My Therapist Says This Grief Journal Is a Good Idea

by Andrew Katz

“I am writing this grief journal at the repeated advice of my therapist. I’m writing it to myself, as my own reader. I hate readers. Mostly because I hate myself.”

You could say Kyle Jr. grew up in a dysfunctional family. That’d be an understatement. His mother’s wealthy family disinherited her for marrying the working-class Kyle Sr., and she’s never forgiven him (or KJ) for that.

When his father’s suicide turns his life upside down, KJ fills his therapist-recommended grief journal with plenty of sarcasm, excerpts from sweary, punny high-school short stories, and fourth-wall-breaking asides. Through all the bravado and swagger, a portrait emerges of a young man confronting a dark past with genuine compassion and keen insight. He’s determined to reconcile with its legacy–and to survive.

304 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2025

About the author

Andrew Katz, when not reading and writing fiction, enjoys puppers and doggos, black coffee, hiking and writing bios that read like poorly made dating profiles. He is also the proud owner of several paintings he did himself and hides from the world because they’re bad. He works and lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost my own father about a month ago, and I too come from a difficult family background. So much of the anger and grief resonates with my own. It was hard to read, emotionally. It’s heavy, but it’s nice to not feel alone in my healing (suffering?).
I may be biased, but this is one of my favorite reads this year. I am thankful to have met Andrew at a fair and bought his book.

[Aim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I actually really started reading this book yesterday and finished it in one sitting. I picked it up randomly at my library (support local y’all), and thought it would be just a slightly heavy read but something that may provide some insight into grief. Who knew I’d actually genuinely enjoy it. It read like an autobiography and also, at the same time, like a story within a story. The characters wit and dry sense of humour really made the story. I’m not the best with my words but I really felt that KJ’s use of words and, at times, chaotic thought processes echoed my own.

The ending was strangely cathartic in a way while not really trying hard to be. Like how the journal began, it ended the same way. When the main character decided it would. When he was done with the journal and felt the acceptance then so was the story. And you could feel that through the ending, too.

Grief is ongoing and doesn’t have a true ending. Just like life you sort of have to accept things and let go of things to feel that closure.

Maybe I should start a journal of my own lol.

[Nick Bravo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Katz has this unique way of tackling complex and societal taboo issues in a humorous approachable way. This is his second book and it’s clear that a lot of craft and know-how go into his approach on these topics. Won’t leave any spoilers here but an overall a great and easy read with plenty of stand out humor that never feels forced or just placed pathos that has become too prevalent with other contemporaries when broaching such subjects.

[Roberta Schloss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from a dysfunctional family myself, I thought this book was fabulous. The intelligence, humor, wit, sarcasm and creativity of KJ shines through along with his horrific family life. I am touched by his compassion for people and dogs. The book begins with KJ writing a grief journal, on the suggestion of this therapist, to process his father's suicide. The roller coaster of events with his parents and brother is heartwrenching. Knowing that KJ is a fictional character, I want the best for him in the future.

[Nick Gregorio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, brutal, savage, and hysterical, Andrew Katz’s My Therapist Says This Grief Journal is a Good Idea is a profound study of family, friendship, mental health, and the very nature of literature itself. It’ll make you giggle, then kick you in the gut, spit in your face, and give you a wink and a smirk before finding new and clever ways to repeat that cycle—often on the same page. Katz does it again. Get reading!

[Jessi Joy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. Just strange. So disjointed. I tried, I really did, but I just couldn’t put myself through listening anymore.
This book was kind of like a boyfriend who you stay with longer than you should have because you can see his potential and you just keep hoping things will get better. There are small signs of hope but ultimately all you’re left with is crumbs, and you finally realize you deserve the whole cookie, not just crumbs.

[Josh Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This family isn’t for the faint of heart. Katz’s second novel inspects a 4-piece family down to their very essence. While I felt the story was lengthier than necessary, the fact of turning over every stone is the point. Veered between intriguing vignettes to over-explaining K.J.’s thought process. It’s not perfect because the characters can never be perfect.

[Kristin Liggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! Andrew Katz’s writing style really spoke to me. He handled heavy, dark subjects with just the right balance of humor. The main character and his emotions were so realistic the book felt like a memoir. If you aren’t reading Andrew Katz’s books, you should be.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was good. The journal structure didn't really work, or at least didn't add to the story since it was almost all about the past, and I didn't need to know what specific date entries were written. It was good as a character study of a dysfunctional family.

[Esther Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

felt like the author was inside my brain and then wrote this book

the end really hurt my feelings, in the best way possible for this storyline

[Michael Lash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuinely good book with some really serious family drama/tragedy but also very funny. Definitely worth the time even though it did leave me feeling some type of way

[Alyssa Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

the prose was sloppy, the storyline nonexistent; still made me cry at the end; cripplingly easy to follow, so good for new readers

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!