Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead

"I didn't expect the casket to be so small." ~ 1%

What a startling first line! And so begins the semi-fictional novel by Mai Nguyen titled Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead. Cleo Dang always wanted to be a mother. The day she discovers she's pregnant is the happiest day of her life, especially when she learns that her best friend, Paloma, is expecting too. Together they enjoy their pregnancies and look forward to motherhood. But when they both go into labor, only Paloma comes home with a baby. 

Cleo must navigate life after losing her baby. She tries returning to work early but is forced to take leave. Then she finds work at the most unexpected place: a funeral home. Maybe the best way to honor the dead really is to live.

This is an emotional heartbreaking, side-eyeing read. Never thought I would put those two descriptions in the same sentence but it applies here. The main character is going through a grieving process that leads to disturbing scenes that tugged at my heart strings with empathy. I cannot begin to imagine her loss. I cannot believe how she manages to cope. I cannot do anything but marvel at her strength. Infant loss is heavy. It is triggering. It is tragic. Yet Mai Nguyen did a wonderful job translating her own story to paper in a darkly humorous way. Her portrayal of grief is well written.

Happy Pub Day to Mai Nguyen! Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead is officially on shelves.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead
Author: Mai Nguyen
Published: April 2026
Pages: 272
Edition: Galley
Genre: Dark Humor Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤