The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

This might be one of my new favorite books. 

From the start, I was totally immersed in Clover’s world. I really identified with her in so many ways, probably more than any other character I’ve “met.” She's quirky, but not in one of those "not like other girls" ways - she's genuinely a bit strange and hermit-y, and that's definitely something I can identify with.

I loved the different ideas around death and that it felt like I was visiting death cafes and talking to these people right along with Clover. I also enjoyed how Clover kept notes for the people she worked with and shared some of those regrets. It really made me think of what regrets I might have.

The only downside is that I thought the romance was a bit rushed and too romance-novel-y at the end. However, I buy that it can happen that way. It definitely seemed like a nice payoff for Clover at the end, and overall this was so good that I’ll admit maybe I’m just jealous of what she found after all that time.

The story idea was fantastic and the writing style really elevated it. I also enjoyed the recommended/similar books at the end. I can't wait to read the author's next book!

Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong

Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong

This book gave me Shannon Olson and Melissa Bank vibes. Those books that are ambling thoughts, not a truly cohesive narrative, no definite ending, but you're so glad to be along for the ride. This book was especially poignant, with strong emotions relating to family, relationships, aging parents, and just being human.

One of my favorite quotes was:

You had the feeling that all the thoughts were in a box covered in tape, and the trouble was you didn't have the proper tools to access them---no scissors and no knife---and it was a lot of trouble---every day it was new trouble---trying to find the end of the tape.

Followed by...

...and here you were, now, unable to open a box that had been taped shut, a box belonging to you.

This fascinated me - what a great way to think of memory issues. I'm at that age where my parents are aging, and my friends' parents are aging, and we're talking about it, and I'm seeing different things in different relationships, and this book just put it all out there in a way that made me feel like I was reading a friend's journal. I'm glad it came onto my radar and will most likely read it again.