The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock

By: Jane Riley

Narrated by: Steve West

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

His life is perfectly regimented. Is there really room for something as unpredictable as love?

Oliver Clock has everything arranged just so. A steady job running the family funeral parlour. A fridge stocked with ready meals. A drawer full of colour-coded socks. A plan (of sorts) to stay trim enough for a standard-sized coffin. And in florist Marie, he’s even found the love of his life - not that she’s aware of it.

When a terrible tragedy takes Marie out of his life but leaves him with her private journal, he discovers too late that she secretly loved him back. Faced now with an empty love life, a family funeral business in trouble, a fast-approaching fortieth birthday and a notebook of resolutions he’s never achieved, Oliver resolves to open himself up to love - and all the mess that comes along with it.

But, with a habit of burying his feelings, can he learn to embrace his lovability and find the woman who will make him feel whole?

©2020 Jane Riley (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Kinda Sophie Kinsella-eqse

I really liked this novel - for some reason, it gave me an (early) Sophie Kinsella type of feel with the characters and plot. I appreciated that it didn't give the usual straightforward light romance plot. I appreciated a male POV from Oliver and his nuances with family, friends, love interests and his underappreciated job.

I loved the idea of the candles for departed loves ones that I'm going to google it to see if it is a real thing. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person to do this so I can't wait to see the search results.

Will recommend it to friends. I will also pick up other books by this author.

Great narration from the wonderful Steve West - didn't even know he was narrating but what a joy!!

unexpected

At first I wondered if this would be a male Bridgette Jones. Then I worried it might be a bit too morose. In the end I flushing myself laughing crying and cheering for an unusual and hey very relatable character. I'm glad I took a risk.

A gem!

I usually don’t write reviews, but I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I thought a review might help others discover it. Oliver was such a likable character that I found myself rooting for him every step of the way. The story moved along at a good pace and the narration was perfect. Don’t miss this gem!

LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

This book was amazing,I can really relate to oliver,the characters were just perfect ! this book made me laugh,cry and smile I highly recommend it you will not be disappointed.

Utterly charming

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book from the blurb. I had it in my library for a few months before listening, and I regret taking so long to get to it. It is at once charming, sweet, laugh out loud funny (the snow globes!) and thoughtful. It’s the book you didn’t know you needed.

Steve West puts in yet another top notch performance. He’s so expressive and gives each character respect in the way he voices them. No one feels overlooked.

Great great book.

Loved this book. Love the voices in this book. The book was happy sad confusing frustrating all at once. But the outcome of the story was simply amazing .

Wonderful story

What a wonderful book! The authors words combined with Steve West's heartfelt performance, made me laugh, smile, get angry on Oliver's behalf, and even cry through the whole thing. Reading it is one thing, but Steve really made me feel every bit of what Oliver was going through during entire book. Jane really took Oliver on quite the journey in this story. Oliver acted somewhat immature at times, but that was all due to his upbringing and he relationship with his parents. Like his mother didn't want to let him grow up and trust him to do things on his own.

The Elephant Under the Rug

What happened that Oliver Clock turned out as an adult the way he did? He has many fears: fear of being alone, fear of making decisions, fear of standing up for himself. In fact, if he had not inherited the family Funeral Service, where would he have been? At the age of thirty-nine, he pulls out his notebook and writes down resolutions: a sort of bucket list for facing middle age. He makes half-hearted attempts at each, even entering a relationship. There again, he leaves it to his girlfriend to make decisions for him. In the process, surrendering himself to her. In essence, losing himself. With six weeks and one day to go until he turns forty, Oliver becomes more determined. As you listen to this audiobook, do you think he will succeed this time or will he continue on his path of succumbing to the assertiveness of others?

LOVED this!

I am an avid consumer of books and it is so fun to find characters that u love so much you don’t want the book to end! Would definitely recommend over and over.

Excellent

There’s nothing to dislike and everything to love about this book. It was a very human story, one that anyone could relate to. The characters were very appealing, especially Oliver, who is a gentle soul, and rather funny.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes a good read.

Brilliant,

im Dyslexic, listening to this book. make me uderstand why people get addicted. I played it twice over.
thanks

Quirky and often funny

I enjoyed this and found it similar in tone to The Rosie Project. Well narrated.

Tragi-comedy

I enjoyed this whimsical story. It’s part love story, part macabre, part funny ... I liked the mix, the different characters who were well drawn and the character development of dear Oliver Clock.

Too little too late

I really struggled to finish it as the character only starts to take action around the middle. Even then the characters felt unrealistic and boring to follow. A 39 year old who thought and acted with a childlike mind...