📖 Overview
Megan Devine is a psychotherapist, grief advocate, and author best known for her work challenging conventional approaches to grief and loss. Her book "It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand" has become a cornerstone text in the field of grief support.
After experiencing the sudden death of her partner in 2009, Devine developed new frameworks for understanding grief that went against traditional models of "grief recovery" and staged healing. Her work emphasizes grief as a natural response to loss rather than a condition requiring a cure.
Through her writing and teaching platform Refuge in Grief, Devine has trained thousands of healthcare professionals, therapists, and community leaders in grief-related support skills. Her essays and articles on grief have appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Modern Loss.
Devine frequently speaks at healthcare conferences and has been featured as a grief expert on NPR, The Atlantic, and Slate. Her work continues to influence contemporary discussions about grief, advocating for cultural changes in how loss and pain are acknowledged and supported.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently highlight Devine's honest, direct approach to grief that rejects pressure to "get over it" or find silver linings. Many reviews mention feeling validated and understood, particularly by her rejection of the five stages of grief model.
What readers liked:
- Raw, realistic portrayal of grief without forced positivity
- Practical tools and exercises for coping
- Recognition that grief doesn't need to be "fixed"
- Clear writing style that avoids clinical language
What readers disliked:
- Some repetition of key concepts
- Limited focus on specific types of loss
- Can feel overwhelming for those early in grief
Ratings across platforms:
Amazon: 4.7/5 from 4,800+ reviews
Goodreads: 4.5/5 from 8,900+ ratings
Notable reader comment: "Finally, someone who doesn't try to therapize my pain away or tell me there's a timeline for healing" (Goodreads)
Critical comment: "Good message but could have been condensed into a shorter book" (Amazon)
📚 Books by Megan Devine
It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand (2017)
A guide that addresses grief, loss, and the shortcomings of conventional approaches to grief support, based on the author's personal experience and professional expertise as a psychotherapist.
How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief (2020) An interactive workbook featuring writing prompts, exercises, and guidance for those experiencing grief and loss.
When Everything Is Not Okay: A Care Package for Your Grief (2022) A collection of cards containing messages and prompts designed to support people through periods of grief and loss.
When Someone You Love Is Grieving: How to Show Up Without Taking Over (2023) A practical handbook outlining specific ways to support grieving people while respecting their individual experience.
How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief (2020) An interactive workbook featuring writing prompts, exercises, and guidance for those experiencing grief and loss.
When Everything Is Not Okay: A Care Package for Your Grief (2022) A collection of cards containing messages and prompts designed to support people through periods of grief and loss.
When Someone You Love Is Grieving: How to Show Up Without Taking Over (2023) A practical handbook outlining specific ways to support grieving people while respecting their individual experience.
👥 Similar authors
Pauline Boss writes about ambiguous loss and grief without closure, focusing on situations like dementia or missing persons. Her work examines how people cope when loss remains unresolved, similar to Devine's approach to complex grieving experiences.
Claire Bidwell Smith combines her background as a grief counselor with personal loss narratives. Her books explore the intersection of anxiety and grief, drawing from both clinical practice and firsthand experience.
Roshi Joan Halifax writes about death, loss and caregiving from a Buddhist perspective while incorporating scientific research. Her work focuses on being present with suffering and developing resilience through contemplative practice.
Julia Samuel draws from her decades of experience as a grief psychotherapist to examine how people navigate loss. She uses case studies to illustrate different grief responses and coping mechanisms, much like Devine's practical approach.
David Kessler builds on Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's work while challenging rigid stage-based models of grief. His books address finding meaning after loss while acknowledging there is no single "right" way to grieve.
Claire Bidwell Smith combines her background as a grief counselor with personal loss narratives. Her books explore the intersection of anxiety and grief, drawing from both clinical practice and firsthand experience.
Roshi Joan Halifax writes about death, loss and caregiving from a Buddhist perspective while incorporating scientific research. Her work focuses on being present with suffering and developing resilience through contemplative practice.
Julia Samuel draws from her decades of experience as a grief psychotherapist to examine how people navigate loss. She uses case studies to illustrate different grief responses and coping mechanisms, much like Devine's practical approach.
David Kessler builds on Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's work while challenging rigid stage-based models of grief. His books address finding meaning after loss while acknowledging there is no single "right" way to grieve.