Clementine Crane Prefers Not To: A Novel

Clementine Crane manages every aspect of her family's life until she reaches a breaking point. When perimenopause strikes, she begins to question her role as peacekeeper, problem-solver, and caretaker for a husband who depends on her for basic tasks, three children who treat her as their fixer, and a stalled career. Overwhelmed and exhausted, Clementine takes action by refusing obligations one small refusal at a time. She sets boundaries, ditches responsibilities, and shares her frustrations on social media. Her raw and humorous videos gain viral attention, unexpectedly placing her at the center of a broader movement. Kristin Bair's novel explores family, community, and womanhood through Clementine's struggle. As she navigates what she can let fall through the cracks, the story examines the emotional and often invisible labor that many women carry, asking when it becomes too much.