NATIONAL BESTSELLER
Longlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize
Longlisted for The STORY PRIZE
Named a BEST BOOK OF 2024 by Library Journal
Named a “Most Exciting Debut Short Story Collection of 2024” by Electric Literature
Cover Design: Anna Morrison
“The stories of The Goodbye Process are startling, haunting, and original. Mary Jones captures the eerie light that transfuses those often-forgotten and overlooked corners of the heart. These stories shape shift and beguile, offering up their remarkable insights with wit and genuine style. A brilliant book of stories.”
―Brandon Taylor, author of Real Life and The Late Americans
“Mary Jones builds enormous depth in direct clear sentences―over and over again, I found myself moved and wowed by how much she packed into a moment, how swiftly she could conjure a person. And she pulls us in, too―her words have these subtle magnets in them, drawing a reader close. Thrilling abundance here.”
―Aimee Bender, author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
“Mary Jones’s delightful story collection, The Goodbye Process, is full of surprises; sometimes funny, often heartbreaking, always memorable.”
―Jill McCorkle, author of Old Crimes: and Other Stories
"In these exquisite and emotionally distilled stories, Jones illuminates the mysterious corners of grief and grace with poignancy and spiky humor. While wholly original, Jones’s prose shares literary DNA with Mary Gaitskill, Aimee Bender, and Amy Hempel. Her explorations of sex, sorrow, and wonder are transfixing and brilliant. This is a must-read collection."
―Mary Otis, author of Burst and Yes, Yes, Cherries
"Keenly felt and observed, always humane, the stories in Jones’s debut begin where all the best stories do: the end of one thing, the start of the next. The Goodbye Process introduces an arresting new voice."
―Taylor Koekkoek, author of Thrillville, USA
“Short story fans might just discover their new favorite author in this arresting collection, a must-have.” ―Library Journal (STARRED Review)
“The cumulative effect of these stories is intense, and the contrast between the understated writing and the shocking events works exceedingly well every time. Powerful, well-crafted short stories… Our Verdict: GET IT.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Mary Jones takes a scalpel to grief in this exquisitely crafted collection of short stories centered around life’s myriad goodbyes. She moves deftly between narrative modes as she showcases different aspects of love, loss, and letting go. These deeply felt, original stories have a way of sneaking into your heart and staying there.” —Electric Literature
“The Goodbye Process is a sensational book of stories.” —Epiphany Literary Journal
“Original, eloquent, emotionally impacting, deftly crafted, and memorable, author Mary Jones raises each of her short stories comprising The Goodbye Process to an impressive level of literary excellence.” —Midwest Book Review
“Instantly absorbing... The title story, the last in the collection, is a beautiful rendering of a final goodbye. This is a broad selection for those who like stories. Jones is an author to watch.” —AudioFile Magazine
The Goodbye Process is not only about loss and grief, but also love and healing. It’s deeply human—and a remarkable read. —Electric Literature
About the book:
In her stunning debut short story collection, The Goodbye Process, Mary Jones uses her distinctive voice to examine the painful and sometimes surreal ways we say goodbye.
The stories―which range from tender and heartbreaking to unsettling and darkly funny―will push you out of your comfort zone and ignite intense emotions surrounding love and loss. A woman camps out on the porch of an ex-lover who has barricaded himself inside the house; a preteen girl caught shoplifting finds herself in grave danger; a Los Angeles real estate agent falls for a woman who helps him detach from years of dramatic plastic surgery; a man hires a professional mourner to ensure his wife’s funeral is a success. Again and again, Jones’s characters find themselves facing the ends of things: relationships, health, innocence, life as they know it.
Arresting, original, and beautifully rendered, this story collection packs a punch―knocking us off our feet.