“Grippingly vulnerable” — No Contact is out on 4/28

Dear friends,

In one week, on April 28, my anthology No Contact: Writers on Estrangement will be published. After over three years of hard work, I can’t believe that the journey toward publication is almost over — although hopefully the book’s journey is just beginning!

Some of you have asked how you can support this publication. If you have already pre-ordered, I sincerely appreciate it. If you haven’t, you can do so at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or — my personal favorite — your local independent bookstore. You can also request the title at your neighborhood or university library; it’s usually as simple as a Google inquiry then a quick form to fill out.

No Contact is an anthology that illuminates the realities and nuances of family estrangement, with essays and a few poems by 32 writers including Stephanie Foo, Nick Flynn, Deesha Philyaw, Cheryl Strayed, and others. Estrangement affects between a quarter and a half of the population depending on the survey, so this topic is deeply relevant.

No Contact was a “Most anticipated book of 2026” in the Seattle Times and Zibby’s Highlights, and a “Must-read book of April” in Chicago Review of Books and Autostraddle. I’ve been interviewed by a variety of publications and look forward to sharing those with you as they come out.

In early reviews, Publishers Weekly said the book’s writing is “grippingly vulnerable. For those who feel guilt after disengaging from family, this offers powerful absolution.” Booklist shared: "These essays touch on themes of mental health, family trauma, shame, abuse, and identity, displaying the complexities of estrangement but also demonstrating the grit and determination of the human spirit to stay strong even during life’s most difficult challenges.” Meanwhile, Kirkus Review called it a “noble amplification of under-heard voices.”

If you’re on Goodreads or Storygraph, please add No Contact to your To Read shelf. Once you’ve read it, consider adding a review. Reviews on Amazon are much appreciated as well. And, of course, I’m grateful for anything you can do to spread the word on your social media channels or anywhere else! Word of mouth is the best possible gift, particularly with a topic as personal and sensitive as family estrangement.

Please join me and over 20 contributors for events on both coasts! It’s sure to be a deep and affirming series of conversations for those of us seeking connection around the experience of estrangement.

• Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30pm ET — Brooklyn, NY: In-person event at Liz’s Book Bar with Hannah Bae, Lindsey Danis, Stephanie Foo, Monique Laban, Emi Nietfeld, Cassandra Lewis, and Domenica Ruta

• Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00pm ET — Boston, MA: In-person event at Belmont Books with Nicole Graev Lipson and Eben E B Bein

• Saturday, May 2 at 7:00pm ET — Miami, FL: In-person event at Books & Books in Coral Gables, with Deesha Philyaw and Soni Brown, in conversation with Ivonne Lamazares

• Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00pm PT — Seattle, WA: In-person event at Third Place Books - Ravenna with Kristen Millares Young, Jane Wong, Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, and Gabriela Denise Frank

• Thursday, May 7 at 6:00pm PT — Tacoma, WA: In-person event at Grit City Books with Tiffany Aldrich MacBain and Oslyn Serratos

• Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30pm MT — Denver, CO: In-person event at Lighthouse Writers’ Workshop with Anna Qu, Erika Krouse, Soni Brown, and Raksha Vasudevan

• Wednesday, May 13 at 6:00pm PT — Portland, OR: In-person event at Broadway Books with Cheryl Strayed and Tiffany Aldrich MacBain, in conversation with Devon Fredericksen

• Thursday, May 14 at 6:00pm PT — Olympia, WA: In-person event at Browsers Books in conversation with Star Wuerdermann

If you can’t attend the tour in person, consider tuning into the following online events:

• Wednesday, May 6 at 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET: Substack Live with Rachel Kramer Bussel for Open Secrets Magazine. Tune in here.

• Tuesday, May 12 at 6:15pm MT / 8:15pm ET: Livestream of the event at Lighthouse Writers Workshop, with Anna Qu, Erika Krouse, Soni Brown, and Raksha Vasudevan. Register here.

To celebrate the upcoming launch, I’m doing a giveaway on Instagram. Enter for a chance to win a print of “Solitude” signed by artist Anna Brones and a copy of No Contact: Writers on Estrangement signed by me, editor Jenny Bartoy.

Click here to enter! The giveaway is open until Monday, April 27 at 11:59pm PT.

Thank you so much for your support. My sincere hope is that No Contact will bring nuance and compassion to the discourse on estrangement and perhaps even change some lives. I’m excited for April 28, and I hope you are, too.

With gratitude,

Jenny