Originally published in 2025, updated with new reflections and additions.
There are so many beautiful, wise, and life-affirming books about loss, healing, and resilience that it’s hard to narrow them down.
I first shared this list about a year ago. Since then, my work with Marigold Path has continued to grow, and I’ve had the privilege of sitting with more individuals and families navigating caregiving and grief.
As that has happened, I’ve found myself returning to these books in new ways and adding a few more that I now carry with me and often recommend.
This is still not a complete list. It’s simply a collection of books that have helped me.
1. Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
This book came into my life just after John was diagnosed with cancer.
Its central message is that when your “Option A” is no longer possible, you make your “Option B” the best it can possibly be. We realized that we could keep living fully but we needed to do it differently. For example, we could still travel but he got assistance through the airport and we took Hop On Hop Off bus tours rather than long strolls. We used the travel tools available to preserve his energy.
After John died, I realized I was now living my Option C. I decided to make it the best, most meaningful, Option C possible. And in many ways, Marigold Path is what grew from that.
It’s a reminder that even when life doesn’t go as planned, purpose and meaning are still possible.
2. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
This is a book I’ve returned to more than once.
Frankl reminds us that meaning isn’t found in what happens to us, but in how we respond.
In grief work, I often see how people begin to rebuild their lives not by “moving on,” but by integrating their loss into who they are becoming. The experience doesn’t disappear. Instead, it becomes part of their story, shaping how they live, love, and make meaning moving forward. This book speaks to that process in a profound and lasting way.
3. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
This book continues to be one I recommend often.
It helps us understand the limits of medicine and the importance of quality of life. This is something that comes up again and again in end-of-life conversations.
It gently shifts the question from “How do we live longer?” to “How do we live well?”
4. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
This memoir is both heartbreaking and beautiful.
Written by a physician facing the end of his own life, it explores identity, purpose, and love in a deeply human way.
It’s a reminder that even in the face of uncertainty, there can still be meaning, connection, and clarity about what matters most.
5. The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O’Connor
This book helped me understand grief in a different way.
It explains how grief reshapes the brain, which can be incredibly validating for people who feel like they are “not themselves” after a loss.
I often see relief when people realize there is a biological reason for what they are experiencing. It doesn’t take the pain away, but it can make it feel a little less confusing.
6. Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks
This book captures something I see often, especially after sudden loss.
When someone dies unexpectedly, there is rarely space to grieve right away. There are decisions to make, responsibilities to manage, and details to handle.
Grief often waits. And eventually, it asks to be felt.
This book reflects that delayed unfolding in a way that many people will recognize.
7. The Book of Charlie by David Von Drehle
This is a wonderful walk down memory lane, filled with history and words of wisdom.
Charlie’s life spans nearly a century, and what stands out most is his resilience. He has the ability to keep going through change, loss, and uncertainty, while still holding onto perspective and even a bit of humor.
As someone who sits with people and their stories, I’m often reminded that what stays with us over time isn’t perfection or accomplishment. Instead, it’s how we’ve lived, how we’ve adapted, and how we’ve made meaning along the way.
It made me reflect on the stories we carry forward and the ones we leave behind for others.
8. The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
I’m always drawn to stories of connection, especially at the end of life.
This story of friendship across generations is full of heart. It reminds us that it’s never too late for meaning, connection, or even joy.
In my work, I often see how powerful it is when people feel truly seen and this story reflects that beautifully.
9. Never Broken by Jewel
Jewel’s story is one of survival, creativity, and healing.
Her honesty about trauma, and how she used her voice and creativity to move through it, is something that stayed with me.
It’s a reminder that even in the hardest experiences, there is the possibility of transformation.
10. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
This one isn’t about grief, but it is about courage.
It came into my life at a time when I was stepping away from my corporate career and into something unknown.
It reminded me that growth often requires saying yes to things that feel uncomfortable and trusting that something meaningful can come from that.
11. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
This is a book I’ve come to appreciate deeply through my grief work.
Didion captures the disorientation of grief so clearly with the looping thoughts and the attempt to make sense of what has happened.
In the grief groups I help facilitate at Solace House, I often see a deep need, especially after sudden loss, for people to piece together the final moments. To understand what happened and what their loved one may have been thinking or feeling.
This book gives language to that experience in a way that feels incredibly validating.
12. The Unexpected Journey by Emma Heming Willis
Caregiving is difficult enough without feeling judged.
In this book, Emma shares her experience caring for her husband. While her journey is very public, the emotions she describes are universal—guilt, second-guessing, and the weight of others’ opinions.
What I appreciate most is her encouragement for caregivers to take care of themselves, too.
It’s a reminder I often share: caring for yourself is not separate from caregiving. It’s part of it.
A Quick Guide to These Books
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a simple way to think about this list based on what you might be needing right now.
If you’re thinking about how you want to live…
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
- The Book of Charlie by David Von Drehle
These books invite reflection. They gently nudge us to think about what matters, how we want to show up in our lives, and what kind of legacy we’re creating along the way.
If you’re navigating caregiving…
- The Unexpected Journey by Emma Heming Willis
- Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
These offer both perspective and reassurance. They remind us that caregiving is complex, deeply human work and that there is no perfect way to do it.
If you’re grieving…
- Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
- The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O’Connor
- Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks
These books help put words to experiences that can feel impossible to explain. They validate the many ways grief can show up—emotionally, mentally, and even physically.
If you’re drawn to stories of resilience and the human experience…
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
- The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
- Never Broken by Jewel
These stories remind us that even in the hardest circumstances, there can still be meaning, connection, and even moments of beauty.
Wherever You Are
You don’t need to read all of these.
Sometimes just one book, at the right time, can shift something.
If you’re in a season of caregiving or grief, I hope this helps you find a place to begin.
And if you’ve read something that has helped you, I would truly love to hear about it. These shared resources are one of the ways we care for each other.
