8 Books To Read When You Need A Good Cry

Featured Image: @wandering.bibliophile

Am I the only person that enjoys a good cry every once in a while?

Some of the books that have stuck with me through the years have been the ones that shatter my heart in ways I didn’t know were possible.

Stories about heartbreak, terminal illness, families torn apart due to war touch you in a way you can’t shake. They also give you perspective on your own life.

Perhaps you’re made of stone and don’t want to cry but you’re looking for a moving and deeply touching story that will captivate you and leave you a little different. The person I am before a book is always different than the one I become after, even if the shift is unnoticeable.

All these books on the list are deep and will move you. These books will take you on a journey to different countries, times, and struggles

If you’re more of a listener, try audible for 30 days free and get two free books!

..

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This book will break your heart over and over again.

This book is not for the faint of heart, it is very brutal and has some disturbing parts.

The book follows the story of Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan who is the son of Amir’s father’s servant. The boys grow up inseparable until a horrible event changes their lives forever.

Amir moves to America but remains haunted by his cowardliness and disloyalty towards his childhood friend. As Amir struggles with his demons, he decides to come back to war-torn Afghanistan.

This story is tragic, moving, and captivating all in one

You can get the book here

..

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

A true story of love and courage you won’t be able to put down.

Lale is a Slovakian Jew who is sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. He is put to work as a tattooist inside the camps, permanently marking his fellow prisoners as they arrive.

During the two years he witnesses numerous atrocities. Lale risks his life numerous times, using his privilege position, to exchange money and jewels from murdered Jews for food to help keep his fellow prisoners alive.


One day, Lale meets a trembling young woman, Gita, and during his first encounter, he vows to survive the concentration camps and marry her.

A true testament to the human spirit, the power of love and humanity in even the bleakest of situations.

You can get the book here

..

I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

Like most sibling, twins Jude and Noah are incredibly close. However, as the years pass, the twins barely speak to each other.

Something devastating has happened to both twins causing them to become estranged, can they find their way back to each other?

Half the story is told from Noah’s perspective and the other half from Jude. This riveting, emotional novel will make you feel some type of way. It’s poetic, deeply romantic, and warms your heart.

You can get the book here

..

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I’m sure you’ve heard of (and perhaps seen) the lovely, tear-jerking movie with Emma Watson and Logan Lerman.

Even if you’ve seen the movie, this is a beautifully written book that will move you and is worth reading.

It’s a coming of age book where Charlie is navigating the new world of high school, first dates, family troubles, sex, drugs and all the other roller coasters of adolescence.

One of those books you won’t be able to put down.

You can get the book here

..

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safron Foer

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is narrated by 9 year-old Oskar who loses his father during the September 11 terrorist attack in New York.

Oskar goes on an adventure through New York City in search of answers, but most importantly, he wants to find the lock that matches a mysterious key his father owned.

His story is both incredibly funny and emotionally tragic.

You can get the book here

..

Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven

Libby has been dubbed ‘America’s fattest teen’ and no one seems to be able to see past her weight to who she really is. Following tragic events, Libby is left to gather her broken heart and move past her grief as she moves into high school.

Another student, Jack Masselin, recently discovered something about himself. He no longer distinguishes faces. Jack can’t seem to tell the difference between people, not even his brothers

Unsure what’s going on in his brain, he struggles to make sense of the situation.

Then, Jack and Libby become tangles in a cruel high school game that lands them in trouble…

Get ready for a roller coaster of emotions….. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.

You can get the book here

..

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia has the life most dream of. A loving family, a great boyfriend, and she’s even a gifted musician accepted to Juliard. She doesn’t know whether to go on to accomplish her cellist dreams or stay with her family and love of her life, following her heart.

Mia’s entire life changes after a devastating car accident. She’s forced to pick up the pieces of her life back together although everything has changed. The only constant is the question lingering in her head, should I stay or should I go?

This book will both devastate and delight you

You can get the book here

..

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

When Tate meets pilot Miles, the only thing they have in common is an undeniable attraction.

He doesn’t have want love and she doesn’t have time for love, it’s the perfect set up for a sex-only relationship.

But this isn’t your typical ‘friends with benefits’ romance novel. Tate develops feelings for Miles, but she isn’t pathetic or whiny in her pursuits. She’s always in control of her emotions making her a very likeable character. Miles, however, has a heartbreaking past that will leave you in tears every time.

By the end, you truly understand what ‘ugly love’ means as this book leaves a mark on your heart.

You can get the book here

..

Don’t forget to try audible for 30 days free and get two free books!

..

What books have you read that have completely torn your heart?!