"Romance, touching humor, thoughtful reflections on loss, the chaotic aftermath of death, and even a love story come together in Nora Zelevansky's Competitive Grieving."

"Zelevansky's quirky novel is a heartfelt look at a lifelong friendship and the impact of a friend's death, which can also open a door in one's heart to allow others in."

"How do we handle grief? When Wren's touchstone friend dies, she's unmoored, and even more so when she begins to wonder if she really knew her beloved friend as well as she thought she did. And that makes her wonder: how well does she know herself? Darkly funny and deeply moving, about love, loss, and the transformative power of grief."

"With a satisfying blend of warmth and irreverence, Nora Zelevansky explores grief as both a private struggle and a public performance. Several of these characters began to feel like my good friends--the rest, like my enemies. Competitive Grieving is a sharply observed comedy about the complexity of friendship and the finality of death."

"I absolutely loved Nora Zelevansky's Competitive Grieving: a story about life and death, grief and identity, friendship and memory, told with a sharp eye and warm heart."

"Nora Zelevansky's lovely Competitive Grieving is equal parts romantic, thoughtful, and truly moving--as well as being a lively and sincerely funny exploration of how well two people can ever truly know each other. You will hug your friends a little tighter after reading it."

"Is it strange to find a book about loss such a joyous affirmation of what makes life worth the struggle? With her irrepressible wit and warmth, Zelevansky perfectly captures the vortex that follows a shocking loss, while also reminding us that even on the hardest days there is always the possibility of finding redemption, forgiveness, and even love."