Grief Is Love

Living with Loss

By: Marisa Renee Lee

Narrated by: Marisa Renee Lee

A trusted grief expert shares advice on how to navigate the loss of a loved one in this incisive and compassionate guide: “calm, lucid prose… humanizing exploration of coping with the life-changing tides of loss” (Kirkus Reviews).

In Grief is Love, author Marisa Renee Lee reveals that healing does not mean moving on after losing a loved one—healing means learning to acknowledge and create space for your grief. It is about learning to love the one you lost with the same depth, passion, joy, and commitment you did when they were alive, perhaps even more. She guides you through the pain of grief—whether you’ve lost the person recently or long ago—and shows you what it looks like to honor your loss on your unique terms, and debunks the idea of a grief stages or timelines. Grief is Love is about making space for the transformation that a significant loss requires.

In beautiful, compassionate prose, Lee elegantly offers wisdom about what it means to authentically and defiantly claim space for grief’s complicated feelings and emotions. And Lee is no stranger to grief herself, she shares her journey after losing her mother, a pregnancy, and, most recently, a cousin to the COVID-19 pandemic. These losses transformed her life and led her to question what grief really is and what healing actually looks like. In this book, she also explores the unique impact of grief on Black people and reveals the key factors that proper healing requires: permission, care, feeling, grace and more.

The transformation we each undergo after loss is the indelible imprint of the people we love on our lives, which is the true definition of legacy. At its core, Grief is Love explores what comes after death, and shows us that if we are able to own and honor what we’ve lost, we can experience a beautiful and joyful life in the midst of grief.

©2022 Marisa Renee Lee (P)2022 Legacy Lit

Critic reviews

“Marisa Renee Lee is the friend we all wish we had in times of need: compassionate, smart, understanding, and endlessly wise. Grief is Love is the closest many of us will get to understanding eternal love for another.”—Elaine Welteroth, cohost of The Talk and New York Times bestselling author of More Than Enough

"Grief Is Love is what the world needs. Marisa’s vulnerability humanizes pain, longing, and loss. Saying this book should be required reading is an understatement."—Alexandra Elle, author of After the Rain

“Authentic, all-inclusive, and utterly breathtaking, Grief is Love is the book that will help you deal with your darkest days and walks with you as you venture back into the light.”—Willie Geist, cohost of The Today Show and New York Times bestselling author of Good Talk, Dad

Excellent book

This is an excellent book on grief. Although based on the author’s grief story from the loss of her mother as a young adult and the loss of an unborn child, she provides her personal journey of grief, what not to do and how to grieve in a constructive and meaningful way. There are several parts of the book where she addresses how her grief was complicated based on the historical aspects of racism and being a black woman going through grief. Although I am a middle-aged white woman, I found the information to be heartfelt and meaningful and didn’t feel it took away from the messages she was trying to write about.

Loved me some chapter 10

This really helped me thanks. Had to blackmail. Somethings did not apply to me but everything pretty much did. I can certainly relate after losing a mother less than a year ago I finally understand.

Essential reading for loss of a loved one

This book truly helped me process some of the complex emotions I experienced following the sudden and tragic death of my father. The author was raw with what she experienced and really helped me understand that everything that I’m feeling is okay and to be expected. She also equips the reader with ways to honor the continued love we will have with our lost loved one- it really helps with healing. Thank you for this book.

Heartfelt story telling

This is the book to read if experiencing grief and want tangible advice for yourself or a loved one. Helps one navigate through all the tough parts of grief and how to come out on the other side. Beautifully written. Sending to anyone who is or has experienced losing someone

Beautiful

I am so grateful that I came across this book. I loved it so much I just bought copies for friends/ family that I think would find it helpful.

Healing

This book has been a God send. Thank you for the honesty and thoughtfulness of your grief. Thank you for showing me that you too have met real love and experienced it in its fullness.

Needed

Since my mother transitioned on April 24, 2024 at 5:42pm, I struggled feeling seen and validated in my grieving. I miss my mommy and I appreciate this book for helping me give myself permission to grieve my mom. Miss you 💜🐘

Simple solutions for over thinkers

I appreciate how often the writer exclaims to give yourself permission, grace etc. I would listen again and again.

Great message

Helped me understand grief and complex feelings that come along with it. I picked this book to read after my father passed away and was comforting to know, but everything I was feeling as normal.

Excellent.

My father died last Friday. My heart hurts so much. Marisa’s book alleviated the pain and made me cry.