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okiecozyreader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
When you finish this one, you feel emboldened to live a better life. It is such a beautiful book on grief. I can see why so many people have loved it. I missed the chance to read it last year with one group and I’m glad The Gloss is reading it for August this year!
Since Clover was young, she has had a gift to be with dying people as they passed. After her grandfather died (without her), she dedicated her life to being a death doula, so that other people wouldn’t die alone. She meets a man Sebastian, who has a grandmother Claudia who is dying, and he would Clover to spend time with her. They instantly connect, and Claudia helps Clover begin to live.
I love a found family story - and that is here, too, in Clover’s apartment building and bookstore. NYC is such an amazing backdrop for this story, and is almost a character itself.
Clover adored her grandfather, who largely raised her, and she carries on his love of reading and journaling. She keeps three notebooks: ADVICE, CONFESSIONS, and REGRETS so that she can incorporate those she has helped pass back into the world, whether it’s something they were not able to do or their favorite things.
There were so many beautiful passages in this book, but here are a few favorites:
“…there was something beautiful about the tenuous reality of being human.” Ch 11
“…most of us are guilty of that with our loved ones. We get stuck in a routine and we look at them as we've always looked at them, without seeing them for the person they've become or the person they strive to be.” P138
“It's easy to glamorize the path you didn't take.” P191
“…I was only living a shell of the life knew was possible.
And I regretted it.”p242
“Don't let the best parts of life pass you by because you're too scared of the unknown." One last wink. "Be cautiously reckless." P268 (in the acknowledgments, the author mentions this quote was something Jane Birkin told her for a magazine interview!
“But the secret to a beautiful death is to live a beautiful life. Putting your heart out there. Letting it get broken. Taking chances. Making mistakes." … "Promise me… that you'll let yourself live.” P293
“Griel, I'd come to realize, was like dust. When you're in the thick of a dust storm, you're completely disoriented by the onslaught, struggling to see or breathe. But as the force recedes, and you slowly find your bearings and see a path forward, the dust begins to settle into the crevices. And it will never disappear completely -as the years pass, you'll find it in unexpected places at unexpected moments,
Grief is just love looking for a place to settle.” Ch 55
P304
Since Clover was young, she has had a gift to be with dying people as they passed. After her grandfather died (without her), she dedicated her life to being a death doula, so that other people wouldn’t die alone. She meets a man Sebastian, who has a grandmother Claudia who is dying, and he would Clover to spend time with her. They instantly connect, and Claudia helps Clover begin to live.
I love a found family story - and that is here, too, in Clover’s apartment building and bookstore. NYC is such an amazing backdrop for this story, and is almost a character itself.
Clover adored her grandfather, who largely raised her, and she carries on his love of reading and journaling. She keeps three notebooks: ADVICE, CONFESSIONS, and REGRETS so that she can incorporate those she has helped pass back into the world, whether it’s something they were not able to do or their favorite things.
There were so many beautiful passages in this book, but here are a few favorites:
“…there was something beautiful about the tenuous reality of being human.” Ch 11
“…most of us are guilty of that with our loved ones. We get stuck in a routine and we look at them as we've always looked at them, without seeing them for the person they've become or the person they strive to be.” P138
“It's easy to glamorize the path you didn't take.” P191
“…I was only living a shell of the life knew was possible.
And I regretted it.”p242
“Don't let the best parts of life pass you by because you're too scared of the unknown." One last wink. "Be cautiously reckless." P268 (in the acknowledgments, the author mentions this quote was something Jane Birkin told her for a magazine interview!
“But the secret to a beautiful death is to live a beautiful life. Putting your heart out there. Letting it get broken. Taking chances. Making mistakes." … "Promise me… that you'll let yourself live.” P293
“Griel, I'd come to realize, was like dust. When you're in the thick of a dust storm, you're completely disoriented by the onslaught, struggling to see or breathe. But as the force recedes, and you slowly find your bearings and see a path forward, the dust begins to settle into the crevices. And it will never disappear completely -as the years pass, you'll find it in unexpected places at unexpected moments,
Grief is just love looking for a place to settle.” Ch 55
P304
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
buttongirl22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is such a beautiful book that looks at pain and death, without judgement. It is such a human story. I felt love for Clover, I felt embarrassment for her, I felt frustrated with her, and I felt sympathy for her. It is a love story, that’s not just about our great romances, but all the loves in our lives that change us. From the first half of the book, it was a four star book, but it ended as a five star, because it ended in a beautifully human way that I loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Violence, and War
leahgustafson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The idea for this book is very interesting. It follows Clover, a death doula, as she supports and cares for those who are dying. This one started out a little slow for me, but it did eventually pick up. At first I was unsure where it was going. Clover learns a lot about life in her work with the dying, and this book explores some great themes!
•
In addition to the slow start, there were some things that didn’t quite work for me. Clover’s character, in general, is somewhat inconsistent and frustrating. She is a very intelligent, well-traveled young woman. She is also extremely professional and skilled at her job where she forms incredible connections with people who are at their most vulnerable. At other times, however, Clover is written as super immature and naive. I understand she is moving through the grieving process herself. However, this doesn’t always add up.
•
The romance felt a little forced, and I think it’s absolutely unnecessary. Clover’s development as a person is much more important.
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness
cozy_tea_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A really well written book, I would definitely read it again, it was just so beautifully written that I just couldn’t put the book down I needed to know how it all ended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Misogyny, and Medical content
emkeplinger95's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
smalljules's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
joymargot's review against another edition
4.0
This was a long awaited paperback release for me after seeing so many of my fav bookstagrammers rave about it. It’s always tricky going in with expectations and I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped to, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
It’s pretty clear this is a first novel but the story and characters are full of heart and I really related to Clover.
It’s pretty light and cheesy for a book about death, but genuinely touching in parts and it provided some interesting insights.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
stacy837's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, and Alcohol
rachelkreadsbookz's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
lydiamcleod's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Completely readable and at some points sweet but also a bit slow and dull. I found it to be a bit too contrived throughout. A lot of people didn’t like the romance parts but those were actually a highlight for me although/maybe bc they felt like a different book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Sexism and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism and Biphobia