Losing [a pet] can feel like losing a lifeline, leaving one to navigate the challenges of daily life without their constant source of emotional support and unconditional love,” writes James in this comforting, straightforward guide to dealing with the death of a beloved animal. Drawing from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s grief model, James walks readers, step by step, through the process of grappling with and ultimately accepting the mortality of their pets, starting with the deep emotional bond that forms between humans and animals. That bond—and the daily interactions we experience with our pets—is what makes their death so painful, according to James, as it transforms “every memory… [into] a reminder of the depth of the relationship and the gap left by their absence.”

James’s passion for animals drives their writing, resulting in a gentle, graceful handling of what can be a distressing topic. Their useful coping strategies include keeping up with routines, such as walks you may have taken with your pet; erecting memorials; volunteering at animal shelters or other pet welfare organizations; and journaling, including a creative idea to write a “letter to your pet expressing the things you never got to say.” James also focuses on how to help children deal with the passing of a pet, as well as assisting readers with the process of acquiring a new pet at the right time, which, they write, “can be seen as a tribute to the love you shared with your former companion.”

The brevity of James’s guide, drawn largely from their own experiences, makes the material more general than precise, but for readers seeking an across-the-board approach to managing grief while celebrating their pet’s life, Comfort After Pet Loss Guide offers a wide array of tips that will bring comfort, closure, and insight. Hints on anticipatory grief and the encouragement to “embrace this path without judgment” are particularly helpful.

Takeaway: Caring, compact guide to grieving the death of a pet.

Comparable Titles: Jeannie Wycherley’s Losing My Best Friend, Jon Katz’s Going Home.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B+