Grief is the rawest of human emotions — an experience that’s uniquely personal, and profoundly difficult to describe. At the same time, it’s also something that unites us. Something that can be soothed when shared, which is why reading well-written novels about grief really can serve as a balm, helping us feel less alone, and enhancing empathy so we better understand what grieving friends are going through.

With that in mind, and with National Grief Awareness Day marked on 30th August and the Marie Curie UK National Day of Reflection marked on the 23rd March, we’ve curated a collection of outstanding novels that have grief at their heart. While it’s probable these novels will elicit powerful emotions and plenty of tears, they’re also likely to provide comfort and nourish the heart — it’s not for nothing that grief is often described as being an extension of love.

While all the novels in this Collection come highly recommended, we’d like to highlight a few favourites. The Cookbook of Common Prayer tells the profoundly moving story of a couple coming to terms with the sudden death of their eldest son, with absolutely unforgettable moments of joy between the youngest child and his grandfather. Truly this is one of those rare books that will break your heart before rebuilding it with love.

Another recent recommended read on the subject of grief is There’s Been a Little Incident. This also brims with funny observations of family relationships as a sprawling cast of aunts, uncles and cousins help one of their grief-stricken own realise she’ll always have a place to go home to, no matter how adrift she feels.

Some of the most supportive books about grief may have been written with a younger readership in mind, but they resonate with all ages, not least Laura Dockrill’s The Dream House, Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls, David Almond’s The Colour of the Sun, and Jason Cockcroft’s Running with Horses.

And, among the richness of Young Adult novels that explore grief, we especially recommend Clap When You Land, What Momma Left Me, The Boy in the Black Suit, Long Way Down, and Rebound, all of which are engaging, empathetic masterworks that will move and support teenagers and adults alike.