The Collected Regrets of Clover

Clover, a death doula, prefers the company of the dying to the living. She struggles with relationships, platonic and romantic. She is suspicious and reluctant about small talk and other niceties. Yet in situations that would make most feel stomach churning dread, at a loss for words, or overwhelming fear, she is calm, sensitive, and adept. She has an inner strength and flexibility to meet people where they are. She knows how not to look away from someone's pain.Outside of work, Clover leads a quiet life with few personal connections. The problem is that Clover is not simply alone, she is also lonely. But after living the way she has for over a decade, living any other way feels alien and intimidating. The things she yearns for most have also become sources of shame and insecurity. I love Clover.In a tale about how the people who leave and enter our lives can suddenly shift everything, with a discerning late bloomer at the center who is never condescended to, Brammer weaves together a compelling debut. She also manages to, praise be, avoid telling a story that becomes too coincidental or sentimental. She lets Clover take her time. This called to mind different moments in past favorites like [b:Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine 31434883 Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Gail Honeyman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493724347l/31434883.SY75.jpg 47327681], [b:Convenience Store Woman 36739755 Convenience Store Woman Sayaka Murata https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680105376l/36739755.SX50.jpg 51852264], and even [b:The Flatshare 41393171 The Flatshare Beth O'Leary https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627750351l/41393171.SY75.jpg 58189559]. Jennifer Pickens, the audiobook narrator, was fantastic. All in all, this was a sweet (though not preachy) book about how much death teaches us about life. I want to hear [a:Caitlin Doughty 7802044 Caitlin Doughty https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1586002535p2/7802044.jpg]'s thoughts on it.