Book Review: Clementine Crane Prefers Not To by Kristin Bair

Publication date: 14 October 2025

Publisher: Alcove Press

Pages: 320

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Format read: ARC – e-book

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.

Rating: ★★★★

My thoughts:

With an oblivious and unappreciative husband, whiney, demanding children and a hard-nosed boss, Clementine is already at breaking point.

Then comes that first hot flash, sending her spiralling.

What ensues is an over-the-top, one-woman battle against misogyny and the ‘decremental extinguishing of a women’s spirit’.

Taking to social media, Clementine recruits other women just like her, struggling with the reality of being a woman in modern society. She makes it her mission to have women be seen and heard through her “I prefer not to” movement. Refusing to continue catering to the needs/wants of others, she begins to put herself first; changing not only her life but the lives of her followers.

I was immediately drawn to Clementine, my circumstances much less dramatic but not dissimilar to her own. Reading her raw and honest take on womanhood at a certain age and life stage was a reminder of my own calendar-wielding, errand- running, appointment-booking, family-organising, everything-doing existence of ten years ago. Her triumphant rebellion, standing up for ‘people with uteruses’, was hilarious and uplifting; joyous to read.

Although this book had some relatable themes, the overall feel was one of quirkiness and fun. There were a few times where Clementine’s behaviour was nonsensical and a little cringe to read, but this didn’t detract from the story as a whole. I would recommend this book to others and am interested in reading other novels by this author.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.