Admittedly, I read through several chapters and did not connect with The Grieving Body. I was impressed by the level of research; obviously, Mary-Frances O'Connor knows her material. However, even with that, right from the introduction, I just could not get embedded in this book like I do with others. It could be that the premise that readers may not think the body feels grief may be too foundational for me, in that I have read many books about death and dying and grieving to know that there is just as much physical strain as there is emotional strain when it comes to the grieving process. So, impressive scientifically; but not my cup of tea.

Over on my booktube channel (Hannah's Books), I shared this book in my description of exciting books forthcoming in February. Link to the particular discussion: https://youtu.be/LbU2uGZy46I?si=bewZBB6KPafqI1Du&t=204

This is an excellent and informative book…it talks about what is going on with your body while you are in the process of grieving a loved one. A deeper exploration must you say. My mother passed away last year and this book is helpful with navigating the grief and how linked together everything is. This is well researched and would definitely recommend.

I found The Grieving Body by Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD a fascinating read. It amazed me how the human body responds to grief physiologically in a myriad of ways. Grief impacts ALL of the components which make us who we are - our mind, our spirit, and our physical body as well. It's no wonder it can affect us so deeply!

The book is well researched and documents several studies on grief and grieving. It can be "heavy" at times, but O'Connor presents information well. She also makes it a relatable read by including her personal anecdotes and things she learned throughout her own grieving experiences.

My thanks to Harper One for allowing me to access a DRC of the book via NetGalley. Publication is 2/11/25. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Very well researched and explained to reach a large variety of patrons. We all experience loss of some kind and the trauma it can have on the body is astounding.

The Grieving Body intrigued me because every person I know has grieved including myself . Grief is chronic. No one can escape it. While I found this book fascinating at times, it got into the weeds with the science. It was hard to get through. I know I gained some valuable info, but likely won’t retain it for long. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.