Books on Grief That Get It Right
Wherever grief finds us, there are innumerous ways we can try to make sense of it. Some of us turn inward, preferring to distance ourselves from others as we reflect and process our loss, while others look outwardly for support from family and friends and wear our hearts on our sleeves. Maybe you prefer to seek expert advice, like that found in For Grief’s resources.
For those whose access to experts is limited, books about grief can be especially valuable. That’s, in part, why the For Grief Bookshop exists. We lean heavily on grief experts — those with formal education, degrees and certifications — to provide guidance and provide credibility you can trust.
Memoirs are undoubtedly valuable. Sometimes what you need to process your own grief is to hear “I’ve been there”, “I see you” or “you’re not alone”, to feel the empathy that comes with a shared experience. However, there is a fundamental difference in grief experts and people who are experts in their own grief, as many authors of memoirs are. When you need guidance based in tried-and-true research, you want to make sure it’s coming from a grief expert. In this blog post, we’ve noted which books are authored by accredited grief experts as defined above.
Our Team’s Top Grief Book Recommendations
Welcome to the Grief Club: Because You Don’t Have to Go Through It Alone by Janine Kwoh
Best for: Those who are just starting their grief journey and those who don’t consider themselves to be readers
Summary: Informed by the author’s own experience with grief and others’, Welcome to the Grief Club uses brief writings, illustrations and creative diagrams to explore the wide range of emotions and experiences that grief can encompass. It affirms that there is truly no right or wrong way to grieve and assures us that the things we feel that surprise us or seem strange are often common and always valid.
Why we love it: “As a visual learner with a sometimes-fleeting attention span, Welcome to the Grief Club felt like it was made for me. Its lighthearted approach and gentle humor reminded me that grief and joy can coexist while empathetically addressing topics that are often shied away from.” — Laura
Get Welcome to the Grief Club from the For Grief Bookshop.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Best for: Those who need a reminder that they’re not alone in their grief
Summary: This memoir is an account of the year following the death of Joan’s husband and her attempts to make sense of her grief while tending to the severe illness of her daughter. The result is a personal yet universal portrait of marriage and life, in good times and bad. One of our favorite quotes: “Until now I had been able only to grieve, not mourn. Grief was passive. Grief happened. Mourning, the act of dealing with grief, required attention.”
Why we love it: “The vulnerability in this book comforted me in my own time of grief. As Joan wrote what grief felt like to her, I connected with some of her feelings, even though my grief wasn’t for a partner or a child’s illness. It was comforting and helped me put words to how I was feeling.” — Aemelia
What’s Your Grief?: Lists to Help You Through Any Loss by Eleanor Haley, MS, and Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C (grief experts)
Best for: List-makers who crave structure to help make sense of experiences
Summary: What’s Your Grief? Lists to Help You Through Any Loss by Eleanor Haley, MS and Litsa Williams, MA, LSCW-C, feels like sitting down with good friends who truly understand grief. With 75 thoughtful, relatable lists, this colorful book offers practical insights and simple ways to navigate the messy, unpredictable reality of loss. It’s backed by research, filled with expert guidance and designed in a way that feels both comforting and approachable.
Why we love it: “Whether you need reassurance that what you’re feeling is normal, a gentle nudge toward healing or just a moment of understanding, this book meets you exactly where you are. It’s like a cozy blanket and a deep breath on a hard day — an easy-to-digest, compassionate handbook for grief.” — Kelly
Get What’s Your Grief? from the For Grief Bookshop.
It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine (grief expert)
Best for: Those seeking validation in their grief rather than a “fix”
Summary: Megan Devine offers a profound approach to both the experience of grief and the way we try to help others who have endured tragedy. Having experienced grief from both sides — as a therapist and as a woman who witnessed the accidental drowning of her beloved partner — Megan writes with deep insight about the unspoken truths of loss, love and healing. She challenges the idea of “moving on” and instead creates space for people to grieve on their own terms without pressure or timelines.
Why we love it: “Megan accurately portrays that grief in American culture is viewed either as you are sad forever or you will find purpose and fulfillment after processing your grief, like there is a rainbow at the end or you should make something beautiful for your grief that gives the loss purpose. She makes it clear these are not the only two outcomes. Grief is an experience you carry, and no one else experiences loss the same way you do, no matter how similar their loss may be. Megan emphasizes that people often don’t know what to say and your relationships may change or fade after your loss. That’s why it’s important to have people — typically other grievers — who let you truly live in your grief and don’t need you to clean it up or make it pretty.” — Lindsey
Get It’s OK That You’re Not OK from the For Grief Bookshop.
Bittersweet by Susan Cain
Best for: Those who feel deeply and want to embrace both joy and sorrow
Summary: Susan Cain explores the power of melancholy and how embracing sorrow can lead to creativity, connection and meaning. This perspective allows individuals to appreciate life’s highs and lows. She illustrates how intense emotions like grief can illuminate the beauty of fleeting moments. This ability to see both light and dark enriches our human experience.
Why we love it: “This book gives permission to feel deeply, showing grief and longing can be sources of transformation. It’s a must-read for those who see wisdom in sadness.” — Damon
Sisters: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier
Best for: Tweens to teens
Summary: Sisters captures the complex relationship between siblings. Raina, the older sister, longs for companionship. After years of wishing, she welcomes baby sister Amara into the family. Yet, life with Amara is not what Raina imagined. Told over the course of a long summer road trip from San Francisco to Colorado for a family reunion, the story follows Raina and Amara as they navigate the challenges of growing up, family dynamics and the journey of self-discovery. While this book doesn’t center on grief as it pertains to the death of a loved one, it creates opportunities for discussion, which can be facilitated using this guide.
Why we love it: “While this book is not explicitly about grief, it delves into themes of change, loss of childhood dynamics and shifting family bonds. It explores the complexities of family relationships, focusing on the ups and downs between siblings. My tween daughter loves graphic novels, so reading a book like Sisters is a great way to align with her interests are while also discovering stories that subtly resonate with grief themes.” — Niki
Get Sisters from the For Grief Bookshop.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
Best for: Helping young children understand grief
Summary: When something sad happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives, and the rabbit does nothing but stay close, and warm and listen. It demonstrates that people, in general, are trying to be helpful when interacting with someone who’s grieving, even if it may not be what the person needs.
Why we love it: “This is a children’s book, but the underlying lessons of empathy, patience and kindness taught through the storyline are for people of all ages! I loved reading this book with my youngest (6) because it initiates discussion about how everyone processes ‘big feelings’ differently, and in their own time. I also loved that it shows there are many solutions to a problem, and that one size doesn’t always fit all! Most importantly, though, it reminds readers that true support for a friend or loved one often can be the simplest things — being present, listening with an open heart and offering understanding without judgment.” — Nicole
We couldn’t include all of our favorites in this list, so we encourage you to check out the For Grief Bookshop for more book recommendations.