I was disappointed and struggled to read each page.

love the comparison to 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

I received a free ARC ebook of Clover Hendry's Day Off from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This comic novel concerns Clover Hendry, a forty plus overworked and underpaid television producer. Her home life is just as chaotic with a loving husband and twin teen children. Clover has no respite from the anxiety that has plagued her forever.

What causes her to break the mold? Readers won't find out the true impetus until the end but her "don't give a f..." day is hilarious. The normally meek Clover let's everything loose and those who stand in her way will be confounded and speechless.

I loved the part where she hailed a cab and two know-it-all businessmen tried to take it away. Clover got in with them and refused to get out. They had no clue what to do since their boorishness and self-importance had no effect on Clover. Over the course of the day Clover stood her ground numerous times and refused to allow someone's unreasonable demands to become her problem.

Much of Clover's anxiety can be traced back to her mother, a woman who is judgemental beyond belief. Her constant cutting comments used to immerse Clover and her sister in self-doubt. Today Clover, armed with a sassy hairstyle, a gorgeous dress and prodigious amounts of alcohol, refuses to follow the familiar pattern.

This was a fun read.

✨: 4.5
Genre: women’s fiction
1️⃣ word: fed up


Clover Hendrey is a British 46 year old woman, a successful TV producer and mom to teenage twins. She’s used to being a polite pushover to keep things pleasant. However, on this particular terrible morning she gets knocked out by a stray elbow at the train station, and when she wakes up, she is THROUGH WITH IT. She goes through the rest of her day skipping work responsibilities and doing frankly whatever the hell she wants, nothing held back.

I liked: This one kept me giggling. It was very therapeutic to watch her continue to stick it to the man and stop following dumb societal norms. It had me saying “You go girl” the entire time.

I didn’t like: I get that it’s a book, but an elbow to the head seemed like a bit of a far fetched reason for her to shift her entire world view and attitude

2.5 Star Read, but maybe it's just me?

When I heard this was like a fun Female version of Ferris Buehler's Day Off, I was so on board. I love that movie and the premise had me hooked. Clover is a "Yes" person, a chronic people pleaser, never says "No", doesn't want to hurt feelings. Until she realizes that she is suffocating behind a persona that isn't really her. She decides to take a day to do whatever she wants no matter what anyone says or how it makes others feel.

Overall, this was a good read. I didn't have a lot of reaction either way, which means I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, it fell somewhere in the middle. I think Clover has characteristics that certain readers will relate to, I think there are themes that certain readers will relate to, but for me, felt a bit flat and predictable. Might be a lack of relatability for me. I also felt the story was a bit drawn out and couldn't have been resolved a bit tidier.

I rated this a 2.5 starts, mostly due to pacing and found myself a bit bored at times. Thanks for the ARC from Netgalley!

I received a free e-arc of this book through Goodreads. What would happen if you said and did everything that you really wanted to do instead of just going to work and home and staying mum about what is bothering you? Clover snaps, but instead of shooting people, she says and does what she really feels like doing. As someone close to Clover's age with a house of kids and pets and all the other things demanding my attention, I really relate to Clover. I loved it.

I had really high hopes for this book. The basic premise sounded like a fun romp, which was just the kind of book I was looking for. It certainly starts out as a fun romp, but takes a dark turn towards the end that didn't feel like where it should have went. I enjoyed it, but ended up disappointed.

I think this would be a great book for the right person. While I realize the premise of the book is Clover out of character, from the opening scene, I (spoiler) couldn't/didn't understand why she woke up and opted for out-of-date drugs. I didn't connect with Clover, and most of the people in her life/supporting cast were equally annoying. DNF.

I received this ARC from NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

This book really had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be buying myself a copy of this book when it is published in January. And you better believe my library will purchase this book for circulation!

Clover Hendry’s Day Off by Beth Morrey

A fantastical day of a people pleaser getting to do what she really wants one day, damn those consequences!

Clover Hendry is a 40 something year old TV exec who is an extreme people pleaser. She takes some medicine for a Migraine one morning and decides she doesn’t care what people think of her today, she’s going do what she wants to do today. From swimming at an exclusive SOHo House type club, to shopping for a dress and having dinner with her rage inducing mother, we get to do it all with Clover.

As a people pleaser myself, this was a cathartic book to read. I enjoyed Clover coming out of her shell and the bits of backstory that are unfolded slowly so that by the end, you really have a feel for why Clover is the way she is. Even if you cannot believe her day is as long as it is, all her adventures lead her exactly to where she needs to be.

I think this would be a great book for the right person. I enjoyed the first few chapters, but then started to dislike Clover. I feel like this could’ve been a 10 chapter book (to come to the same conclusion in the end). It felt repetitive and was too unrealistic for me.