📚 Books for Grief – Our Complete Advent List

This time of year can be especially challenging for those who are grieving. To offer support, we’ve curated a selection of books that provide comfort, insight, and reflection during this time.

Whether you’re seeking solace, understanding, or simply a way to navigate the complexities of grief during the holidays, we hope you find a book to support you among our suggestions.

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#1 – Beloved, Toni Morrison

Beloved (1987) is a powerful, unforgettable novel that lingers long after you finish reading it. While the stages of grief Sethe experiences in the book are considered outdated by modern psychologists, the novel remains crucial in understanding Black grief. It highlights the connection between Black grief and oppression, which is an important step in addressing and healing from it.

#2 – Sad Book, Michael Rosen

Rosen’s straightforward Sad Book (2004) was inspired by the death of his son Eddie, who passed away from meningitis at 18. The book captures how deeply a person is changed by loss, particularly the death of a child. The combination of words and images beautifully conveys the complexity of grief. It’s a must-read for both children and adults.

#3 – Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf

Mrs Dalloway (1925) takes place on a single day in London in June 1923, shortly after World War I. The story follows Clarissa Dalloway, who is preparing for a party, and Septimus Warren Smith, a war veteran dealing with the effects of shell shock. While Clarissa focuses on her event, death is ever-present, quietly looming over her day.

#4 – Goodbye Mog, Virginia Woolf

Goodbye Mog (2001) introduces young children to loss and grief through the story of the Thomas family saying goodbye to their beloved pet, Mog.

Judith Kerr explores themes of death, memory, and legacy, inspired in part by her own reflections as she approached 80.

#5 – Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Dr. Julie Smith

In this 2022 guide, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Julie Smith shares strategies to manage anxiety, build self-confidence, and navigate life’s challenges.

A Sunday Times bestseller, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? has sold over one million copies.

#6 – One Day, Dr. Julie Smith, by David Nicholls

David Nicholls’ One Day follows Emma and Dexter over two decades, exploring the fleeting nature of life and meaningful moments. Offering comfort to those grieving, it reflects on time, connections, and life’s unpredictability, blending humour and emotion to remind readers to cherish memories, even in loss. 

#7 – Now is Not the Time for Flowers, by Stacey Heale

Now is Not the Time for Flowers is Stacey Heale’s candid memoir, exploring love, motherhood, grief, and identity as she navigates life after her husband’s terminal cancer diagnosis.

#8 – Grandad’s Island, Benji Davies

Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies is a tender story about loss, as young Syd journeys with his Grandad to a vibrant island where they say goodbye, offering comfort and understanding to children coping with bereavement.

#9 – Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll is a tale of whimsy and self-discovery. The story explores themes of curiosity, imagination, and the loss of childhood innocence, resonating with readers navigating change or grief.

#10 – A Life Reimagined, Jill Halfpenny

A Life Reimagined by Jill Halfpenny is a memoir exploring love, loss, and grief. Reflecting on the deaths of her father and partner, she examines her journey through mourning and shares insights to help others find understanding and hope.

#11 – The Boy, The Mole, The Fox & The Horse, Charlie Mackesy

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2019) by Charlie Mackesy explores themes of hope, courage, and love, born from the author’s grief after losing a close friend. Its reflections on bravery and asking for help resonate deeply, offering comfort to those navigating loss.

#12 – A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis

A Grief Observed (1961) is C.S. Lewis’s deeply personal account of his grief after losing his wife, Joy Davidman, to cancer after four years of marriage. The book reflects on the turmoil of loss and explores whether faith can endure in the face of profound grief.

#13 – Catcher In The Rye, J.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J.D. Salinger explores loss, grief, and unresolved trauma. Protagonist Holden Caulfield mourns his brother Allie’s death but struggles to express his feelings in a family that avoids discussing grief, leading to his deep alienation.

#14 – The Madness of Grief, Richard Coles

The Madness of Grief (2021) by Rev. Richard Coles is a candid memoir written after the death of his partner, David. With humour and poignancy, Coles captures the complexities of grief — its banality, absurdity, and deep pain — revealing that even a clergyman is not immune to its challenges.

#15 – It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Megan Devine

It’s OK That You’re Not OK (2019) by Megan Devine challenges society’s fixation on “fixing” grief. Devine describes grief as “love in its most wild and painful form” and encourages readers to accept it as a natural response to loss. Her approach emphasises embracing grief rather than trying to overcome it, recognising it as an integral part of love and loss.

#16 – Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Brontë blends Victorian and Gothic themes, exploring death, grief, and the supernatural. Jane matures through her encounters with loss, including her transformative bond with Helen Burns, whose acceptance of death deeply influences her. The novel’s Christian undertones reflect Victorian beliefs.

#17 – Strangers, Taichi Yamada

Strangers (1987) by Taichi Yamada follows Harada, a middle-aged, divorced screenwriter seeking connection. After visiting his childhood home, he encounters a man who resembles his deceased father. Set in a rundown Tokyo apartment building, the novel explores themes of isolation and grief.

#18 – What To Do When I’m Gone, Suzy Hopkins & Hallie Bateman

What To Do When I’m Gone (2021) is a survival guide by Hallie Bateman and her mother, Suzi Hopkins. Prompted by Hallie’s fear of losing her mum, Suzi shared her wisdom, creating this witty, moving, and practical guide to coping with loss.

#19 – Tear Soup, Pat Hwiebert & Chuck DeKlyen

Tear Soup (2005) is a thoughtful children’s book that resonates with readers of all ages. It tells the story of Grandy and Pops, who cope with a profound loss by making “tear soup.” The metaphor of cooking offers a relatable, hands-on way to explore grief, making it particularly accessible for young readers while remaining meaningful for adults.

#20 – Wintering, Katherine May

In Wintering (2020), Katherine May redefines how we view difficult times, urging acceptance over resistance. Drawing parallels to animals in hibernation, May weaves personal stories with mythology, nature, and literature, encouraging introspection and finding solace in retreat.

#21 – Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Brontë examines the intense love and turmoil between Cathy and Heathcliff, strained by class barriers. Themes of class, morality, and the afterlife intertwine with the novel’s exploration of grief and its destructive potential. Dreams play a pivotal role, linking characters to a world beyond the tangible.

#22 – Bright Poems for Dark Days, Julie Sutherland, Carolyn Gavin

This 2021 poetry anthology offers reflections on hope, resilience, love, nature, and more, curated into eight thematic sections. Featuring writers like Oscar Wilde, Emily Dickinson, and Carol Ann Duffy, it pairs thoughtful poems with cheerful illustrations, providing solace and inspiration.

#23 – Strangers, Taichi Yamada

Modern Loss (2018) by Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner explores grief in the digital age through essays and illustrations. Drawing on personal loss, it fosters open conversations about death with empathy and humour.

#24 – In Memoriam A.H.H.,
Alfred Lord Tennyson

This 1850 elegy by Alfred Lord Tennyson honours his friend Arthur Henry Hallam, famously declaring, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Through three depictions of Christmas, it reflects on time and the struggle to comprehend a young life cut short.

Grief is a deeply personal journey, and finding the right words or stories can provide comfort and understanding during difficult times. Explore our curated selection on our Books for Grief page to discover works that offer empathy, insight, and hope.

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