Clementine Crane Prefers Not To

A Novel

De: Kristin Bair

Narrado por: Sara Sheckells

For fans of Maria Semple, Clementine Crane is a one-woman whirlwind, managing every aspect of her family’s life—until she hits her breaking point. In this quirky and heartfelt novel, author Kristin Bair explores family, community, and womanhood with sharp wit and keen insight.

Clementine Crane has a few things on her plate: She keeps the peace, picks up the slack, and always puts everyone else first. But when her first hot flash strikes, perimenopause sends her into a tailspin. Between a husband who can’t navigate a revolving door without her, three kids who treat her as their fixer, and a career stuck in neutral, Clementine begins to wonder: When is enough enough?

Overwhelmed and fed up, Clementine takes a stand—one small refusal at a time. She 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 heart of a movement she never saw coming.

Clementine can’t stay on strike forever, but can she let a few things fall through the cracks—before she cracks again? Speaking to the emotional, and often invisible, labor that so many women bear, Clementine Crane finally asks: When does it become too much?

©2025 Kristin Bair O'Keeffe (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

This book is a painful listen

The story is dull. The first entire chapter describes a hotflash. From there it just gets more dumb. I felt less smart after 1/2 way through the book I just quit. Too painful to go on.

She nailed it!

I listened to the audio while working and I felt everything in my soul. The way perimenopause is described in this book is spot on. The character's frustration and rage toward the gynochologist who just couldn't care less, is very real in my experience. This story is funny, sad, frustrating, and realistic. I imagine most women will love it.

A must listen! Gen X friendly!

Excellent story and narration with a realistic yet humorous for all people who have ever owned a uterus. "Pissed off people with periods" et al. Very inspirational and self affirming. Definitely worth the credit.

Perimenopause is a Wild Ride!

Kristin has brought the struggles and mystery of perimenopause into the light in a fun and meaningful novel. Clementine faces so many of the struggles that woman over 40 are dealing with. It’s not enough that we’re expected to meet the needs of our spouse, children, employer, community etc. Now our bodies are rebelling against us?! It’s time for the I Prefer Not To era!

Unrealistic and unlikable

While I sympathize with the overall idea of the book, I couldn't stand the story. The main character never showed any regard for others or took any responsibility for her part in all of her complaints. Texts from her family were unrealistic and obnoxious. And who would continue protesting over a missing fish for so long?