I loved Clover Hendry's day off!! I could relate to her needing a day off. Sometimes life just gets to be too much. The book had me laughing out loud. The escapades that Clover found herself embroiled in were hilarious. I love how she finally was able to speak her mind. I also loved the shift when you realize what has occurred in her life to explain many of the things she did. You were able to really get to know Clover.

This is the mom-com version of Ferris Bueller I had no idea we needed! As a TV producer who's the mother of teenage twins and manages seemingly everything, Clover and I have a lot in common. I need to get my hands on her expired meds because Clover's day off was a hoot. With humor and heart. Morrey hits the mark on what it's like to be a middle aged woman with the world on her shoulders. Who knew a bunny and some shoplifting would hekp alleviate it?

Thanks to GP Putnam for the copy to review.

Clover Hendry’s Day Off
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Beth Morrey

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Penguin Group and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Today is not the day to mess with Clover Hendry.

Clover hasn’t said “No” a day in her life. Until today. Normally a woman who tips her hairdresser even when the cut is hideous, is endlessly patient with her horrendous mother, and says yes every time her boss asks her to work late—today, things are going to be very different. Because Clover is taking the day off. Today, she’s going to do and say whatever she likes, even if it means her whole life unravels.

What made Clover change her ways? Why doesn’t she care anymore? There’s more to this day than meets the eye.

My Thoughts: I loved the premise of this book - take a day off life, no matter the commitments or consequences, a true Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which by the way, I absolutely loved that movie. Growing up, I watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off over and over again, so much so, that my VHS tape broke. I myself are middle-aged and there are numerous days that I would love to say screw commitments and just have a day of unfiltered, carefree adventures. Enters Clover Hendry, who constantly would put everyone else’s needs above her own, to the point of her breaking. Her inability to say no to people has caused her own misery, her resolve crumbling bit by bit. Then at her breaking point, she decides to say screw it to everyone, I am off today! What caused this breaking point? What has changed in her life to give off this carefree attitude?

This follows a dual time elapse narration. I believe the book only works because of this, we have to know what led Clover down this path. This novel explores womanhood, in all of its glory, including becoming a mother. Clover gives all of herself to everyone, her job, her sister, her husband, her kids, her own mother, which can be emotionally draining. Clover is people-pleasing, she avoids confrontations at any cost, qualities that I not only recognize, but can relate with and deeply connect with. We explore Clover’s decisions that she has made over her life, the behaviors that carved her path in life, and the struggles she has. The characters were well developed with depth, wittiness, compassion, heartfelt, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, funny, thought-provoking, heartwarming, and ability to curate such a wonderful character like Clover was impressive. The characters were easy to fall in love with and root along with, especially Clover. I connected with Clover like she was my long lost self and felt immersed into the novel. Some of my favorite scenes were the family interactions, they felt authentic and embodies realism.

I highly recommend this literary genius for an entertaining story of a woman standing in her truth, breaking a bit, and comes back full circle, as it the story of life.

Clover Hendry started her day a little frazzled and she is over it! She decides to leave work and push her responsibilities to the side and do all the things for herself that she hasn't had the time. Being a wife then a working mom has been rewarding but it has also made her put herself last. Join her on her day off!

Beth Morrey’s Clover Hendry’s Day Off is billed as a novel that will be relatable to moms, wives, and professionals everywhere, written in the vein of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Finally reaching the boiling point of her life, Clover Hendry throws away all responsibility and takes a day to herself … but that’s where this potentially amusing novel goes all wrong.

When you imagine a middle-aged woman indulging in a little self-care, you might envision her getting beauty treatments, indulging in a calorie-laden lunch, or going on a no holds barred shopping spree. Sure, Clover does all of that … and more. And it’s the “and more” that’s a problem.

Clover apparently has a spiteful, vile, drug-abusing criminal lurking inside of her, because when given a day to herself, she chooses to lash out at other people, partake in illegal acts, use narcotics on multiple occasions, and give zero “you know whats.” The “real” clover Hendry is nasty and foul, and I want nothing to do with her. If this is the woman she has been keeping hidden away from the rest of the world, then great, because she has no place among the rest of us.

My immense dislike of Clover ruined this book for me. It was a slog to get through, and despite a few entertaining moments, the book, overall, was a drag.

I wanted to like this book much more than I did, unfortunately. The premise sounded entertaining - a frazzled working mom’s version of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. What overstretched working mom hasn’t fantasized about just taking a day off from it all and doing exactly what she wanted while answering to no one? But sadly, the execution of this one just didn’t live up to the premise for me. While some of Clover’s adventures were amusing, others just veered into the obnoxious, illegal and downright cruel. I found myself just longing for the day to be over. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Clover Hendry is a mom of 16 year old twins and married to a man who, though a great man, can sometimes piss her off. Clover is meek, she doesn't stick up for herself, and hasn't probably ever. But this day is different. She wakes up with a headache and instead of taking her normal pain medication, she takes 2 of her husband expired Vicodin and 3 of some other headache drug. Then, on her train ride into work, after a little snafu, she ends up bonked in the head, laying on the subway floor bleeding from a head wound. And whether it’s the drugs, the head wound, or a combination of both, but something in Clover snaps, and thus begins her day off. She ditches work early, takes a swim at an exclusive pool (that apparently doesn't allow swimming?), dumps a child in a very expensive art piece, dumps a burrito on a bigoted woman's lap, steals a rabbit out of a locked car, steals a priceless statue out of an arms dealer home (after pretending the home was her own), and finally stands up to her wretched mother. And that’s not even everything she does. Clover learns to stick up for herself, she learns to say no, and she learns to apologize and listen as well.

This was a fantastic read. There were so many times that I found myself cracking up at the hilarity of what Clover was doing. But nothing felt like it was outside the realm of reality. So many things felt farfetched but also completely plausible for a woman who is a little off her rocker for the first time. I feel like someone closer to Clover’s age who has maybe experienced some of the same things she has in life would probably enjoy this even more so than I did (and I REALLY enjoyed it), there’s parts of the story that I feel like you can only connect to them if you yourself have experienced them and know what your own reaction would have been. You should read this. Every woman should read this.

I would say that this book was a bit average. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great. It’s more for reading at the beach passing time.

I enjoyed the idea of this book and I was cheering for Clover as she traversed around town feeling free to do and say what she wanted. The plot was a bit chaotic and hard to follow as she bounced from one thing to the next. The in between “Clover Hendry personality building” chapters weren’t captivating and I got bored at times.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Clover Hendry’s Day Off - Beth Morrey 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this book. These are my honest opinions.
First, a breakdown of my rating system:
5 stars - phenomenal book; I’ll recommend this one to everyone, I want to live in this world, and I will read this one over and over!
4 stars - great book. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but I probably won’t reread it.
3 stars - good story and characters. I can’t see myself coming back to this one, but it was an entertaining read
2 stars - hard to finish. The story was not for me, and I had to make myself keep reading.
1 star - DNF. Absolutely could not finish.

Clover Hendry is like most of us women. She fulfills her duties as wife and mother, does more than she should at work, takes everything that is thrown at her (and more), and consistently takes it all with a smile and building volcano of stress, anger, and pressure until it finally is enough. One morning on the train, after a massive headache has unraveled her and caused her to take expired Vicodine, Clover is clocked in the head by a wayward briefcase, and something in her snaps - or clicks into place, whichever way you see it best. What follows is a day of liberation - saying no, standing up to those who can’t or won't stand up for themselves (including herself), and learning how to truly enjoy her life while demanding her true due. As women, we are used to being treated like second-hand citizens by many men and even some other women. Clover is over it! This book covers her best 24 hours in a very long time. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve been repressed and wish you could say what you want and do what you want and it all work out for the best, this book is for you!

Oh, to be able to say what you want and not care about the fallout… If Clover Hendry had tried this in the US, she would have been shot by any one of the people she took on. Instead, we got a wonderful story about someone slowly finding her way again after being pushed down by various issues in her past and her current life situation. Clover grows so much in the story that you can’t help but root for her as you’re laughing hysterically at the latest predicament she’s found herself in. This was a lot of fun.

Clover Hendry is so many of us. She is a wife, daughter, mother, and the one everyone depends on at her job as an assistant producer at a local tv network. She is everyones “go to” for whatever they want, need, forgot to do or really, just don’t feel like doing. She is deeply under appreciated and undervalued and part of it is her fault and some of the world really not seeing her for the power house she is. That is until one day with a bit of pharmaceutical intervention when she has her Popeye moment and declares “I’ve had all I can stand and I can’t stands no more”, walks out of work and all of her responsibilities and has a totally crazy day doing and saying all the things that have she’s been holding in for what seems like ever. It’s an emotional, riotous day for her and for some of those in her path. This is proof that we all need to find balance in our lives and laugh along the way.

I really enjoyed this book. It's obvious that the author wanted to write something where the main character has no scruples about decorum and does whatever she wants (the author says as much in the notes). I think we all have days where we wish we could cast off the expected responses and duties of society and do whatever we feel like. My favorite part is Clover's adventure in the park (no spoilers).

Several parts of this book made me laugh out loud. My only quibble with it was I thought it went on just a tad too long. However, this is a book I'd read again in the future.

My thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really hoping to enjoy this book. I am a mom with small kids, a husband and I job. I however as I read this book I felt like Clover went from one extreme to another and many of her actions boarded on criminal. I understand feeling like you want to say no and have a "day off" but as an older women I feel as though Clover should have been more adult in her actions. You can say no /stand your ground in a respectful and kind manner

Clover Hendry always does the right thing. Taking care of her family and never letting anyone down at work. But today is going to be different. Today, Clover is taking the day off.
I don’t want to give too much away, but once Clover stopped living for everyone else, and started living for herself, well most everything that happened was hilarious. As we learn more about Clover’s life, she might also discover enough to make her future better. This was a feel good story that I truly enjoyed.

clover wants and needs a break but i think she went too hard sometimes. there's a difference between not taking shit from anyone or anything and being mean, spiteful and inconsiderate. if she was supposed to be 46 she should have acted like so.

When Clover Hendry woke up on Thursday morning, she had no idea that the day would change her life. She had a bad headache, which she cured with some outdated Vicodin and a few antihistamines, before getting her husband and twin teenaged kids off to their days. Once they were safely on their way, and Clover had checked to make sure her daughter had turned her hair appliances off, she set off on her day.

On the train to work, it was an abandoned bag that started her worrying, the possibility of someone leaving a bomb behind, and she had a hard time shaking the nervous voices in her head. Then, as she was exiting her train, a rogue briefcase hit her in the back of the head, knocking her out. She got up and back on her way, scaring off the man with the briefcase by mentioning her husband is a lawyer, and wiping blood off the back of her head as she went to her television producing job.

Halfway through yet another boring yet unnecessary meeting, Clover decides it’s all too much, stands up, insults her boss, and walks out. For the first time ever, she is playing hooky, enjoying a leisurely day in Bristol, doing what she wants, eating what she wants, and letting the world deal with its own issues itself.

However, it’s never quite that simple, and as she makes her way around the city, spending time with an old friend, having lunch with a colleague, enjoying a modern art showing at the museum, problems old and new crop up, and Clover has to deal with a young child running amok, getting accused of shoplifting, finding her teenaged daughter at a protest instead of school. adopting an abandoned bunny, apologizing to an artist over a ruined exhibit, and her mother being melodramatic. But she’s used to cleaning up messes, and it’s the day for her, finally, to clean up the messes she makes by playing hooky and the ones she’d created by not being honest with those closest to her.

Clover Hendry’s Day Off is wild ride of a novel, a slow unraveling of a middle-aged woman coming to terms with having been too quiet and meek. Inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, it’s a celebration of the moments of connection that make everything beautiful, an outpouring of frustration at how life betrays our trust, and a coming to terms with the choices we make and the consequences that those choices hold us to. It is sweet and funny and beautiful and maddening and powerful and amazing. With some light felonies and a purse bunny included.

I think there are a lot of women like Clover out in the world, women who feel like they’ve been lied to, deceived, overlooked, taken advantage of, walked on, passed over, and condescended to. This is the day Clover decides to take her power back, to live the life she wants and not the life others around her want her to. Not all of us can take on all of our problems in one day, or one big problem that has caused a multitude of ripples of similar problems, but we can certainly read how Clover did it and cheer her on. And reading her story just might inspire some positive movement of our own, even if it’s only investing in a beautiful dress with really good pockets or curly hair for a day.

Egalleys for Clover Hendry’s Day Off were provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Thank you to G. P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of Clover Hendry's Day Off by Beth Morrey.

What it’s about:
Clover Hendry has had it. She has spent her entire life trying to accommodate others and make everyone else in her life happy. However, after an eventful train ride into the city one morning, Clover decides it is time to take the day off and do what she wants to do for a change! As Clover moves from one hilarious adventure to the next, she begins to revisit the things in her past that have caused her to feel that she has no voice, and learns that standing up for herself might be a blessing and a curse.

What I loved:
This book had me in stitches! Beth Morrey has created a witty heroine and surrounded her with a cast of eccentric characters who both support and take advantage of Clover's obvious "people-pleaser" personality. The story is funny, but also has some more serious themes interwoven throughout (being abandoned by a parent, sexual assault, struggling as a woman in the workplace). As a woman Clover's age, I could definitely relate to a lot of her circumstances and feelings. The only downside for me was that Clover almost goes too far the other way on her "me" day, and comes off as cruel at times. That aside, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone needing a good laugh!

Clover is having a day...The housework always falls to her, her team at work expects her to do things completely outside her job description, her mother is acting excessively needy, and her kids have been exceptionally moody. So when Clover wakes up with yet another headache, she doesn't stop herself after downing a few of the "just in case" pain killers they have left over. As her meds kick in and she is run down on a train platform, her day as the "new Clover" starts.

This was a hysterically funny novel at times, and to be honest, I think we all want to be Clover sometimes, and just say what were thinking without the repercussions following us along. The story also has a surprising twist at the end to make the whole story come round full circle. Generally I found this book to be:
-Witty
-Relatable
- easy to listen to
- Strong characters

Overall, I would recommend for anyone wanting a book to listen to for fun. One note, is at the beginning of the audiobook there were one or two times that it jumped around a bit, but then no problems as I continued through.

Thanks to Putnam for an advanced copy of Clover Hendry's Day Off.

The descriptions sounded so fun -- an adult's Ferris Bueller's Day Off a busy working mom who one day says F It and does whatever she wants but unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I love older characters but I didn't like Clover. I didn't find her antics funny and she really seemed very immature. I DNFd this book at 30%.