Fiction Books with a Funeral
Making a list of fiction books about a funeral may seem like a really weird kind of book list, and on some level, it may seem morbid. However, books with a funeral are not necessarily depressing. There are romances, thrillers, and fantasy books on this list and they are anything but a downer.
We chose one of the books on this list as the Beyond the Bookends book club pick for October 2025. So many of the books on this list have unique perspectives on living life to the fullest. Some will give you a great laugh and others will make you think about things a little differently. Kirsten and I read all these books and loved them.
The Best Fiction Books With a Funeral
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre of fiction books with a funeral. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Romance Books With a Funeral
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston – Jump to Review
Best Contemporary Fiction Books With a Funeral
I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney – Jump to Review
Best Mystery and Thriller Books With a Funeral
After the Funeral by Agatha Christie – Jump to Review
Best Fantasy Books With a Funeral
Under the Whisphering Door by T.J. Klune – Jump to Review
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Romance Books With Funerals
The Dead Romantics
Author: Ashley Poston
Year: 2022
Genre: Fantasy Romance
More info: GMA Book Club Pick July 2022
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Florence Day is a ghostwriter for one of the most successful and well-known romance authors in the industry. The name is apt seeing as how she can also see ghosts. But, after a terrible break-up, she no longer believes in love.
When her new editor will not give her an extension on her deadline, she is in a panic and is on the verge of losing her career. Now, the unthinkable has happened. Her beloved father has died and she must return home to bury him. When she sees the ghost of her editor outside the funeral parlor, she cannot understand why he is there with her, and her life is turned upside down.
Why Jackie loves it
This book was a complete delight to read from the very first page. If you are looking for a book for fall, I love this adorable adult fantasy romance book that is totally unique. It reminds me a little of the 2005 movie starring Reese Witherspoon.
Find this book in: Ghost Books / Adult Fantasy Romance Books / GMA Book Club Picks / Romance Books About Books / Fiction With a Funeral / Ashley Poston Books Ranked
Plot
Maddie is grief-stricken over the loss of her older brother, Josh. She is not surprised that he asked her to scatter his ashes. She is shocked that Josh asked his best friend, Dominic, to go with her. Now Maddie must spread his ashes in eight destinations with the one person who broke her heart. Dom has the notes and the instructions to ensure that everything will be completed the way Josh wants.
Trigger Warnings
Loss of a brother
Why Jackie loves it
This is such a wonderful book about dealing with grief and finding love! The trips that Maddie and Dom have to take are sad and healing at the same time. I love the adventures that they take in this book. They learn how to navigate tremendous loss together. It was such a great love story.
Find this book in: Non-Fiction & Fiction Books about Grief / Second Chance Romance Books / Fiction With a Funeral
Rules for Ghosting
Author: Shelly Jay Shore
Year: 2024
Genre: LGBTQ Paranormal Romance
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Ezra Friedman can see ghosts which is difficult when your family runs a funeral home. When Ezra loses his dream job (away from the family) and his mother decides to run away with the rabbi’s wife, Ezra reluctantly comes home to help his family and their dying business (no pun intended).
Ezra also has the unfortunate luck of having a crush on Jonathan who is a volunteer at the funeral home and whose dead husband Ben is a talking ghost who is haunting him.
Why Jackie likes it
I enjoyed the plot and thought it was a fun read. There were a few parts of the story that were left unanswered for me, but I liked the characters and their development
Find this book in: Ghost Books / Books with a Funeral
Christmas by the Coast
Author: Mandy Baggot
Year: 2021
Genre: Romance
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Harriet has flown into the Hamptons for Christmas to help arrange her beloved grandma’s funeral. There, she bumps into Mack, a veteran amputee who used to correspond with Harriet during his time in Afghanistan. As they begin to reconnect over various Christmas festivities, they deal with the heaviness of grief and PTSD.
Trigger Warnings
PTSD
Why Kirsten loves it
I had tears rolling down my face numerous times while reading this story. I loved the mix of Christmas festivities and real-world heaviness too.
Find this book in: Christmas Novels for 2021 / Christmas Book Club Books / Fiction With a Funeral
Contemporary Fiction Books With a Funeral
I see You’ve Called in Dead
Author: John Kenney
Year: 2025
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: Instant National Bestseller, Thurber Prize Winning Author
USA Today April Pick, Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick for October 2025
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Bud is an obituary writer who has not gotten over the fact that his wife had an affair and left him. His life since has not been going well and he is in a writing rut. So when he gets drunk and writes his own obituary, he is in a bit of a difficult situation. He cannot work but he also cannot be fired since you cannot fire a dead man. Now, he must learn to live the life that he has been given. He takes his best friend Tim with him to see if he can learn the meaning of life by attending the funerals of strangers.
Trigger Warnings
Death
Why Jackie loves it
This is such a well written book with dry humor that had me laughing out loud. Bud reminds me of any man who is going through a rough time. His story is beautiful and poignant.
Find this book in: Fiction With a Funeral
Plot
This family saga is told in multiple timelines about multiple mothers. It opens with Lila’s funeral in the present and her daughter, Grace’s reaction to it. But from there it flashes back to Lila’s childhood focusing on how her own mother was committed to an asylum in 196o by her father.
Against all odds, Lila rose to the top of her field prioritizing her job over her children, ignoring that Grace desperately missed her while she was off at White House correspondent dinners. She resented her so much, that she wrote a bestselling book based on Lila. Now Grace’s guilt over her actions in the years and the strain of her relationship has her looking back and pondering if you can ever know yourself without knowing the women who shaped you.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic Abuse
Why Kirsten loves it
From the nonlinear narrative to the deep dive into the intergenerational cycle of abuse and abandonment, this story had a lot of elements that just clicked for me. I was swept into the hunt for Zelda, weaving my fantasies about what had become of her.
I felt like Grace and Lila were deeply flawed in a wonderfully complex way that had me cringing and cheering them on in equal measure. I also adored Ruth, Clara, and Joe and the growth of each of the characters throughout this novel. I’ll be thinking about it for years to come. #gifted by PRH Audio
Find this book in: Family Saga Books / Summary of Like Mother, Like Mother / Best New Fiction Books of 2024 / Giftable Books / The Best Books of 2024 / Best Books for Book Club / Fiction With a Funeral
This is Where I Leave You
Author: Jonathan Tropper
Year:2009
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Age Range:16+
Plot
When Judd Foxman’s father dies, the entire family must come home to spend seven days under the same roof while sitting shiva. The family has not been together in years and the reunion is even more awkward due to Judd’s missing wife, Jen.
Trigger Warnings
Infidelity
Why Kirsten loves it
The week becomes a time to rehash old grudges and remember what it is like to be a family. If you love family drama books, this one is for you.
Find this book in: Fiction With a Funeral / Books About Grief / Family Drama Books
My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry
Author: Fredrik Backman
Year:2013
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: NY Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Elsa’s best friend is her grandmother and Elsa has grown up listening to stories about the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas. When Elsa’s Grandmother dies, she leaves Elsa with a stack of apology letters to people that she has wronged and asks Elsa to deliver them.
Trigger Warnings
Animal Death
Why Jackie loves it
I read this book right after I read A Man Called Ove, and this solidified my view of Backman as a gifted writer. There is nobody that can weave together relationships into a story quite like him. This is a story unlike any that I have read.
Find this book in: Fiction With a Funeral / Books like Ove
The Celebrants
Author: Steven Rowley
Year: 2023
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: June 2023 Read With Jenna Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a story of friendship that has lasted decades, cemented in stone when one of their best friends died by suicide shortly before college graduation. Never wanting to face the loss of each other or doubts of how much they mean to one another happen again, the friends make a pact: a living funeral, to see how long they will be missed.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide
Why Kirsten loves it
Steven Rowley writes with wit and humor as we see the lowest point in each character’s life when the previous funerals are reflected on. But he really shines, in the final chapters when these friends help Jordan and his partner grieve. It’s a lovely book about grief and friendship.
Find this book in: Fiction With a Funeral / June 2023 Celebrity Book Club Spoilers / Books About Grief / 2024 Read With Jenna
Plot
It’s about a family that learns a shocking secret at their grandfather’s funeral and must spend the next week coming to terms with what they learned. From pregnancies to struggling marriages, the drama unfolds as the children and grandchildren try to help their matriarch grieve and come to terms with the long-held secret.
Trigger Warnings
Infidelity
Why Kirsten loves it
Like all good family sagas, each member of the family also has their own life struggles. This novel about grief reminded me of This is Where I Leave You.
Find this book in: Fiction With a Funeral / Books About Grief
Thriller and Mystery Books With Funerals
After the Funeral
Author: Agatha Christie
Year: 1953
Genre: Mystery
More info: Hercule Poirot #29
Age Range: 15+
Plot
Set immediately after the death of Richard Abernethie’s funeral, his sister is convinced that he was murdered. Hercule Poirot swiftly descends, interviewing the gathered family to get to the bottom of the patriarch’s death.
Trigger Warnings
Racial Slurs, Murder
Why Kirsten loves it
I love Agatha Christie’s writing, and I can never guess who the murderer is. This book was no exception. Well done Monsier Poirot.
Find this book in: Fiction With a Funeral / Agatha Christie in Order
Fantasy Books With Funerals
Under the Whispering Door
Author: T.J Klune
Year: 2021
Genre: Fantasy
More info: New York Times Bestseller, Locus Awards Top Ten Finalist for Fantasy Novel
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Wallace is dead. When the reaper collects him at his funeral and brings him to a strange tea shop, Hugo is waiting with the promise of helping him cross over.
Wallace is not happy to be dead which is not surprising considering he was never happy when he was alive. This light fantasy will make you smile until the last page.
Why Jackie loves it
How many stars can I give? T.J. Klune has done it again with the wonderful book. House on the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book last year. I read this paranormal book in a day and loved every minute of this wonderful family drama book that is truly about found family. The character development feels real as Wallace finds himself and discovers what life is all about.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Best Family Drama Books / Best Ghost Books / Best Fall Books / Fiction With a Funeral
Lincoln in the Bardo
Author: George Saunders
Year: 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Man Booker Prize Winner
Age Range: 15+
Plot
Strange, but probably one of the most imaginative novels I have ever experienced. It’s about the night that Abraham Lincoln buried his son and takes place entirely in the cemetery.
Trigger Warnings
Child Death
Why Kirsten loves it
I listened to this full cast audiobook which was great because it used 166 voices including David Sedaris, Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Kat Dennings, and Don Cheadle among others. As ghost books go, this one is not to be missed! it’s truly one of the best fantasy audiobooks ever! If you are looking for a book for fall, this pick is fantastic.
Find this book in: Fiction With a Funeral /Best Audiobooks / Best Full Cast Audiobooks / Best Ghost Stories / Best Fall Books / Best Books of 2017
Expert Tip
There are some fantastic books in this list of fiction books with a funeral, but if you need help choosing which book to read, here are some things to consider
- Pick a fantasy or a romance if the topic seems too heavy
- Have a look at the book descriptions. Are you a “Jackie” or a “Kirsten”? See who read it and why we liked it to help you choose.
- Join the Beyond the Bookends Book Club and you can discuss our October 2025 pick, I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fiction book with a funeral?
A fiction book with a funeral is a book that has a funeral at the center of the story. These books can fall into many genres like romance, fantasy, thrillers, and fiction
Are all fiction books with a funeral sad?
No. Many of the books on this list are funny. Some of the books are sad, but they are not tear-jerkers. You do not need to have tissues on hand to red these books.
Related Content
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Epilogue
How many of these fiction books with a funeral have you read? Is there a book on this list that you think I am missing? Please let me know so I can add it to my TBR!
