Tap cover to enlarge

Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead

Published
Apr 2026
Main Genre
Literary Literary
Rating
Pages
288

About This Book

A darkly humorous yet uplifting novel about a grieving mother who starts working at a funeral home and discovers that the best way to honor the dead is to live—from the author of the "insightful, moving" (Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author) Sunshine Nails.

All Cleo Dang has ever wanted is to be a mother. The day she discovers she's pregnant is the happiest of her life, especially when she learns that her best friend, Paloma, is also expecting. It's a wonderful surprise, and together, they enjoy their pregnancies. But when they both go to the hospital in labor, something goes very, very wrong. Paloma comes home with a baby. Cleo does not.

Ravaged by grief, Cleo must now navigate life after losing her baby. She alienates herself from the world, particularly her best friend, who is living the life she so desperately wanted. Forced to take leave from her demanding job as an actuary, Cleo manages to find work at a funeral home, where she meets a revolving cast of bereaved locals and discovers the power of confronting grief.

Darkly humorous yet uplifting, Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead follows a grieving mother who starts working at a funeral home and discovers that the best way to honor the dead is to live.

Genres & Themes

Buy This Book

Formats & Editions

Browse the different covers, formats, and publication history for this title.

Hardcover

Hardcover edition cover
Hardcover
First Edition Apr 2026 Atria ISBN 1668080869
Buy

eBook

eBook edition cover
eBook
Apr 2026 Atria ISBN 1668080885
Buy
eBook edition cover
eBook
Apr 2026 -- Not Selected ISBN B0FCG65KPH
Buy

Audio

Audio edition cover
Audible
Apr 2026 -- Not Selected ISBN B0G8L21XRB
Buy