At Buzzy’s Bees, we know that grief is not a single moment but a lifelong journey, one that no family should have to navigate alone. As part of our mission to emotionally and financially support families facing the unimaginable loss of a child, we are always seeking ways to bring comfort, understanding, and connection to those who walk this path.
We are honored to introduce a new blog series, The Healing Shelf. This series is dedicated to exploring books that speak to the realities of grief including its weight and complexity. Our hope is that these stories, reflections, and perspectives may serve as companions and may offer language for the indescribable, for the moments of recognition, or simply the reassurance that no one is alone in their sorrow.
But we don’t want this series to just be about our voice. We would love to hear yours as well. We’re reaching out to you, our community, to share the books that have touched your heart and supported you through your grief. Whether it’s a title that helped you heal, a story that gave you perspective, or a narrative that spoke to your soul, we’d love to hear about it. If you have a book that you would like to share and review for our series, please reach out to Danielle at danielle@buzzysbees.com.
To begin this series, we are proud to share our very first book review: A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney, thoughtfully reviewed by our own founder, Amanda Drews.
We hope this series brings a sense of connection and care to all who read along.
A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney
A Heart That Works is Rob Delaney’s deeply personal account of his young son’s illness and death. Through raw honesty and moments of unexpected humor, Delaney shares his family’s journey through unbearable loss, the chaos of grief, and the enduring love.
The book explores themes of grief, parental love, vulnerability, and resilience. It explores the fear of speaking grief aloud & the worry that sharing pain might invite more loss or make it too real. At its heart, the book is about learning to live and love again after unfathomable loss.
When I first saw Rob Delaney on The Today Show, catching Savannah Guthrie off guard with his earnest and unflinching remarks about losing his son, I immediately bought both the Audible and paper versions. His narration is genuine, courageous, and unfiltered. He expresses emotions that so many grieving parents feel but rarely say aloud. The metaphor behind the title, that a heart that works is one that’s been broken and still learns to love; is powerful and beautifully expressed throughout.
I can’t recommend A Heart That Works enough. It’s not just for those who have lost someone—it’s for anyone who wants to understand the depths of love, loss, and what it means to have a heart that still works after being shattered.
Delaney’s style is conversational yet deeply intuitive. He balances humor and heartbreak with honesty making readers feel both seen and safe in their own emotions.
“I must confess I now find it difficult to truly and fully relax around people who haven’t had some significant tragedy and pain in their lives. Just another one of the many things that make me a fun hang.” – Rob Delaney, A Heart That Works
This book is essential for anyone navigating grief, but it’s equally meaningful for friends, therapists, and supporters who want to understand what love looks like after loss.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you would like to purchase this book, please do so through our Bookshop.org profile. Buzzy’s will receive a small portion of the proceeds. https://bookshop.org/lists/the-healing-shelf