What to Do When I'm Gone

Hallie Bateman and her mother have created a funny, beautiful guidebook … that’s simultaneously deeply personal and super universal in that it chisels to the core of how complicated and wonderful mother-daughter relationships are. * Los Angeles Magazine *The very concept of this book–Hopkins’ day-by-day breakdown of what Bateman should do when she’s gone–immediately made me emotional, but the book itself is surprisingly hopeful, and a reminder that there’s life again even after unimaginable loss. * Shondaland “New Books You’ll Want to Read This April” *A true collaboration … Readers may expect that this mother-daughter exercise is heartfelt but will probably be surprised by how thorough it is in its thoughtful treatment of how to handle one’s own life and death in addition to the loss of a loved one. * Booklist *The advice is always warm and often wise, accompanied by illustrations that often reflect a playfulness reminiscent of Roz Chast. This isn’t a morbid book, nor a particularly dark one, but a book about facing the inevitable with grace and good humor. * Kirkus *Full of the kind of counsel that will have readers longing to call their own mother, the book additionally features recipes that, while lacking in precision, exemplify Hopkins’s charming, loving voice. * Library Journal *An exceptional self-help guide … Their graphic memoir is filled with plenty of heartfelt wisdom and edgy humor reminiscent of Roz Chast’s Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? … What can you do to help someone who’s recently lost a mom? Give them a copy of What to Do When I’m Gone. * BookPage *A heartfelt illustrated manual to navigating the grieving process. Written from the perspective of the deceased, and told through punchy language and moving illustrations, What to Do When I’m Gone feels less like a self-help book and more like your deceased loved one taking your hand as you move from one stage of grief to the next. The result is a thoughtful, engaging work that serves as a guidebook, a comfort, and a reminder of a mother’s love. It’s funny, too. * The Gazette *A gorgeous, practical, loving and lovely book. – Caroline LeavittTaking something as monumental as grief and loss and making it handleable, even for a small bit of time, is no small achievement. And this book achieves just that with humor and honesty and recipes. All critical for persevering. – Maira KalmanBrimming with beautiful illustrations and hilarious, touching prose, this book is perfect for every mother and daughter and anyone who will someday lose someone they love, which is to say, everyone. I laughed and cried then immediately called my own mother and asked her to tell me everything now, before it’s too late. – Wendy MacNaughtonBeautiful, heart-wrenching, funny. I’ll keep this book close till the day I need it–and pass it to my son for the day he will. – Ally Sheedy

Suzy Hopkins is a former newspaper reporter and magazine publisher. She is also coauthor of What to Do When You Get Dumped with her daughter, writer and illustrator Hallie Bateman. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hallie Bateman is a writer and illustrator whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, the NYT Magazine, and many others. Her books include Directions, Brave New Work, and What to Do When You Get Dumped. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.