Healing Through Pages: Grief Book Recommendations for Adults

Grief is complex, personal, and ever-changing. While there’s no single “right way” to heal, many people find solace in the words of others who have walked through loss. Books can offer comfort, understanding, and practical guidance when it feels like the world has shifted.

Here are some thoughtful recommendations you may find meaningful. Also - we have gone ahead and hyperlinked each book title to it's Amazon link for easy finding and purchase.

• Getting Grief Right by Patrick O’Malley — A reminder that grief is not about “moving on” but honoring our ongoing bond with those we’ve lost.

• It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine — Honest insight into building a life alongside grief, not beyond it.

• The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O’Connor — An exploration of the science of grief and how our minds adapt to loss.

• As Long as You Need by J.S. Park — A compassionate voice reminding us there’s no timeline for grief.

• A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney — A raw and deeply human account of a parent’s loss and enduring love.

• Bittersweet by Susan Cain — A reflection on how sorrow and longing can expand our capacity for joy and connection.

• Grief Day by Day by Jan Warner — Daily practices and reflections for living fully with loss.

• The Cure for Sorrow by Jan Richardson — Honest, unflinching blessings written in the depths of grief.

• Healing After Loss by Martha Whitmore Hickman — Daily meditations that offer comfort and connection across time.

• Option B by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant — A powerful blend of personal story and research on resilience and hope.

Project 4031's Grief and Healing Recommendations

Whether you’re facing fresh loss, sitting with long-term sorrow, or supporting someone grieving, these books offer diverse perspectives—from memoirs and meditations to science and spiritual reflection. Many of them are also available as e-books or audiobooks through the Libby app, so you may be able to borrow them for free from your local library.

Grief is not a journey we have to take alone. Sometimes, the right words on a page can remind us that comfort, courage, and even glimpses of joy are still possible.

Disclaimer: Project 4031 does not profit from the sale of these books, nor from any purchases made by our patients or their families. These titles are shared solely as recommendations based on our own reading and research, with the hope they may offer comfort and guidance to those navigating grief. We are completely unaffiliated with the authors or publishing companies of these books.