Clover’s life is death. As a death doula, she ushers people out of life, recording their advice and regrets as she goes. When she meets Claudia, a vivacious client with unfinished business, Clover vows to help her, learning some lessons about herself along the way. This book is so heart warming and was such a pleasure to read. I loved seeing Clover develop throughout the book, and she was accompanied by characters full of stories and trajectories of their own. I would definitely recommend for everyone who wants a feel-good read.

It may sound unusual to say how much I enjoyed reading this book, considering its theme is death and dying, but this book is written so well. A book I will always remember.

Clover Brooks is five years old when she goes to live with her Grandfather in New York City. Her Grandfather is her whole world.

I found this to be an extremely clever book, very thought provoking and thoughtful.
Clover’s grandfather teaching her about life, made me think about life, assessing life in general, in all its good, and messy ways.
People in life can tend to put labels on other people, and it’s so wrong. You can’t always judge a book by its cover.
I really liked the writers style, use of words, and some very poignant powerful one liners.
I could not put this book down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about this book are entirely my own.

Reading The Collected Regrets of Clover has been utterly wonderful. It’s felt like therapy and existential coaching rolled into the pages of a book, really.

This is the life-affirming story of Clover Brooks, a woman in her thirties who became a death doula in New York City after her beloved grandfather died alone when she was travelling.

However, while spending so much time with the dying, Clover realises she’s ignored her own life. That is until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send her on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love story – and perhaps, her own happy ending.

It’s not a book to speed through in a single weekend, but it is a thought-provoking, heartwarming story to retreat into that’s packed with life lessons.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. I also chose this book as my Book of the Month for June: https://tolstoytherapy.com/book-club/

This was such a lovely story, I'm fascinated by things like this, and really enjoyed Clover's journey. It was sad in a lot of places, but spot on in how it was written. Just shows that life is too short for regrets. Thank you netgalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Great book! It was not what I expected, nor what I usually read but I ended up loving it. It was slow in pacing, but it really got right into Clover's character that I felt like I really knew her.
I would recommend this to everyone to read.

What I liked:
• The beautiful, poetic yet emotional way death was spoken about.
• The ideology of Clover with her three notebooks and how she used them in her daily life.
• Clover’s memories with her grandad and the wisdom he always imparted.
• The growth of Clover’s character.

This book has left me speechless in the best possible way. The Collected Regrets of Clover was heartbreakingly stunning. Somehow, this book managed to break my heart and piece it together all in one go.

Focusing on Clover and her occupation as a death doula was fascinating! The story explores many faces of grief and they way it changes a person. To learn the reason why Clover does the job she does was so bittersweet. The pain she held onto for such a long time really tugged at the heartstrings alongside learning how she never experienced true friendship and love until now. Clover deserved the world and to see her story progress, realisations come to light and changes be made was beautiful.

Every character had their own contribution to the storyline and I loved every single one of them. Each contributed to Clover’s growth and the relationships she formed with them all warmed my heart.

The way Brammer wrote and explored death and grief was breathtaking. Some of the scenes utterly destroyed me while others uplifted me. There are many quotes in this book I adored and that will stay with me for a long time!

Although this book is fiction, it unintentionally felt a little like a self help book. I really reflected on people I have lost and the grief I still feel today. It really opened my eyes and it feels refreshing and comforting to know all the feelings that come with death and loss are normal.

With Brammer’s writing and the emotion packed into this book, you would not think this is a debut novel! I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy, but also to see what is next for her work! Definitely an author in adding to my auto-buy list!

Meet Clover, a wonderful literary character, who works a death doula while still grieving for the grandfather who reared her. A meeting with a new client, Claudia, causes her to question how she is living her own life. Clover keeps three notebooks where she records the last words of her dying clients. They are labelled Regrets, Advice and Confessions. She opens them at random and tries to take on board what is written. However in trying to help Claudia come to terms with a lost love a whole new world opens up for Clover, primarily learning to let other people into her life.
This is book that will leave you reflecting on your own life and making yourself promises to live life just that little bit better. I would have given it 5 stars only about three quarters in its tone changed somewhat and became a cliched romantic novel with hints of Mills & Boon but that might not bother everyone.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for this honest review.

An interesting premise, executed well.
I have been interested in death doulas since reading Jodi Picoult's The Book of Two Ways, and in this book too, Clover's profession definitely holds the irony of her life in it too.
I loved the characters, they were definitely this book's strength, and listened attentively to the audiobook.

The Collected Regrets of Clover is a remarkable book in that it makes you reflect upon life and regrets without being maudlin.

Clover is a Death Doula. Like a birth doula but she spends time with those who are about to pass. Whilst not part of her job she collects their regrets and carries them as part of her own. She has lead an insular life until she meets Sebastian and Claudia. Claudia is Sebastian's grandmother who is preparing to die who wishes to address her own regrets before she passes and we follow Clover and Sebastian on this journey.

This is a thoughtful story of self discovery and regret, that lets you pause and think about life and death and how we approach it. I must admit I had never heard of a Death Doula but of course it makes sense to have someone to accompany you in your final journey.

Thanks so much to the author Mikki Brammer and the publisher for an ARC of this beautiful book. I loved the story of Clover and young women living in New York City working as a death doula . Clover lost her parents at a young age and went to New York to live with her beloved grandpa . This a story about how events help shape us and we can see things differently as we age and grow . I loved it and will be thinking about it for a long time !

I had never heard of a death doula before and did not know that death cafes existed so this aspect of the book was new to me. Clover was quite a sad character at the beginning of the book but it was interesting to see how her character developed as the story moved on. More of a romance than I expected but endearing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading The Collected Regrets of Clover it's been a bit like a roller-coaster ride. Seen the blurb(the NetGalley one) I thought it was an interesting premise and I was looking forward to read about death and about people dealing with their last days on Earth. But then it become evident that it was going down the romanticised path of self-discovery as a consequence of dealing with death and regrets. So it kind of lost me, but then I am a woman, and I might not watch romantic comedies but hey who can resist a cute love story, eh?!

Clover is a likeable character, despite her coldness and lone wolf attitude. She develops nicely in the course of the novel and she does learn her lessons. I particularly liked her relationship with her grandpa, such a lovely and full of love and wisdom grandpa he was. What I didn't really like was that once again we have a romantic take on death and more of a romance rather than a novel about grief. But all in all, an enjoyable read!

I honestly think it might be my new favourite book.
While I recognise problems in Clover’s behaviour, that many other reviewers pointed out, I couldn’t stop comparing myself to her throughout the whole book. It felt like this book was written perfectly for me. Also, while I was reading the book I received an information of someone’s passing. I didn’t know them personally but they were close to my heart and their death affected me strongly so this book was an absolutely perfect companion for the past few days.
My review might be influenced by my emotions and feelings as I honestly didn’t notice any negativities about it, I only realised that there might have been some after reading other reviews, But I believe a sign of a book being great is when it makes you feel and experience these emotions so it’s a 5/5 stars from me and I’m now on my way to preorder it as I’m dying to have a print version in my hands to annotate it.

Sincere thank you to the author, Viking and Net Galley for an early access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Death doula, death cafe were completely new things in my life that came together with this book. None of us understands what is death for us until we are about to meet it. I loved the beautiful insights about human life and dying, but as a fiction book it didn't prove attractive enough.

"The Collected Regrets of Clover" is an exceptional novel that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. Mikki Brammer has crafted a sentimental and poignant narrative that engages readers from the very beginning. This book dives deep into the profound questions about the meaning of life and death, emphasizing how our choices shape our journey and urging us to make the most of the limited time we have. It skillfully explores the art of letting go and embracing life's moments.

At the heart of the story is Clover Brooks, a remarkable character who works as a death doula in bustling New York City. From a young age, Clover has been fascinated by death, which was sparked by a tragic incident in her kindergarten class and further reinforced by the accidental deaths of her parents. However, Clover doesn't view death in a morbid way; instead, she sees it as a natural part of life and endeavors to help others process it during their final days. The irony lies in the fact that while she guides others through this profound experience, she has forgotten to live herself truly.

Raised by her late grandfather, Clover has lived a secluded life devoid of romantic relationships and friendships with peers. Her social interactions are limited to Leo, one of her grandfather's friends. But when a spirited and uninhibited tenant named Sylvie moves into her building and a man named Sebastian hires her to care for his dying grandmother, Claudia, Clover's world takes an unexpected turn. As these new connections flourish, Clover discovers that she has much to learn about life and its vibrant possibilities.

Mikki Brammer's debut novel is a work of literary art. The prose is beautifully written, and there is a profound, almost philosophical quality to the narrative. This book fearlessly delves into a topic that many shy away from, death and dying. Yet, it does so with the intention of shifting the focus towards appreciating and living our lives to the fullest. While it may unsettle those who are sensitive to the topic, it ultimately promotes the idea of embracing life with gratitude and joy and living every second of our lives fully.

Witnessing Clover's personal growth and transformation is a joyous experience. Through the pages of this novel, readers embark on a journey alongside her as her world opens up, revealing new dimensions of love, friendship, and self-discovery. The characters are expertly developed, each bringing their own unique perspectives and wisdom to the story. It is through Sylvie, Sebastian, and particularly Claudia that Clover learns valuable lessons about the essence of living. And finally, Hugo is the cherry on top coming to her life to accompany her for the rest of her journey.

"The Collected Regrets of Clover" is a captivating and enriching read. It captures the intricacies of life's most profound questions and intertwines them with a compelling narrative that captivates readers until the very last page. Mikki Brammer has created a work that touches the heart and prompts introspection, reminding us to appreciate life's gift and embrace every moment with zest. This is a debut novel that leaves an indelible impression, and I eagerly await Brammer's future works.

Did I convince you to read this book? I can’t recommend it enough.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author who sent me an electronic ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a moving book that centres around Clover Brooks, a 36 year old death doula, living in New York.
After losing her parents at the age of six, her fascination with death has meant she’s never really fitted into society, and friendships and love have eluded her.
However, she’s found her vocation as she gently guides people on their last journeys, with compassion, comfort and words of wisdom.
As she forms a close attachment to a new client, she goes on her own journey of self-discovery and comes to realise she has to let go of her past to move forward and ‘live’.
So beautifully written and with an array of wonderful characters, I’d like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was unsure about this book at first, but boy did it grab me. Absolutely loved reading this powerful story with a message to all.
Clover is a single lady in her thirties, She was brought up by her grandfather from age six, following the death of her parents whilst they were away on a trip. She is a very down to earth person who finds it hard to let people in.
She does an amazing job as a death doula and keeps a record of her clients last words, be they regrets, advice or confessions.
Clover helps 91-year old Claudia, whose family struggle with talking about death. They get close and Clover makes some discoveries about herself.
A heartwarming story of hope, love and death (which will come to us all at some point) .
I wholeheartedly recommend this book, it’s full of hope, despite the subject and not morbid at all.

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed the unique concept of this book. Having not heard of a death doula before, and it was interesting to learn about this this Clover's experience. The themes of loss, grief and learning to live a life without regrets were explored to create an emotional, yet uplifting read.

Unfortunately, I didn't quite connect with Clover as much as I would have liked. I enjoyed the flashbacks to her past and found her relationship with her Grandfather to be beautiful and endearing. However, present day Clover felt a little flat, and at times a bit inconsistent to me.

The overall pacing of the book also felt slightly off to me. I was initially intrigued and drawn into the story, however, felt a little bored at times throughout the middle section. The last 20% was the standout for me, and I found myself once again engaged, and even shed a fear tears.

Brammer is clearly a very talented writer. Her prose is stunning and very much helped to carry me through the parts of the book where I felt the plot was lacking. I look forward to seeing what she does in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book about Clover and her story. There were many reasons I enjoyed the book but mainly because of the development of Clover.

She has always been fascinated by death, and becomes a death doula following the death of her grandfather. However she lives an isolated life with no friendships or ever had a relationship.

Along the way she meets many lovely characters, and with the help of these connections, she grows and comes out of her shell.
It got me thinking about how we choose to live our life and our perceptions about death.

The book has also got life lessons and wisdom sprinkled throughout, that I really liked. I really enjoyed this book and read it quickly, so highly recommend.

I loved this book!
It was so different to anything else that I have read.
It was so beautiful and emotional.
I had no idea what a death doula was prior to this and now I have so much appreciation for them.
It was a book that stopped and made you think, and I love that in a book.
Can't wait to buy this and add it to my collection.