The Collected Regrets of Clover - by Mikki Brammer (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

USA Today Bestseller - Best Book of 2023 by NPR

"This weird, lovely and sweetly satisfying novel [is] engaging and accessible...Clover's emergence from a shuttered life is moving enough to elicit tears, and Brammer's take on death and grieving is profound enough to feel genuinely instructional." --The New York Times Book Review

What's the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can't give yourself a beautiful life?

From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.

Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love story--and perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether she'll have the courage to go after it.

Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover is perfect for readers of The Midnight Library and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine as it turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life.

Review Quotes

"This weird, lovely and sweetly satisfying novel [is] engaging and accessible...Clover's emergence from a shuttered life is moving enough to elicit tears, and Brammer's take on death and grieving is profound enough to feel genuinely instructional." --The New York Times Book Review

"Beautiful, poignant and the literary antidote to when life feels a little stationary." --Jessica George, New York Times bestselling author of Maame

"This is a beautiful tale of a vulnerable, compassionate woman who finds that, in order to care for others, she must also let herself be cared for. Even that cliché feels moving, rather than saccharine, in Brammer's capable hands." --Kirkus (starred review)

"A comforting exploration of grief, love and human connection that is sure to appeal to fans of books that feel like a warm hug." --BookPage

"Brammer writes with grace and heart about the complicated and complex world of grief. The Collected Regrets of Clover explores anticipatory grief, denial, anger, loss, and--as the title suggests--regret. Despite the heavy subject, though, Brammer's debut is never dark or hopeless...[and] is ultimately a beautiful story of belonging and connection and, cliché though it may sound, what it really means to live life to its fullest." --Shelf Awareness

"The Collected Regrets of Clover is a warm-hearted, tender story of love, life-lessons and letting go. Full of wisdom, it's a novel that handles with profound sensitivity and delicacy important questions that face us all, while fostering a joyful sense of hope for the future. Clover is a beguiling character who has so much more to offer the world than she knows, and it's a sheer delight to watch as her horizons expand. The Collected Regrets of Clover leaves us contemplating what it means to live our lives to the full, without regrets. A beautiful, thought-provoking novel." --Sarah Haywood, New York Times bestselling author of The Cactus

"A warm-hearted novel." --AARP

"While this heartwarming debut novel deals with death, it never becomes maudlin, instead focusing on what makes a life worth living. Readers who appreciate seeing quirky, isolated characters come into their own, such as in Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, will find much to love in this moving novel." --Booklist

"For all its talk of death, The Collected Regrets of Clover is never dark or grim. This feel-good story is beautiful, heartwarming and ultimately hopeful." --Reader's Digest

"A satisfying experience." --Library Journal

"Warm, profound, and expertly told, The Collected Regrets of Clover explores how befriending death can help enrich our lives. While infinitely poised in her role as a death doula, Clover's clumsy foray into the world of the living will have you recalling the sweet awkwardness of your first kiss and the thrill of new belonging. This is one of those special books that will leave a handprint on your heart."
--Emma Brodie, author of Songs in Ursa Major

"I couldn't put this book down. The Collected Regrets of Clover is a tender, charming delight, perfect for anyone who loved The Authenticity Project or Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine." --KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters

"What a beautiful story! I loved the premise, which was skillfully and sensitively executed. The characters are both memorable and relatable and the subject of death is handled with refreshing honesty and heartbreaking poignancy. This book will be one that I remember for a long time, and it's a story that we can all learn something from." --Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of Madame Burova

"Clover's story is a heartfelt and delightful deep dive into death. You will turn the last page with a fresh zest for life and absolutely no regrets." --Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

"A poignant and uplifting novel, [and] a gentle story about facing death without fear and a call to arms for living life to the full. I defy anyone not to be moved by this warm-hearted, deeply compassionate book and its lovable characters." --Freya Sampson, USA Today bestselling author of The Last Chance Library

"This book definitely had me thinking and reflecting on my life, made me cry, and I walked away loving the characters and rooting for Clover feeling very happy with the way the book ended." --The Southern Bookseller Review

"Such a wonderful premise, beautifully executed. I fell in love with Clover, longed for her world to open up and cheered when she finally realised that comfort zones are designed to be stepped out of. Poignant and ultimately uplifting, I loved it." --Jill Mansell, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Promise Me

"A beautiful, uplifting novel about unexpected friendship, a decades-old love story, and finding the courage to live your best life." --Lucy Diamond, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Best Days of Our Lives

About the Author