Something Wonderful

“[Characters] delivered in scenes so intimate and thoughtful they’re almost cinematic.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Entrancing. . . . rich and stylistically diverse. . . . Lloyd’s most valuable gift [is]an ability to travel seamlessly wherever she wishes, her agile eye confidently guiding her characters—and her readers—as they chase the almost tangible hope that something wonderful lies ahead.”—Los Angeles Review of Books

“Jo Lloyd has drawn out all the intensity and latent power of short fiction. All her effects are earned, and she writes with the assurance of an original mind. Line by line, her judgment is impeccable, and the whole has a substance and finesse that marks a major talent.”—Hilary Mantel, author of the Wolf Hall trilogy

“Each story displays an incredible breadth, variety, and singularity that has made her one of the most exciting names in short fiction in recent memory.”—The Rumpus

“Impressive. . . . Something Wonderful ripples with intelligence and heart.” —Ploughshares

“Compelling. . . . Lloyd’s crisp prose rings clear throughout.”—The Guardian

A”n extraordinary collection from a writer of rare calibre and sensibility.”—The Times Literary Supplement (UK)

“A brilliant debut collection from one of the finest short story writers writing today.”—Largehearted Boy, Favorite Story Collections of 2021

“Something Wonderful is a wonder, and establishes Jo Lloyd as one of the best short story writers around. Each story here is a richly imagined universe, full of lush detail, human wisdom, and both humor and devastation. She bends space and time, leaping through generations in a few pages, or making a single interaction echo through a lifetime. This is an entertaining, masterful collection from a writer with awe-inspiring range.” —Caitlin Horrocks, author of Life Among the Terranauts

“A language unsettling and of terrible beauty. These stories are startling and wise, all-knowing and versed in the infinite variation of human folly.”—Matthew Neill Null, author of Allegheny Front

“Lloyd’s impeccable scene-setting often leans toward the gothic and fairytale-esque, in order to bring a sense of wonder to each piece.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

“The author shows a knack for stretching each germ of a story into a miniature epic. Lloyd’s singular talent is on full display.”—Publishers Weekly

“The short stories collected in Jo Lloyd’s Something Wonderful are luminous, startling, and diverse. . . . [they] capture telling details in a unique, powerful voice.” —Foreword Reviews