An extremely reflective book filled with relatable experiences. I found this book to be very informative and transformative.

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Dear Black woman, you are not alone.
God has not disregarded your pain and suffering. God sees you. God knows you. God understands.

This book touches on so many things and will heal your inner self. It was a good listen. I listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and IVP Audiobooks for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A tender, powerful guide that felt like a warm embrace. Black Woman Grief honors our pain while gently leading us toward healing.

Black Woman Grief by Natasha Smith is a raw, reflective, and healing read. It’s part memoir, part guide, and all heart. Smith shares her personal journey through loss, and she speaks directly to the experience of Black women grieving in a world that often expects them to be strong no matter what.

The author takes readers through the stages of grief and opens up about what it means to grieve as a Black woman, highlighting the pressure to stay composed, the silence around emotional pain, and the importance of finding space to feel and heal. Along the way, she offers gentle encouragement and validation for others walking similar paths. The book also touches on our struggles as Black women and the resilience we possess that is ingrained in us.

What I really appreciated was how real and unfiltered her voice is. She doesn’t sugarcoat the pain, but she also reminds readers that grief doesn’t have to look one certain way and that it’s okay to fall apart. Her words feel like a hug and a reality check all at once.

This is a must-read for anyone experiencing grief, especially Black women who may feel unseen in their grief. It’s vulnerable, validating, and a reminder that healing is a journey—not a race.

Thank you NetGalley and IVP Audiobooks for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I originally decided to read this book based off the title and because I recently had a loved one pass away. I had no idea it was going to be about so many types grief that we as Black women through. With that said I really did enjoy this book. And while it is written for Black women I think everyone would benefit from reading this a learning more about how our specific intersectionality places us at the center of the many facets of grief.

I really wanted to like this book but it didn’t give what I thought it was .

I’d definitely recommend to a few friends who’d love it .

Beautiful cover too btw

Black Women Grief is a great read for this current climate. While listening to this audio book, I felt like the author was writing just to me and her voice was soothing like a hug. Her personal feelings were shared but backed up with biblical applications and tips on how to identify, navigate and thrive through the different levels of grief. It was a quick listen, but could very much be lengthen for used as a counseling tool or bible study guide.

Thank you Netgalley, Natasha Smith, and InterVarsity Press for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Natasha Smith's "Black Woman Grief" is not just a book; it's a profound and necessary excavation of an experience often unseen, unheard, and certainly unacknowledged with the depth it deserves. From the very first page, Smith's writing resonates with an unflinching honesty and a lyrical beauty that captures the multifaceted weight of grief as it is uniquely carried by Black women. This is a five-star masterpiece that demands to be read, felt, and internalized.
Smith masterfully weaves together personal narrative, insightful cultural analysis, and poignant reflections on the societal burdens and historical traumas that shape the grief of Black women. She doesn't shy away from the complexities – the layers of racial injustice, the expectations of strength, the silencing of pain – that often compound individual loss. Through her own experiences and the stories she shares, Smith illuminates the ways in which grief for Black women can be both intensely personal and inextricably linked to a collective history of struggle and resilience.
What struck me most powerfully was the vulnerability and courage with which Smith approaches such a tender and often taboo subject. She creates a space for acknowledging the full spectrum of emotions – the anger, the exhaustion, the deep sorrow, but also the enduring strength and the quiet acts of self-care that become lifelines. This book feels like a balm for those who have navigated this specific terrain of grief, offering validation and a sense of not being alone in their experience.
The writing itself is exquisite. Smith's prose is both evocative and accessible, painting vivid pictures of loss while remaining deeply empathetic and understanding. She seamlessly blends memoir with broader cultural commentary, offering new frameworks for understanding grief that are both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
"Black Woman Grief" is more than just a book about sadness; it's a testament to the enduring spirit of Black women, their capacity for love and resilience in the face of unimaginable pain. It's a call for greater understanding, empathy, and acknowledgment of the unique ways in which grief manifests within this community. This is a vital contribution to the literature on grief, on Black womanhood, and on the human experience. It is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, prompting reflection, fostering compassion, and ultimately, offering a profound sense of hope and healing. Everyone should read this book.

This is a great book. My first of this Author. Plan to read other books. I am grateful that I was able to read this in advance. This is much needed for now. Many are grieving.

This book was a lifeline. The author's compassionate voice and unflinching honesty about the pain and grief experienced by Black women left me feeling truly seen and understood.
It's a powerful and moving read that offers both solace and hope.

Thank you InterVarsity press and NetGalley for this copy for my honest unbiased review.

As a Black therapist, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside many women who bear the weight of grief—grief that is complex, layered, and often compounded by societal expectations, cultural nuances, and historical trauma. In my years of practice, very few books have resonated with the depth and authenticity that Black Woman Grief does. This is one of those rare texts that feels like it was written just for us, for our experiences, for the grief that is sometimes so hard to name or even articulate.
The audio version of the book was a great read by the author made me feel as though I was sitting in a sacred space, listening to stories that mirror my own journey especially how it intersects with my faith. The author doesn’t shy away from the intersectionality of our grief—the way race, gender, and culture collide in ways that shape our mourning. What really stood out was how the book honored the strength and resilience of Black women through their faith. While I don't think you have to be a believer to read this book it will resonate with many who are.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to have an advanced copy of the audiobook.

This book hit home. It’s honest, heartfelt, and full of truth. I really appreciated that Natasha Smith narrated it herself—her voice brought so much weight and care to the words. You can tell she’s lived what she’s writing about.

Whether you’re grieving now, have grieved before, or know grief will come—as it does—this book is for you. It creates space for Black women to feel seen, understood, and reminded that God is near in the pain. I loved that the foundation of the book is God’s love—it doesn’t shy away from hard things but meets them with faith.

I definitely want a physical copy so I can go back through it, highlight, and sit with it more.
Highly recommend.

WOWWWWWW! This book was something I didn't know I needed. I've lost a lot of family members in recent years and this put into words so many thoughts and validated them. I plan to recommend this to my therapist so she can recommend it to her other clients. Thank you so much for this Natasha!

Beautifully written!

The authors brings light on discrimination, BLM, christianity and support topics.
I know this might be a sensitive topic for some given the religion is highly involved but it gives a sense of hope and strength.

You are stronger than what you think, grief can be very dark but I encourage you to never loose hope!

A subject that the author touched on that a white individual signaled her out because she was being to “exclusive to the black community” is eye opening to some. People do not comprehend the circumstances and obstacles that people of color go through. Ans it’s not to minimize anybody. But it’s bringing to light situations that people tend to give very little importance.

I read this book—requested by the @griefygirlbookclub on NetGalley—because of its powerful exploration of grief. Natasha is a remarkable author: compassionate, patient, and deeply attuned to the complexities of loss. As a white woman, I found this book incredibly eye-opening in the way it highlights how grief manifests differently across genders, races, and cultures—particularly through Natasha’s lens as a Black woman.

She weaves together the intersectionality of religion, culture, history, motherhood, community, trauma, violence, and civil unrest, layering them onto the already heavy and isolating experience of grief. At the end of each chapter, she offers thought exercises grounded in biblical scripture, yet she doesn’t shy away from exploring the nuanced role that religion plays in grief, history, and the lived experience of Black women. I deeply appreciated her honesty and vulnerability.

This book is raw and tender in its portrayal of loss, yet it remains uplifting and hopeful. Whether reading (I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Natasha herself), it felt like sitting with a comforting friend who truly understands. At its heart, this book sees and honors the grief carried by Black women.

For me, it was not only a touching companion in my own grieving process but also a valuable resource for understanding how grief looks different across communities. I finished it feeling both comforted and more equipped to be a better neighbor, ally, and friend. - @kendelr4

Black Woman, Grief felt like Bible study with a big sister; honest, heartfelt, and deeply needed. As someone currently navigating grief, this audiobook came at just the right time. Natasha Smith creates a safe, sacred space for Black women.

The audiobook experience made it even more powerful. The narration felt like a comforting conversation; soothing, reflective, and full of grace. I appreciated how faith, emotional honesty, and sisterhood were seamlessly woven throughout.

This isn’t just a book about grief it’s a companion through it. One I’ll return to when the days feel heavy. I’m so grateful for it.

Loved this book as I’m experiencing grief. This book provides tips and realistic approaches to handling the most difficult moments of a crisis.

Very relatable and informative. The narrator's tone and cadence werent my favorite but it didnt take away from the message and my enjoyment of the book.

Black women often carry a mountain of grief, sometimes without even realizing they're hauling it around. This book is like a warm hug, encouraging you to embrace that grief, tackle it head-on, and let God work some healing magic. Each chapter is sprinkled with practical tips to help process that grief, paired with heartwarming messages to cheer you on in your journey. Trust me, this book is a must-read for all Black women, whether you think you’ve got grief to unpack or not! This book helped me through a really difficult time, and I hope by sharing this it will help someone else too. ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you to Natasha Smith for writing this book and sharing it with the world! Thank you Netgalley for the audio book!

Listening to this book felt like being seen, heard, and gently guided through the emotional storm so many of us know too well—but don’t always have the words for. The author didn’t just touch on grief from losing a loved one; she opened the door to a broader, deeper understanding of what it means to carry grief as a woman of color.

She spoke on racial grief—something we often keep buried, unsure if it’s “okay” to name it. But here, it’s named. It’s honored. And through her personal stories, you begin to feel like maybe… just maybe… it’s safe for you to start unpacking your own.

What made this journey even more powerful was the way she pointed back to God—not in a preachy way, but in a real, raw, and relatable way. Sometimes, when the weight of it all creeps back in, looking up and leaning into faith might just be the thing that steadies you.

This audiobook is not just informative—it’s soul work. It's a companion for those moments when grief feels like too much, especially in the quiet, seasonal waves that sneak in. I’d absolutely recommend listening with a Bible nearby. Let it be a part of your healing rhythm, your coping toolkit, your sacred space to feel and be held.