Pages: 320
Published: 9th May 2023
Genre: General Fiction
Content warnings: Grief/themes of death
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.
A number of books that feature death and dying as a prominent theme ironically happen to be quite uplifting reads, or at least have positive messages at their heart. This one here is no exception, as it delivers a fascinating character portrait which depicts various relationships in a considered and often moving way, yet is also something of a celebration of life.
Told eloquently in the first person, a large part of the storytelling revolves around Clover’s occupation as a death doula; someone who assists the dying during their final weeks and provides emotional support. The way she records the last words they speak and uses their regrets to become inspired to take up fleeting hobbies is a powerful symbol of how attached she is to her work, and acts as something of a driving force.
In the meantime, Clover has neglected her own life. She is shy and highly introverted, observing others warily and often scared of leaving her comfort zone. Some aspects of her demeanour were quite relatable as a result, but as she develops a friendship with her much more outgoing neighbour Sylvie and connects with her latest dying subject Claudia, she gradually acquires a newfound zest for life. This character progression is handled very well.
Indeed, the book is extremely character driven from start to finish and the characters are all well fleshed out. Even when her days are numbered, Claudia is great fun to read – such a shrewd and strong-willed lady who has that almost tangible glint in her eye. Her backstory with Hugo is quite captivating, too. It was wonderful to the connection Clover had with her, and the same goes for Leo.
The one really frustrating character here was Claudia’s grandson Sebastian, who persuades Clover to look after her. Right from the outset he comes across as intense and a bit desperate, which is borne out in the clumsy way he tries to pursue a romantic relationship with Clover, who quite plainly does not have the same attraction towards him. In some respects Sebastian means well, but his obvious flaws were never far from the surface.
One of the loveliest and also bittersweet parts of the story is Clover’s relationship with her grandpa, who raised her after her parents were killed. It occasionally drifts back into the past timeline, where that bond is conveyed very strongly in the moments where he imparts his academic knowledge and teaches her small acts of politeness, whereas in the present timeline she has never fully moved on from his passing.
Set in New York, the whole thing has distinctly contemporary feel and the writing is simultaneously thoughtful, layered, and open-minded. The messages it aims to put across are abundantly clear and for the most part the author gets the tone of it right, however towards the end it loses its subtlety and becomes a bit preachy, which was a tad disappointing but did not affect the book in a truly negative way.
Overall, this is an accomplished and neatly paced novel that succeeds through the strength of its characters and storytelling. It mostly belongs to Clover, who brings a unique perspective and makes it very easy to feel invested. The overtness of the messaging may go too far towards the end, yet it is a greatly enjoyable and at times thought-provoking read.
Mikki Brammer is originally from the Australian island of Tasmania, but lived in France and Spain before settling in her current home of New York. She writes on different topics for various publications including Architectural Digest, ELLE Decor, and Dwell.
Released in May 2023, The Collected Regrets Of Clover is her first novel. It also contains one of the longest acknowledgements sections I have ever seen!
I found out about this book via a friend, and I am really glad I decided to pick it up. I enjoyed it a lot, especially how character driven it was and the many uplifting moments.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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