Hi Friends,
Today I want to do a little bit of a different post. I would like to share a few books I have read that deal with grief that I think may help if you are going through the loss of someone, as well as a few books on my TBR that also explore grief and loss. I want to preface this post by saying that I recently went through one of the hardest losses I think a person can experience. In March of this year, March 14th to be exact, I lost my husband. He was my entire world and a big supporter of Books With Bunny. It has been very hard to even think about reading while I’m going through all of this. However, I know how much he supported me and my love of books, which is why I continue to post and share that part of my life.
So I want to share some books with you that might help if you are going through a similar kind of grief, or even a different one. Whether you’ve lost a sibling, a friend, or someone else close to you, maybe these books can bring you a little bit of comfort.
Recommendations For You
You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao
Why You Should Read It: While I didn’t initially love this book, and my opinion still hasn’t really changed, I do think that if you are younger, possibly a teenager, going through the loss of your first love, this could feel like a very realistic portrayal of that kind of grief. Although there is a bit of a supernatural element to the story, I think the ending was done very well. Overall, it shows someone going through the roller coaster that is grief and loss, including the guilt that can come with it.
Related Post: You’ve Reached Sam | Book Review
Message Not Found by Dante Medema
Why You Should Read It: This book handled grief in a very interesting way. It has somewhat of a modern-day twist, with the main female character losing her best friend and uploading all of their text conversations into a computer program so she can still send and receive messages from her. It’s such a unique story in how it explores grief.
There’s also an element where the main character learns things about her late best friend that she didn’t know before, and those discoveries end up hurting her throughout the story. While she still has a deep love for her friend and is grieving that loss, she is also struggling to come to terms with the secrets her best friend kept from her and the pain that comes with that. I think it’s a really interesting and emotional story, and I would recommend it if you are going through a similar kind of loss. It also highlights that no matter how close we are to someone, there are always parts of them they never share, and sometimes questions we will never get answers to once they’re gone, and the impact that can have on a person.
Related Post: Message Not Found | Book Review
In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
Why You Should Read It: This is one of the hardest books I have ever read, and the way that grief and loss are dealt with is so profound. We follow a family as they get into an accident along with some friends, and our main character ends up dying on impact. We see the way her family grieves and overcomes not only the accident but her death through the main character’s eyes, because she is still tethered to all the people in her life with somewhat of an invisible string.
It’s a fantastic story, and by the end, you kinda wonder if that’s what happens after we die, or at least that’s how I felt. I definitely recommend it if you are grieving and want to see an interesting take on what happens to someone after they pass. While it is still a fiction book, I feel like there is a bit of realness to it, so please have your tissues handy.
On The TBR
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
Why You Should Read It: This book is about a woman who loses her fiancé, and while she’s dealing with the loss and her grief, she gets an incredible opportunity: a chance to be with him again. Now she’s caught between two lives: one where her fiancé is alive, and the real one where he’s passed away. This book seems like it’ll explore the pain of loss and moving forward, but also that push to cling to what we’ve lost and still want.
In Time With You by Kristin Dwyer
Why You Should Read It: This YA story is about a girl dealing with the death of her boyfriend and first love.. She’s carrying so much guilt about him dying, and his best friend thinking it’s her fault just makes it harder. She’s trying to deal with the feelings that come with losing someone. But then, somehow, she gets sent back in time to her first day of college last year. She realizes this is her shot to prevent her boyfriend’s death, even if it means saying goodbye to him a different way. I think guilt will be a huge part of the story. It’s a very real feeling that comes with grief that most people don’t talk about, and I hope this book explores it.
It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine LPC
Why You Should Read It: I was personally recommended this nonfiction book. The author is a therapist, and they also lost their partner. My understanding is that it’s about establishing a new way of life, not just going back to how things were, but rather learning to live with grief while still appreciating being alive. This nonfiction book sounds super powerful. I respect that it’s written by someone who’s been through loss themselves and also helped others cope with grieve.
Share in the comments if you’ve read any of these books and what you learned from them. If you have recommendations for books about grief, I’d love to see them in the comments. Remember to like and share this post. Please join my mailing list to help my blog grow; it’s free and you’ll get updates on new posts.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny