Beth Morrey’s Clover Hendry’s Day Off is billed as a novel that will be relatable to moms, wives, and professionals everywhere, written in the vein of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  Finally reaching the boiling point of her life, Clover Hendry throws away all responsibility and takes a day to herself … but that’s where this potentially amusing novel goes all wrong.  

When you imagine a middle-aged woman indulging in a little self-care, you might envision her getting beauty treatments, indulging in a calorie-laden lunch, or going on a no holds barred shopping spree.  Sure, Clover does all of that … and more.  And it’s the “and more” that’s a problem.  

Clover apparently has a spiteful, vile, drug-abusing criminal lurking inside of her, because when given a day to herself, she chooses to lash out at other people, partake in illegal acts, use narcotics on multiple occasions, and give zero “you know whats.”  The “real” clover Hendry is nasty and foul, and I want nothing to do with her.  If this is the woman she has been keeping hidden away from the rest of the world, then great, because she has no place among the rest of us. 

My immense dislike of Clover ruined this book for me.  It was a slog to get through, and despite a few entertaining moments, the book, overall, was a drag.  Not to mention I HATED the audiobook version of this novel.  The narrator used to most obnoxious vocal effects to tell this story, and I found myself saying “shut up” (out loud!) on multiple occasions.