★The Goodbye Process: Stories by Mary Jones. Zibby. Jul. 2024. 256p. ISBN 9781958506622. pap. $17.99. F

DEBUT Jones’s stories have appeared in many journals, but fans will be delighted to read her first volume of collected short stories. The title story closes the collection, with grief on full display in the most normal of circumstances, a funeral. However, all of the stories speak to some kind of loss, and they range from typical slice of life to surreal fever dream. Standouts include “The Correct Way To Breathe,” which takes place in doctors’ offices and a support group for women with chronic pain; “Realtor,” which takes a look at plastic surgery as loss; and “I’ll Go with You,” with a shockingly violent scene. Jones writes men protagonists particularly well, and the dialogue is somehow relatable and poetic at the same time. She is adept at both first-person and third-person narration, sweet moments, and moments of perversion. With 28 stories, some just a paragraph long, readers can stay engaged through the entirety of the collection or find their favorites to reread over and over. VERDICT Short story fans might just discover their new favorite author in this arresting collection, a must-have.