Synopses & Reviews
In this funny, insightful memoir, a young socialite risks social suicide when she takes a job at a legendary funeral chapel on New York Citys Upper East Side.
Good Mourning offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most famous funeral homes in the country—where not even big money can protect you from the universal experience of grieving. Its Gossip Girl meets Six Feet Under, told from the unique perspective of a fashionista turned funeral planner.
Elizabeth Meyer stumbled upon a career in the midst of planning her own fathers funeral, which she turned into an upbeat party with Rolling Stones music, thousands of dollars worth of her mothers favorite flowers, and a personalized eulogy. Starting out as a receptionist, Meyer quickly found she had a knack for helping people cope with their grief, as well as creating fitting send-offs for some of the citys most high-powered residents.
Meyer has seen it all: two women who found out their deceased husband (yes, singular) was living a double life, a famous corpse with a missing brain, and funerals that cost more than most weddings. By turns illuminating, emotional, and darkly humorous, Good Mourning is a lesson in how the human heart grieves and grows—whether youre wearing this seasons couture or drug-store flip-flops.
Review
“Still grieving her dads death, Meyer got a job at a famed NYC funeral home (of all places). Oddly enough, as she charmingly reveals, it helped her heal.” Good Housekeeping
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“If Carrie Bradshaw worked in a funeral home à la Six Feet Under, her story would look something like Meyers charming memoir about her tenure planning funerals.” Publishers Weekly, starred review
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“A page-turning memoir about what goes on behind the scenes at the funeral home where anyone who's anyone in New York goes to be embalmed.” Town - & - Country
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"A behind-the-scenes look into one of the most legendary funeral homes in the country." Cosmopolitan
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“Valuable lessons about living from the death industry.” USA Today
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“Meyers post-college stint at a Manhattan funeral parlor yielded a memoir thats both funny and touching.” People
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"Meyer's new memoir, Good Mourning, is a hilarious and often poignant look at her time at Crawford and her life in the aftermath of her father's death." Bustle
About the Author
Elizabeth Meyer was born and raised in New York City. Passionate about changing the funeral industry, Elizabeth left her first job at an elite funeral home in Manhattan to learn more about the business side of the industry. She holds an MBA from Cass Business School in London, a Bachelor of Arts from New York University–The Gallatin School, a Certification in Thanatology from The Association for Death Education and Counseling, and is a licensed funeral director. Elizabeth has regularly contributed to news articles, has spoken on national syndicated radio programs, and has given a guest lectures. She currently serves as The Funeral Guru at Everplans.com, a startup in New York City, focusing on making death a less taboo, more approachable subject for everyone. Her passion is to educate and empower as many people as possible on end-of-life matters and to modernize the funeral industry.