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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
This is a great literary fiction novel and that's what I'm rating it as - it's great for what it is. A very unique and interesting premise, and I enjoyed the genre more than I thought I would. Not fast paced and may not captivate you immediately but it deserves a shot. It grew on me pretty quickly, I got a few memorable quotes from it, and I liked the hopefulness of it all even when it revolves around death.
While I enjoyed it thoroughly, I also feel that not everything was wrapped up, but I hold the belief that if it's not central to the story, it doesn't need to be mentioned again or tied up neatly in a bow. Example being the reader not getting to seeif Clover ever tells Sebastian that she gave his grandma the letters, but we know she scanned them with the intention of doing so. Also, I felt like the writing at one point was trying to convince me something was off about Slyvie, especially when Clover returned home to find her book on the floor. That is something I would have preferred getting closure on, but it could've just been mentioned for the sake of it - not everything is a Chekhov's gun I guess!
While I enjoyed it thoroughly, I also feel that not everything was wrapped up, but I hold the belief that if it's not central to the story, it doesn't need to be mentioned again or tied up neatly in a bow. Example being the reader not getting to see
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Would rate 3.3. I enjoyed the discussion of death, and I think that the lessons she learned were important and well woven into the story. But I didn't really vibe with the romance and stuff like that, it felt a little cheesy, but that's just my take on it. It was engaging enough, and a pretty fun read. I didn't really like the main character tho, she was just kinda annoying. Like girl what do you mean you are watching the neighbors through the window and vicariously having a relationship through theirs?? as a ROUTINE???? GET A GRIP GIRL PLEASE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5
This is like Eleanor Oliphant but less depressing (even though this is about a death doula). I thought it was sweet and a nice ode to NYC, particularly the East Village, so that was fun for me. It was fairly predictable, although it had one subversion of a normal trope/set up that I really appreciated. Just a good, enjoyable story that's smooth but I don't know that I'll look back at this as an unforgettable read or anything.
This is like Eleanor Oliphant but less depressing (even though this is about a death doula). I thought it was sweet and a nice ode to NYC, particularly the East Village, so that was fun for me. It was fairly predictable, although it had one subversion of a normal trope/set up that I really appreciated. Just a good, enjoyable story that's smooth but I don't know that I'll look back at this as an unforgettable read or anything.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
On my deathbed, my life's regret will be reading this book.
JK that's dramatic, but seriously, how is this book so highly rated? Once again, marketing has done me dirty, because this was nothing like "The Midnight Library" other than the central themes of death and regret. Where the "Midnight Library" is imaginative, poignant, and evocative, "The Collected Regrets of Clover" felt trite, boring, and just not executed that well.
Let's start with Clover—I get that she's supposed to read as an intelligent, friendless but kind-hearted loner who's dedicated to her job as a death doula. While this is partially true, she mostly came across to me as stuffy, judgmental, and generally kind of boorish and unlikeable. It's hard to empathize with her friendlessness because I wouldn't really want to be her friend, either. In fact, most of the characters felt like they were trying really hard to fill some archetypal role and just fell flat—Claudia as the spirited old woman ahead of her times (who is really just giving peak white feminism), or grandpa as the wise and stoic old man (who really just doesn't have much personality at all). Don't even get me started on Sebastian and how much of the book is dedicated to their cringey relationship.
Overall, the supposedly heartfelt messages in this book just came across as stale to me—the rough equivalent of a "Live, Laugh, Love" knick-knack. I'd skip this one unless you want to finish with mild regrets over wasted time. 2.5/5
JK that's dramatic, but seriously, how is this book so highly rated? Once again, marketing has done me dirty, because this was nothing like "The Midnight Library" other than the central themes of death and regret. Where the "Midnight Library" is imaginative, poignant, and evocative, "The Collected Regrets of Clover" felt trite, boring, and just not executed that well.
Let's start with Clover—I get that she's supposed to read as an intelligent, friendless but kind-hearted loner who's dedicated to her job as a death doula. While this is partially true, she mostly came across to me as stuffy, judgmental, and generally kind of boorish and unlikeable. It's hard to empathize with her friendlessness because I wouldn't really want to be her friend, either. In fact, most of the characters felt like they were trying really hard to fill some archetypal role and just fell flat—Claudia as the spirited old woman ahead of her times (who is really just giving peak white feminism), or grandpa as the wise and stoic old man (who really just doesn't have much personality at all). Don't even get me started on Sebastian and how much of the book is dedicated to their cringey relationship.
Overall, the supposedly heartfelt messages in this book just came across as stale to me—the rough equivalent of a "Live, Laugh, Love" knick-knack. I'd skip this one unless you want to finish with mild regrets over wasted time. 2.5/5