Clementine Crane Prefers Not To

This book first caught my attention after I saw the author's TikTok about her new book that centres around how a woman's first hot flash propels her to push back against the patriarchy, and her role as her demanding family's fix-all, do-all drudge. 

Clem is an overworked, underappreciated mother/wife/librarian who has begun the frenzied journey into perimenopause with hot flashes, brain fog, irritability and more! Readers get a bird's eye view into this stage of life that people with a uterus will experience. As someone deep in the thick of the perimenopause jungle, I could relate to many of her symptoms although thankfully not to the extreme Clem experienced. 

'Doormat' characters are one of my least favourite character types so seeing Clem be at the beck and call of everyone in her life - including at work and her inept husband and kids who are demanding, unappreciative and lacking all basic life skills - was hard to read. Her family members are enigmatic because we only really know them because of their demands on Clem. But it was satisfying when Clem finally finds her voice and her motto 'I prefer not to' changed her life in drastic ways.

The story hits on some great issues and themes (medical community's lack of focus on women's health, misconceptions of perimenopause, societal expectations on women ...), but its slow pace and Clem's often silly, erratic and juvenile actions (fish napping, giraffe costume, holing up in her closet ..) got to be too much for me. I still don't understand what the deal was with the creature walking outside at night. (?)

Overall, I'm a bit conflicted with this book. On the one hand, it was too slow-paced and far-fetched with no characters I felt connected to. But I appreciate how it focuses on perimenopause and the relatable experience for women who feel overburdened, taken for granted and invisible and how it ultimately culminated in a quirky, coming-into-herself journey.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Alcove Press for the complimentary digital advanced copy of this book that was given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Kristin Bair

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Alcove Press

First Published: Oct 14, 2025

Read: Oct 1-6, 2025

Book Description from GoodReads: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” hits perimenopause in this razor-sharp, wickedly funny novel about one woman’s awakening in a patriarchal world.

For years, Clementine Crane has been the invisible force holding her Byrock, Massachusetts, home together—juggling three demanding kids, a husband who’s more hindrance than help, a soul-crushing boss at the local library, and a mountain of invisible tasks reserved for women.

But when her first hot flash hits, marking the onset of perimenopause, Clementine starts to wonder: When is enough, enough? As the pressures mount and mysterious, almost mythic signs of the extraordinary punctuate her days, she takes a stand—one small refusal at a time. With a defiant “I prefer not to,” she embarks on a journey to reclaim her voice and identity.

Overwhelmed and fed up, Clementine goes on strike, ditching obligations, setting boundaries, and venting her frustrations on social media. When her raw, hilarious, and unexpectedly poignant videos go viral, Clementine finds herself at the center of a movement she never saw coming.

With her irreverent best friend by her side, Clementine isn’t just pushing back—she’s rewriting the rules. This laugh-out-loud, heart-on-sleeve adventure is a battle cry for every woman ready to live life on her own terms.