Dottie & the Art of Dying

by Sarah Asermily

Dottie Clark is going to die. She isn’t happy about it.

Dottie’s spent her life as a devoted wife. A devoted mother. And she’s relished every minute of it. When she tragically loses her husband, for years, she yearns for nothing more than to be with him once again. When one day, she finds out that she has terminal cancer and won’t live to see the end of the year, Dottie’s more surprised than anyone that the news sends her spiraling into the throes of grief.

Death comes knocking far too soon, and Dottie finds herself in what appears to be an idyllic afterlife. By an enigmatic figure named Nightingale, Dottie’s told the last thing any departed soul wants to She’s stuck in the in-between, and until she figures out why, she’ll remain there forever. On a quest to move on and reunite with her husband, Dottie’s plunged into a never-ending cycle of the ends of others' lives—like that of a serial killer, a woman with the Bubonic plague, and a sentient virus—exploring the interconnectedness that exists in places we never think to look.

Told in two parts, "Dottie & the Art of Dying" follows Dottie’s journey through the end of life and the in-between as she explores love, loss, and coping with grief. In death, she’ll find the answer to the question she’d always been searching for in Are we doomed to be forgotten?

Genres: Fiction

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2024

About the author

Sarah Asermily is a multi-genre author with an affinity for character-driven stories. Her passion for writing has transcended time, and it’s the thing she puts her heart into most (outside of keeping her tiny humans alive). 

Reviews

[Julia Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Dottie navigating her experience in the end of life and afterlife. The story shares the perspective of a woman dealing with a terminal diagnosis, knowing her death is imminent. Dottie is a relatable character, sharing her fears as the end approaches and sorrows at leaving her family and friends behind. It continues through her journey in the afterlife and discovering the meaning her life truly had. I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to seeing more from this author!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dottie & the Art of Dying” is an emotional and thought-provoking novel that beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and the afterlife. The author’s storytelling is immersive and deeply moving, capturing your heart from the first page. This story follows Dottie Clark, a devoted wife and mother, as she navigates the shocking news of her terminal illness and grapples with the meaning of life, death, and what lies beyond.

What makes this book truly special is the way it delves into Dottie’s emotional journey with such rawness and honesty, making you feel as if you’re experiencing her joys and sorrows right alongside her. The author crafts a story that is both a philosophical and existential exploration, making you reflect on your own life and the significance of each moment. This story is filled with poignant and thought-provoking insights that encourage you to appreciate the beauty of life and the reality of mortality.

Overall, “Dottie & the Art of Dying” is a beautifully written, heartfelt novel that resonates long after you finish reading. It’s a book that challenges you to think deeply about life, death, and the connections we share with others. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a reflective and emotionally rich reading experience.

[Sandra Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Asermily’s Dottie and the Art of Dying is an amazing mix of storytelling that stands out for its creativity and emotional depth. This book feels like more than just a story—it’s a true work of art, offering a kaleidoscope of perspectives that come together in a rich and compelling way.

From the start, Asermily grabs your attention with her fresh approach to storytelling. The way the book shifts between various viewpoints makes for a reading experience that’s both thought-provoking (I definitely won’t be squishing any spiders anytime soon) and captivating. Each chapter gives you a new angle, creating a complex and nuanced look at life and death.

At the heart of the novel is Dottie, who feels incredibly relatable throughout the story. Her deep love for her family and her genuine appreciation for life ground the narrative, providing a solid contrast to the more experimental elements of the book.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this novel, and I am looking forward to more from this author!

[cc · Rating 3 out of 5]

e-ARC from NetGalley.

For fans of The Midnight Library, Dottie and the Art of Dying explores the importance of connection and the impact we have on the lives of others, whether we realize it or not.

Told in rather straightforward prose, I was surprised by how quickly and fully I found myself engrossed in Dottie's story. I was even more (pleasantly) surprised that our protagonist dies before the 50% mark so that the majority of the story can be spent exploring the many paths she takes in the afterlife.

Where this story lacked for me was the sheer number of paths taken. The first few were interesting and powerful, but then they started to feel more like story ideas that were condensed for the sake of having them published as opposed to them being of any actual value to the book. At times, Dottie felt as though she had been inserted as an afterthought. It got to the point that I felt a wave of annoyance every time I turned the page and found myself in yet another short story.

But the stories that worked? They really worked. The two that spring most readily to mind, having given me goosebumps, were the stories of Noah and Mac. Another that struck me involved a dying star. They were beautiful. I think it'll be awhile before I stop thinking about Mac's childhood or Riley's dad.

Despite my critiques, I see so many reviews about how this book helped the reader navigate grief and loss, and I encourage others to read it for that reason alone. Having lost five family members and almost losing two more in the last 18 months, perhaps I am just numb to it right now.

[Sladana Prodanovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book of this author, and it was ok. It tells story about Dottie who one day finds out that she has terminal cancer and won't live to see the end of the year, Dottie's more surprised than anyone that the news sends her spiraling into the throes of grief. Death comes knocking far too soon, and Dottie finds herself in what appears to be an idyllic afterlife. By an enigmatic figure named Nightingale, Dottie's told the last thing any departed soul wants to hear: She's stuck in the in-between, and until she figures out why, she'll remain there forever. 
It is a book about afterlife and mortality, love, and the search for meaning.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not read the publisher’s synopsis or any reviews, so did not know what the book was about other than Dottie is dying. I also did not know about the “Author’s Note” that there is triggering content, as it is not mentioned anywhere but in the book. Some subjects were mentioned but it was not explained the explicit detail to which it went into. To be honest, I’m not sure I would have wanted to read the book, as some of the stories were quite disturbing.

That being said, I did enjoy the book. Part One of the book is where Dottie and her family deal with her diagnosis and eventual death. Part Two is where she travels through the after-life, with her guide Nightingale, going down many, many paths (each one has its own chapter), so that she can find her way to find her beloved husband who has already passed on. I did feel that the author could have had less “stories” as they did seem endless.

Dottie’s journey through the after-life is to teach her (and us) that everyone’s life is touched by another’s even if we aren’t aware of it and the ending portrayed that. The ending was just about as perfect as it could have been.

[Taylor Ghysel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dottie and the Art of Dying was such a great story! So many different perspectives were touched on as we follow Dottie’s journey confronting her final moments and navigates the "in between" realm. Her character was so relatable as anyone would be anxious about death and all of the uncertainty that comes with it, especially leaving love ones behind. As she reflects on her life, she discovers how much of an impact she has had on future generations. It's a heartfelt read about the lasting effects of our lives on others.

[Shannon Krahe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is outside of my normal reads but it was really interesting to see a different perception of death and coming to terms with your own death. It makes you think about yourself while reading and how you impact others in ways you may or may not realize. The ending- my goodness, so many emotions were stirred up.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I gave 4 stars as the middle of the book was a little slow for me but I kept going and it was worth finishing!

[Steve Grobschmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came at an interesting time for me. To keep simple, I was dealing with a lot of mortality concerns in my friends and family circle over the past years. I wasn't sure how I'd deal with a book tackling that topic head on.

In short, I just loved this book. First off -- I somehow managed to avoid reading the description of the book on either Amazon or Goodreads, so I didn't really have any idea what to expect. I assumed it would be a story that begins with Dottie learning about her dire illness and more or less ending with her passing.

I won't delve into spoilers, but I will address what's already in that description I ignored! I was really surprised at where this book headed...and I mean that positively. Dottie passes away much earlier than expected -- and what follows is a fascinating foray into an afterlife, an "in-between" where she is presented with other people's passing moments, across time. With an enigmatic guide alongside her, she must learn from those at-first seemingly random visions before she can move on.

Dottie is a great character -- she's very real. That makes it all more poignant to follow her along on this journey. The pain she feels bracing for goodbyes with her loved ones is very emotional. Because it's relatable to every one of us. Before she goes on her journey into the "in-between", she wrestles the all-too-familiar stages of grief.

We see how loving and proud a mother she was. We see how profound an impact the passing of her husband had on her. All the while, riding along with her on the roller coaster of emotions that leads towards a cruelly inevitable end of her life.

But, as we've covered, it doesn't end there. As much as I enjoyed the part before she passed away, when I hit the "in-between" phase of the book, I couldn't put it down. I binged 75% of this book in a day, wanting to know why she was seeing those particular visions, how they related to her, and where things were headed.

I'll say no more -- this is a powerful story from an author who has nailed the landing on her first two books. There were parts that choked me up because they hit close to home, but there were parts that made me smile too. It's really a great experience, one most people will be affected by.

[Lindsey's Literary Leanings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional Engaging Intriguing

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Spirituality

Dottie and the Art of Dying by Sarah Asermily - Author ⚰

To my mind (and I could be incorrect here) people who are given a terminal diagnosis and an idea of how long they have, before it is their time to shuffle off this mortal coil, can be divided into three categories. There are those who are, naturally, sent into a flat spin panic and take up every offer of treatment that may prolong their life. There are those who accept their fate but refuse treatment, wanting to ensure the quality of the time they have left, as they still hold a modicum of optimism that the consultant who presented them with that fateful news may be wrong. Then there are those people who struggle to cope with the vision of what is ahead of them, shutting themselves off from their loved ones and the outside world. Dottie, however, is made of stern stuff and chooses the keep calm and carry on approach, seeing no point in progressing with treatments that may in fact make her feel as poorly as she has been informed she is. She wants to enjoy the time left she has with her children and grandchildren, and whilst she did not want to leave them, she relished the opportunity of seeing Frank again. She did not however bargain on her journey after this one, being far more challenging than her sixty-seven years on earth…..

From the moment that I saw that Sarah Assermily was writing this book, I had to read it. I imagined what Dottie would look like and was pleasantly surprised when Sarah revealed her cover and Dottie was the exact image that I had had in my head. It was a sign.
‘Dottie and the Art of Dying’ is a book of two halves, literally. I had imagined our heroine as a somewhat quirky and fun figure, which I imagine she had been in her younger days, travelling and having a good time. Now however, she is a mother of two and grandmother which I hadn’t expected. Due to my preconceptions, which I probably shouldn’t have had in the first place, this disappointed me a little initially, but her role as protector and nurturer to her two now adult offspring as well as her daughter’s children, grew on me the further I read. Her fierce defensiveness of Michael’s lifestyle choices was admirable and heart-warming. The calm way in which she handles Margot’s disbelieving of her mother’s reticence after the visit with Dr Mark, demonstrated a deep bond and understanding of her daughter at that moment, and that meeting Margot’s anger and bewilderment with the same emotions would not have helped. She knew exactly what to say to shut down her daughter’s interrogation and bring her some degree of peace. Dottie, gifting Margot the heirloom that had been handed down by the women in her family, together with her final conversation being with 8-year-old Camilla, were poignant and touching, as was her last visual exchange before closing her eyes. Sarah brings the conclusion of part one together well necessitating a need in you to continue into part two regardless of what you are doing.
Part two was altogether very different, but perhaps more of what I had initially expected from Dottie’s story in all those months awaiting publication. Whilst her perception of death is a direct ticket to the after life, where she will be greeted by all those she has loved and lost in life, a test, often harrowing and heart-breaking awaits her. Extremely well devised, although perhaps a little lengthy. Certain scenarios that Dottie finds herself in were more relatable, and therefore a smoother read than others and it isn’t until the end of Dottie’s enduring trial, that the sequence of events becomes apparent with startling perspective. As Dottie becomes more and more agitated with Nightingale, I myself did begin to know how she felt as I grew anxious to find out the reason for it all as much as Dottie herself! Although you may feel the same, there is a need for each and every one of those connections that she witnesses.

After reading just one of Sarah’s books, I have had determined that she is in fact the queen of characters and conclusions, the way in which she has executed the ending to this well thought out story of love, loss, strength and self discovery, is both mind-blowing and beautiful with Dottie being given the chance to see her daughter one last time with the knowledge that Margot also sees her, preceded by Dottie being transported to her final place, giving her a sense of what has happened on Earth since her untimely departure, and getting to see someone special she never got to meet. The final surprise wrapped up in Dottie’s antagonising companion in the ‘in between’ will, I hope, shock you as pleasantly as it did me, warm your heart, make you emotional and want to read it again. 📖

[Sarah Temple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lost all 4 of my grandparents this type of book really makes me hope that I meet them again and they know I'm okay. This book gave me "mitch albom - the five people you meet in heaven" vibes and that is one of my favourite books. Dottie and Frank made me think of my grandma and grandad... they always called each other "my September love" and my grandma passed on the 1st September which was a sign for us they were together again and Frank and Dottie were a similar couple.. Just right when together again ! Although, very different to Sarah's first book, she has a beautiful style of writing and characters you fall in love with. Some of this books characters, we meet them for one moment in their life but still somehow want to know more about them and care about them even if we read about them only briefly.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading the author's first book, I thought this one sounded like it could be good. Dottie sarted off with the personality you would expect. You get some laughs. Then the middle of book jumped around in time while Dottie was in the "in between" and they were hard to follow and find revelance to Dottie and the storyline. The ending was a bit confusing but the ending was great.

[Wendy Ann Neels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

I enjoyed reading Dotties story. It certainly different , this is what the author was aiming for. Well done Sarah

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steve Grobschmidt's review led me to pick up this book and I am grateful