These Top 10 books on grief are lighting the way toward healing

You’re not alone!
Meet these companions for your journey—

The holiday season can magnify feelings of grief and loss. As Dr. Bob Cutillo reminds us in his powerful new book Holding on in the Storm, “even in life’s most shattering moments, when we find it the most difficult, God is holding onto us.”

To complement Dr. Cutillo’s message of biblical wisdom through sickness, suffering, death, and grief, here are other books from Read the Spirit and Reformed Journal Books that offer comfort, guidance, and hope for those navigating loss—especially during this season when grief can feel most acute.

Click on any of the title-links to visit the books’ Amazon pages.

Guide for Grief by Rodger Muchison

Everyone dies. Every family grieves. People are terrified of admitting that we are aging, let alone dying. Many families get stuck in patterns of grief and suffer as friends move on with life. In his Guide for Grief: Help in Surviving the stage of grief and bereavement after a loss,

The Rev. Rodger Murchison brings years of pastoral experience and study, sharing recommendations from both scripture and the latest research into loss and bereavement. This guide’s perspective is Christian, but all families will benefit from these well-tested principles. Each chapter ends with an inspiring prayer that readers can use in the journey we all will take through grief to wholeness.

Healing a Shattered Soul by Mindy Corporon

After domestic terrorism took the lives of her father and 14-year-old son in 2014, Mindy Corporon embarked on a journey of healing through what she calls “courageous kindness.” Healing a Shattered Soul, a deeply personal memoir, invites readers inside her family’s struggle, the support of their faith community, and her commitment to choosing love over hate.

Mindy writes for “those who are seeking inspiration; for those who are searching for a glimmer of hope and faith; and for those in need of necessary, supportive relationships, even in the hardest times.” This book is perfect for anyone facing the devastating loss of a loved one to violence or trauma—and as a reminder that healing is possible even when grief feels insurmountable. A meaningful gift for someone who needs to know they’re not alone in their pain.

Dying Well: The Resurrected Life of Jeanie Wylie-Kellermann by Bill Wylie-Kellermann

This tender love story chronicles journalist and activist Jeanie Wylie-Kellermann’s seven-year journey with glioblastoma brain cancer, and her family’s choice to embrace a process of “dying well” surrounded by community. Written by her husband Bill twenty years after the events, this hybrid memoir weaves together letters, poetry, photographs, and profound theological reflection.

As one reviewer notes, the book offers “flashes of raw beauty and abject brilliance.” It’s an essential read for families navigating terminal illness, caregivers seeking guidance, and anyone wanting to reclaim the power of community-based death care. Dying Well reminds us that “we all know a lot more about family life as it shapes the eventual process of death and dying than we realize”—making it both a practical and spiritual gift for the holidays.

Love, Loss and Endurance: A 9/11 Story of Resilience and Hope in an Age of Anxiety by Bill Tammeus

Award-winning journalist Bill Tammeus writes from the heart about his nephew Karleton, who was aboard the first plane that crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11. Nearly 20 years after that tragic day, Tammeus weaves together his family’s personal grief with broader reflections on religious extremism, terrorism, and paths toward healing.

Love, Loss and Endurance reminds us that “grief is a journey marked by sadness and joy, loss and discovery, doubt and trust, tears and laughter.” For anyone who has lost a loved one suddenly or violently, or who wants to understand how to stand against religious extremism with compassion, this book offers both solace and wisdom. A thoughtful gift for families affected by terrorism or sudden loss.

Never Long Enough: Finding Comfort and Hope Amidst Grief and Loss by Rabbi Joseph Krakoff and Dr. Michelle Y. Sider

This beautifully illustrated interactive book combines poetry and art therapy to create an emotional experience for those grieving. Nationally known for his grief counseling work, Rabbi Krakoff developed the text while studying at seminary, inspired by his realization that no matter how long we have with someone—50 years or 80 years—”it’s never long enough.” Artist Dr. Michelle Sider created evocative images that move from black and white to full color, gently ushering readers through feelings of loss toward acceptance. 

Never Long Enough is designed to be read with someone nearing the end of life or by mourners after a death, and includes pages for personal reflections. A tender, perfect gift that honors memory while offering comfort.

Telling Stories in the Dark by Jeff Munroe

If you are looking for a gentle, grace-filled exploration of how we make meaning in seasons of deep loss, Telling Stories in the Dark is for you.

Through honest stories and pastoral insight, Munroe invites readers to look closely at the shadows of grief—not to escape them, but to discover how compassion, connection, and faith can grow even there. His reflections offer a quiet companionship for anyone struggling through the holidays, reminding us that sorrow and hope often share the same space, and that telling our stories can be a first step toward healing.

Now What? A Guide to the Gifts and Challenges of Aging 

This comprehensive guide addresses the question millions ask when suddenly facing age-related challenges: “Now what?” Written for aging individuals, their families, and caregivers to read together, the book provides practical advice on forming caregiving teams, ensuring safety, and maintaining independence. Importantly, it also emphasizes the gifts of aging—deepened relationships and opportunities to give back.

As one reviewer notes, “the authors covered their topics positively and genuinely, validating aging changes as gifts to work with, not as problems to manage.” Now What? is an essential resource for families navigating the grief that comes with watching loved ones age and lose independence, and a compassionate gift that acknowledges both the challenges and the blessings of later life.

Two Envelopes: What You Want Your Loved Ones To Know When You Die by Rusty Rosman

While this practical guide focuses on end-of-life planning, it’s truly a gift of love that eases grief before it overwhelms. Drawing from years of helping her own parents and in-laws, Rusty explains how preparing two simple envelopes—one with funeral wishes, one with estate details—can prevent family conflict and “keep chaos from overlaying grief.”

With wisdom, humor, and empathy, she guides readers through the difficult but necessary conversations that bring peace of mind to everyone involved. Two Envelopes is an invaluable gift for aging parents, adult children who care for them, or anyone who wants to spare their loved ones unnecessary pain during an already difficult time. As Rusty says, “There’s enough grief when someone we love dies that, if we can alleviate some of it with a little planning, then that’s a good thing.”

God in the House by Margaret Stack

God in the House finally tells the untold story of the Rev. Anthony “Tony” Kosnik, the courageous Catholic priest and scholar who co-authored the groundbreaking 1977 report on human sexuality that challenged traditional teachings and sent shockwaves through Catholic institutions.

This unique memoir tells a multi-layered story of compassion, struggle, grief and the remarkable legacy of Tony’s work. Written by his wife, Margaret Stack Kosnik, a clinical psychologist, God in the House traces Tony’s life from his Polish Catholic upbringing in Detroit, through his seminary training and priesthood, to his co-authorship of “Human Sexuality: New Directions in American Catholic Thought,” the report that the challenged the legacy of Catholic teaching and set Vatican officials on a mission to discredit him and his work. The book explores the personal and professional fallout from that work, his continued advocacy for Church reform, and his later years as a teacher and ethics consultant.

Finding Your Way Through

Whether you’re grieving during this holiday season, supporting someone who is, or looking for a meaningful gift that truly speaks to the heart, these books offer companionship on the difficult journey through loss. Each one, in its own way, echoes Dr. Cutillo’s message: Even in our darkest moments, we are not alone. As you consider these titles, remember that grief has no timeline, and healing takes many forms.

These books aren’t quick fixes—they’re companions for the journey, offering wisdom from those who have walked through their own valleys of darkness and found, as Dr. Cutillo writes, that “God is there with us, always holding us fast.”

All of these Front Edge Publishing, Read the Spirit Books and Reformed Journal Books are available wherever books are sold.