Books That Helped Me Through Grief & Finding Meaning

Losing someone you love is a journey no one chooses, and there’s no roadmap for how to survive it. These books have helped me navigate grief, process emotions, and even find meaning in the pain. If you’re walking this path, I hope they offer you comfort and support.

Books on Grief & Healing

📖 George’s Compass: How to Navigate Grief – Amanda Gervais This book is deeply personal because I wrote it from my own experience of losing a child. It’s for parents who feel lost in grief, offering understanding, validation, and hope. If you’ve lost a child, I hope this book helps you feel less alone.

📖 Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief – David Kessler Kessler introduces a sixth stage of grief: finding meaning—not in the loss itself, but in how we carry our loved one forward. This book helped me realize that honoring my son’s legacy is part of my healing.

📖 Permission to Mourn: A New Way to Do Grief – Tom Zuba Grief isn’t something you "get over." This book helped me shift my perspective—grief is something we learn to carry with love. If you’ve ever felt like you’re grieving "wrong," this book is for you.

📖 Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief – Joanne Cacciatore Raw, real, and deeply moving. If you’ve lost a child, this book speaks to a pain that most people can’t put into words. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it makes you feel seen.

Books on Signs & The Afterlife

🦋 Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe – Laura Lynne Jackson After losing my son, I started noticing signs—feathers, coins, and the number 27. This book reassured me that our loved ones are still with us, communicating in ways we might overlook. If you’ve ever received a sign, this book will confirm what you already feel in your heart.

🦋 The Light Between Us – Laura Lynne Jackson This book dives deeper into the idea that love and connection never die. Reading this helped me trust that my son is still close, just in a different way.

🦋 Where Did You Go? – Christina Rasmussen A powerful book about connecting with loved ones beyond this life. It explores ways to feel their presence and continue your bond with them. If you’re open to the idea that love doesn’t end, this book is a comforting read.

🦋 The Map of Heaven – Eben Alexander Written by a neurosurgeon who had a near-death experience, this book blends science and spirituality. It reinforced my belief that there is more beyond this life.

Books for Strength & Moving Forward

💛 Untamed – Glennon Doyle Grief changes you. This book isn’t about loss, but it is about stepping into who you truly are. It reminded me that even in pain, we still have a life to live—and we deserve to live it fully.

💛 Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow – Elizabeth Lesser This book helped me see that loss, while heartbreaking, can also lead to deep transformation. It doesn’t take away the pain, but it helps you see how grief can shape you in ways you never expected.

💛 Radical Acceptance – Tara Brach Grief often comes with guilt, anger, and resistance. This book teaches mindfulness and self-compassion—two things that have been crucial in my healing.

💛 The Surrender Experiment – Michael A. Singer Letting go is hard, especially when you’ve experienced loss. This book helped me learn to surrender to what life brings, rather than fight against it.

Grief isn’t a problem to fix—it’s love that doesn’t know where to go. These books won’t erase the pain, but they might help you carry it in a way that feels a little lighter. If you’re struggling, I see you.

Are there any books that have helped you? Let me know—I’d love to add to this list.