Genre: Contemporary Fiction; Humor

Narrator: Imogen Church

Have you ever had just the smallest thing set you off? In Beth Morrey’s Clover Hendry’s Day Off, for Clover it appears to be her husband putting forks in the dishwasher the opposite of how she preferred. Honestly, does she have to do every single thing by herself? She clunks her head and self treats with some pretty powerful pain meds and then some antihistamine in case she has a reaction to the pain meds. What follows, then, is a day marked by frankness, independence, sassiness, and a whole lot of self reflection.

The hilarity and entertainment of watching Clover, wife, mother, and employee, spend a day doing just exactly what she wants - is pure delight, at first. She takes a deserved day off work; she swims where and when she wants to; she “rescues” a rabbit; she stands up for herself again and again. Being just a bit older than her, I appreciate and understand many of her frustrations. I loved seeing her come into her own - and find her voice. The flashbacks to her past made my feelings a bit more complex. Her husband was clearly not just a self centered guy in the kitchen. Their love story was special and unique. Hints surface that indicate her career was marked with some darkness - perhaps more influential than the forks in her very rebellious day. Morrey expertly balances the laugh out loud funny and the serious reflection and sadness. She captures expertly the complexity of Clover’s character - going far beyond stereotype.

Beth Morrey’s Clover Hendry’s Day Off is a delightful mix of humor and seriousness. I appreciate how Imogen Church’s narration brings Clover to life - further engaging me. I think we all have things in our pasts that we wish we had handled differently. We don’t often get a do over. Clover reminds me that with age and experience more strength can come. If we can tap into it, perhaps we can create some change - perhaps in how we see our own worth. Ladies, read this book.