What happens when a fierce, tamped-down intellect finds a crack in the domestic chimney-mortar? In The Good Bye Year, Picinnini opens the door on a new way of thinking about marriage and mothering. Sylvia Plath once said that “Perfection is terrible, it cannot have children,” but in this remarkable first book, Picinnini has a marriage and three children in a life that moves from perfection to something more real and, at times, is luminous.

Rebecca Foust, author,

All That Gorgeous Pitiless Song and God, Seed


When Toni Piccinni says goodbye to her college-bound child, she says goodbye to a piece of herself, too. ‘The Goodbye Year’ captures the angst and humor of a devoted mother discovering -- through friendship and food -- the post-kid woman she has become. Buy Toni Piccinni’s book for the absorbing story and lovely writing. Keep it on your shelf for the recipes. A nourishing read on every level.

Joan Ryan, author,

The Water Giver: The Story of a Mother, a Son and Their Second Chance


Toni's voice sparkles with wisdom, humor and truth about the paradoxically joyful and painful path of motherhood. From loving to letting go, she speaks for the Mother in all of us, the one who finds heaven in the eyes of a baby and who finds herself stretched thin, tired of putting out fires, thinking "This is not who I am." Then she shows us a way through. I wish I'd had this illuminating book as my teenagers turbo-individuated during their last year at home!

Jessica Shepherd, author,

A Love Alchemist's Notebook:

Magical Secrets For Drawing Your True Love Into Your Life

The Goodbye Year

It’s Senior Year. The last year of motherhood as you know it.