The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Joan Didions memoir is a raw, clinical, and deeply moving account of the year following the sudden death of her husband. It is widely regarded as one of the most honest depictions of grief ever written. Didion avoids sentimentality, instead analyzing the 'magical thinking' that occurs when the brain refuses to accept loss. It is an essential read for those processing bereavement.

The drawback is its heavy, somber tone, which makes it a difficult read for those not currently prepared to confront the reality of mortality.