Welcome to Litsy!

I was not even planning to start this book anytime soon, but somehow stumbled upon it while browsing for something else on my Kindle and decided to start it.

I‘m so glad I didn‘t wait any longer to read this poignant book about Clover, a young NYC death doula. It was moving without being cliche, and I liked the character development. Definitely a Pick for me.

Not sure how, but this book is both heavy and light. It‘s both happy and sad. It‘s a very different book then anything I‘ve read

As a grief advocate I loved this book. I liked how it handled grief, dismissed the clichés, didn't shy from the reality.

But mostly I loved the acknowledgement that sometimes, those witnessing death close up, aren't the ones throwing caution to the wind and living life to the max. That while you know personally that life can be short, it's frightening to live that way. Fantastic representation.

#coverlove
#multicolour
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
A wonderful story written by a distant cousin

I absolutely loved this book and the concept of death cafes intrigued me… was I surprised when I walked into my library this morning and saw this! I think I am going to go to one to check it out!

#favbkofmarch #springskies @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I am not sure I have words to describe how much I love this book… so beautifully told in a way that I could see glimpses of myself within the pages! Everyone needs to read this book!
“The secret to a beautiful death is living a beautiful life”

Remarkable debut novel about a death doula who learns how to live her life & to face her regrets.

I was captivated by the writing & had a very hard time putting this down. I recognized some of myself in Clover. Her compassion is also very inspiring. This is a quiet novel with a lot to unpack & reflect upon, how to live one‘s life, how to face regrets, and how to take that leap. Tissues needed!

“Grief is just love looking for a place to settle.”

What an important book. This was so beautifully written and truly unique. I don‘t think I‘ve really read anything like this before. I love Clover and how insightful she is. The growth in this book is so beautiful and touching. This book is one that really makes you think and reflect and will inspire you to live each moment like it‘s your last.

I really loved this book. I had never read anything about a death doula and it was very interesting.

“The secret to a beautiful death is living a beautiful life. Grief, 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.”

#LuckyinLove
#Bouquet 💐

“Maybe we just need to appreciate that many aspects of life— and the people we love—will always be a mystery. Because without mystery, there is no magic.”

#NewYearNewBooks
#Grandparents

💐💐💐

This book tells the story of Clover, a death doula in NYC. Her work is spending time with people in their final days to sort through their affairs, thoughts, feelings, regrets, and more. She has lived a reclusive life, so the story is about her blossoming and embracing her life, as she helps her clients with the end of theirs. If you like stories with quirky characters, unlikely friends, redemption, and exploring deep topics, this is for you!

I finally finished this!! It was really good. Hanging out in AZ, waiting for the arrival of our grandson. 🩵

My November reads part 1

This was an impressive debut novel because it dealt with death and grieving in an open and positive light. Clover is a death doula by profession who is wonderful at helping people cross over, but she is very isolated and not so great at living her own life.

Grief comes in waves for me. I liked that this book addressed it as not something a person will simply "get over" within a set period of time.

This book got me thinking. Who wants to die with regrets? So many of the passages in this book hit home. Clover was a bit of a loner and a lover of books. Sound familiar? I know I can relate! She‘s also a death doula, so she got to hear the regrets of many. There are things we can do while we‘re living to avoid regrets. That‘s what this book is about. And it‘s a good one which I highly recommend.

Such a sweet book. This was lovely to read.

The first time I watched someone die, I was five.
#Firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

Mikki Brammer lives in New York, and her debut novel is set there. However, Mikki is from Tasmania, her extended family are from the small town I grew up in, and we are also distantly related!

Tea time.

Mother-daughter reading time.

Started this but reading time has been limited. Our daughter is in town so we threw her a baby shower!

I wasn‘t that excited about the September #botm books but I appreciate that they let me choose a member favorite instead! I‘m going with the tagged book. The reviews are really positive! This box is my 11th so after my next one I become a “BFF” and get the tote bag and some different extras. 🤷🏻‍♀️

#anticipated5⭐️read #bookbinge @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I totally forgot to do my #2023readingbracket for July 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ First book finished last month was the winner! @chasjjlee

I found this book about a death doula touching. #bookbinge #involvesfuneral

Finally doing this after having been faithfully tagged by @The_Penniless_Author a million times 😂 My favorite book of July, hands down, was the tagged. I read it not really knowing what to expect, but was super intrigued by the concept of a death doula (former hospice nurse here). If didn‘t disappoint! Beautiful book 💚 @TheSpineView

Clover has always been a loner, which suits her job as a death doula well. She loves books and her pets and finds most of the companionship she needs from 90‘s Rom-Coms. Then a new neighbor moves into her building, and she starts feeling like maybe her life was missing something.

I enjoyed this, but it was a bit more fluffy and less serious than I was hoping. Still good, I just wanted a bit more depth.

This is a very sweet story. About finding romance, losing romance, and death.
Clover is an interesting character with a wonderful job - a death doula.
I love the way that this novel talks about death. Will you have Advice, a confession, or regret to get off your chest as you are dying? Clover collects them in her journals. And I love that Clover is obsessed with 90s rom-coms.
A charming read 4/5⭐

Death Doula Clover hides from living life by caring for the dying. She follows up on a last wish of one of her clients that leads her right to a life of her own. It was and enjoyable 3.5 stars.

A remarkable novel that makes you think carefully about your own responses to living life and death. The characters are well-developed and interesting. Clover is a very amenable MC and I really did empathise with her.

Bk20 of my #BookMail is a debut by an Australian journalist turned author. Clover Brooks has always felt a connection to those at the end of their life, she has become a death doula in NYC, ushering people through their final days. Then she meets Claudia, a woman who‘s had a life Clover only dreams about. But she has one regret,so after her death Clover goes on a journey to help close that door & finds herself learning to love life in the process.

Instead of constantly asking ourselves the question of why we're here, maybe we should be savoring the simpler truth: We are here.”

I just keep thinking about this book 💛 so beautiful 😍

#LitsyLoveReads
#LitsyLove

.

“Grief, 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.” Cont‘d ⬇️

For UK Littens….. lots of US Littens, whose opinions I value, have loved this one!

Looks like it‘s not even published in hardback in the UK for another 4 days.

I enjoyed this one about a death doula who may have forgotten how to live. It was a bit too cute in places, but I could relate to the main character, and I liked the insights into our attitudes toward death.

“The secret to a beautiful death is living a beautiful life. Instead of constantly asking ourselves the question of why we're here, maybe we should be savoring the simpler truth: We are here.”

Image of Corsica France, from google 🌊❤️

This is so beautifully written. Great character development. I laughed, I cried! It really made me think about life, death, friendships, choices, and of course regrets. Love Leo 💙

This quote says it all ❤️

I know my review is an unpopular opinion, but this novel was just a so so for me. I really ended up disliking Clover, the death doula, and found many aspects of the novel far fetched. The last quarter of the novel heavily relied and secondary and tertiary characters to conclude the story so I felt very disconnected to what was going on. Not my favorite.

“The first time I watched someone die, I was five.”

Such a beautiful book ❤️

#Adayinthelifeoftux
#Catsoflitsy
#Firstlinefridays

Have a great weekend everyone ❤️ stay cool!! 🥵 🔥

I‘m about 75 percent done, so I plan to finish it buuuuut I‘m not really digging it anymore. This turned into Clover looking for love (both platonic and romantic) and there are some parts that I‘m rolling my eyes at (everything just happens to fit perfectly). It‘s still really beautifully written, but I think I may have overlooked the description of the novel. It really wasn‘t what I was expected.

5 🌟 !!! This book was so beautifully written. The topic was interesting, the characters were likable, the evolution was believable, and it made my heart swell with all the fuzzy feelings. It‘s a book I‘ll be recommending for the next few months

Enjoying this one so far; I can really relate to Clover.

This is a story that is centered around death, but manages to be quite hopeful and sweet. There is an unexpected love story which really lifts your heart in the end.
I worked as a hospice nurse for many years and it brought up a lot of memories for me (though clearly a death doula is a different profession).

Book and baseball ⚾️ 📚I‘m not a big baseball fan, but it‘s been somewhat entertaining! Quality time with the hubby 💙😉

“Don‘t let the best parts of life pass you by because you‘re too scared of the unknown.”

Back to the old grind!! Why do the days you‘re off go by so fast?!?!?!

#BOTM 📚🍌🫐🍓🍑 🥝

This is my “tell me you‘re a Scorpio without telling me you‘re a Scorpio” book haul. Two books that were in my shopping cart that I didn‘t realize had similar themes of death 😳

Also finishing up a horror book as the cherry on top 🤣

Enjoying a homemade iced salted caramel 🧋 I‘ve been working on #LitsyLove all morning! Trying to get caught up! 📝📮💌📭

I had two nearly (solid A, 4.75) 5* reads this grid but chose the tag because I‘m so intrigued by the service of an honest broker death doula.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Collected Regrets of Clover” was my May #BOTM pick and it‘s one I‘m glad I read. I found that I could relate a good bit to Clover and her character, and I really enjoyed the book‘s message and perception of death.