The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock

Written by Jane Riley

Narrated by Steve West

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?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Feb 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781799749776

Jane Riley

Jane Riley began her career in public relations before moving into publishing and later launching an online e-commerce business. She has freelanced as a writer and editor and wrote a design blog interviewing makers and creators. She volunteers as an English language tutor for the Adult Migrant English Program in Sydney. The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock is her first novel. You can find her on Twitter @JaneRileyAuthor.

Reviews for The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock

[Catherine Cheng · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So endearing and sweet. Relatable, nonjudgmental, and satisfying at the end without being contrived. Performance by Steve West spot on as usual, with so many distinct voices I forgot it was only one person narrating. I will keep this one to come back to when I need a soft uplift.

[lara335 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Timid, introverted Oliver Clock runs the dated funeral home he has inherited. He let’s love escape & finds himself reluctantly pushed out of his comfort zone by an incompatible girlfriend.The premise of this first novel was interesting, but the story developed at a funereal pace with a lot of repetition, and the writing was pedestrian. A lot of the subject-matter was about the making of scented candles to evoke people, and it was maybe unfortunate that I had just finished reading Perfume, an astonishing novel about scent & obsession with the virtuoso writing of Süskind, and found myself unfavourably comparing this offering.

[shazjhb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sweet book. Easy read. I like the bit about candles and memories

[nicx27 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock is a delightful story, quirky and moving.Oliver Clock is the third generation in his family's funeral parlour business. He doesn't like change or disorder, and struggles with relationships. He's been in love with Marie, the florist who supplies the flowers for the funerals Oliver arranges, for years but she's married and even if that marriage doesn't always seem happy, he doesn't feel in a position to do anything about his feelings. Until one day it's too late and Oliver realises he could have had it all after all.I loved Oliver. I thought he was a fabulous creation. He's awkward and spends a lot of time making resolutions that don't really come to anything. But during this story he goes on such a journey of discovery about himself and his life, and his resolutions start to mean something to him. I really enjoyed the other characters in the book too such as his mother, Doreen, Jean who is the administrator at the funeral parlour, Edie who he meets in the course of his work, and his best friend, Andy. Each one helps to make this a very endearing read.I often found myself giggling at Oliver, the way he behaved, the things he came out with and the situations he found himself in. Setting his story in the serious environment of a funeral parlour was a stroke of genius on the part of the author as it mixes death with life in the most brilliant way. It's a really easy book to read and so engaging, and I was really hopeful that Oliver would find a greater peace within himself by the end.This is such a heartwarming, lovely read. I found it a pleasure to read. In the style of one of Oliver's resolutions: thou shalt enjoy it!