Chosen by Angela SchellenbergLicensed trauma therapist

Books about losing a spouse or partner

Q: What is the best book to start with for losing a spouse or partner?

Angela’s first pick on this shelf is The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. In her words: “Didion's account of the year after her husband's sudden death. The book most people who have lost a spouse end up reading at some point.”

Q: What other books does Angela recommend for losing a spouse or partner?

Also on this shelf: Widow to Widow by Genevieve Davis Ginsburg; A Widow's Guide to Healing by Kristin Meekhof & James Windell; Option B by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant; The Hot Young Widows Club by Nora McInerny; Widowish by Melissa Gould. Each one has a short note above on who it helps.

Q: Is there a guided journal for losing a spouse or partner?

Yes. Still Yours is Angela’s own guided journal for this loss ($14.99).

For the grief that changed who you are, all the way through.

Books for the partner left behind, and the long work of being known in a different way going forward.

6 books · each with Angela’s note on who it helps

See the books ↓Angela’s journal for this loss →

The 6 books

The Year of Magical Thinking Joan Didion4.2 · 15 ratings Angela saysDidion's account of the year after her husband's sudden death. The book most people who have lost a spouse end up reading at some point. View on Amazon

Widow to Widow Genevieve Davis Ginsburg Angela saysWritten by a therapist who lost her own husband. Short chapters, practical, the book to read in the first months. View on Amazon

A Widow's Guide to Healing Kristin Meekhof & James Windell Angela saysPractical and gentle. Meekhof was widowed in her thirties and the book carries that lived weight. View on Amazon

Option B Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant Angela saysAfter Sandberg's husband died suddenly, she co-wrote this with a psychologist on resilience. Imperfect, useful in the right moment. View on Amazon

The Hot Young Widows Club Nora McInerny Angela saysFor the widows who were not supposed to be widows yet. Funny, blunt, holds nothing back. View on Amazon

Widowish Melissa Gould Angela saysA memoir of being widowed in midlife and the in-between of who you were and who you become. View on Amazon

Angela’s journal for this lossStill YoursA spouse loss grief journal.$14.99See the journal →

Common questions

What is the best book to start with for losing a spouse or partner?

Angela’s first pick on this shelf is The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. In her words: “Didion's account of the year after her husband's sudden death. The book most people who have lost a spouse end up reading at some point.”

What other books does Angela recommend for losing a spouse or partner?

Also on this shelf: Widow to Widow by Genevieve Davis Ginsburg; A Widow's Guide to Healing by Kristin Meekhof & James Windell; Option B by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant; The Hot Young Widows Club by Nora McInerny; Widowish by Melissa Gould. Each one has a short note above on who it helps.

Is there a guided journal for losing a spouse or partner?

Yes. Still Yours is Angela’s own guided journal for this loss ($14.99).

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Grief support groups and hotlines

Hotlines, support groups, grief camps for kids, and online communities, sorted by type of loss.

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