The following version of this novel was used in the creation of this study guide: Brammer, Mikki. The Collected Regrets of Clover. St. Martin’s Press. 2023. Hardcover.

After holding her kindergarten teacher’s hand as he died three decades ago, Clover Brooks works as a death doula, comforting people in their final days. However, her comfort with death and grief after losing her grandfather years prior has led to perpetual solitude. Her only friend, an old man named Leo, pushes her to meet new people, but Clover refuses, as she is terrified of facing more rejection.

However, things change when she meets her new roommate, Sylvie, who is genuinely interested in Clover’s job and treats her like a true friend. Clover also meets Sebastian at a local death cafe where he eventually asks her to visit his dying grandmother, Claudia. With only a few months left to live and her family avoiding the issue entirely, Claudia welcomes Clover in and the two become fast friends.

Eventually, Sebastian invites Clover on multiple dates. However, each one is extremely uncomfortable, and Clover is not sure that she finds him attractive. Furthermore, Clover’s insecurity leads to a fight with Sylvie. This causes Clover to retreat further into herself, believing that no one will ever care about her. Still, when Clover learns that Claudia’s long-lost love she met in France may live in Maine, Sebastian volunteers to go with her in hopes of giving his grandmother peace.

When they arrive, the two meet Hugo, the grandson of Claudia’s former love. Hugo reveals his grandfather moved to America to find Claudia, but the two never reconnected and he died two months prior. It is later revealed that Hugo’s grandfather saw Claudia with her fiancee and- not realizing how terrible of a relationship she was in- resigned to let her go and said he would see her in the next life. Even though Sebastian hesitates to tell Claudia the truth, Clover read her the letters that Hugo’s grandfather wrote. Claudia thanks her for everything and, after telling Clover to not let her fear of the unknown get in the way of her future, Claudia passes away peacefully.

After Clover attends Claudia’s funeral, she runs into Hugo who invites her to the local park. The two get along extremely well and Clover realizes they have chemistry that she never experienced with Sebastian. So, when Leo passes away after telling Clover to live a happy life, she resolves to let go of her grief and embraces her future. This leads to her traveling the world as a photographer and eventually starting a relationship with Hugo.