On some days, you want to curl up on your couch, hold a warm cup of tea, and dive into the sadness of a book. Sometimes sorrow can be soothing. Especially when you find a book that introduces you to characters like you or characters going through things similar to your situation, reading such books can be a very uplifting experience. It makes you feel that you aren’t alone, and I think that’s extremely powerful. However, it’s not always the tragedy that makes you cry. Sometimes, a book about two friends can make you cry like a baby.
Best Books That Will Make You Cry π
In a nutshell, when life seems too complex, and you find yourself feeling numb, a good book can make you feel some intense emotions. Such books might destroy you, but they end up leaving a lasting impression. In this list, I am going to share some books that made me cry endlessly. Every time I go back to these books, they still have the same effect on me. So, if you want to experience something similar, then keep on reading.
1. All This Time by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott
I could have recommended the book ‘Five Feet Apart’ by these two authors, but I chose this one because it will not only leave you in a puddle of tears but also make you feel the rush of adrenaline. ‘All this time is the story of Kyle, who gets dumped by his long-term girlfriend, Kimberley. That night itself, the two get into an accident and everything changes. Then Marley enters the plot. Marley is one of the most amiable characters that I have ever read.
She is adorable, kind and wise. But she is going through her trauma. You may think that this is the same clichΓ© story, but it’s anything but that. It’s a complete page-turner with lots of twists and turns. The ending will leave you completely breathless. I had no idea this book would hit me so hard, but boy, was I crying. It was a crazy experience, and I highly recommend it. You can get the book here! π
2. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire SΓ‘enz
When Benjamin Alire Saenz writes a book, he writes it to make his readers cry. I have read three of his books, and each one of them made me feel vulnerable. It’s not the plot that’s sad, but it’s his characters that will push you to feel such intense emotions. In this book, you will read about Ari and Dante’s friendship. It’s about the two of them who are the complete opposite in terms of personality, but they fit as friends. Their connection is strong and unbreakable.
If Aristotle is fire, then Dante is water. If Aristotle is the mountain, then Dante is the soothing stream of a river. They are different, but they are connected. And it’s not just the protagonists that make this book a crying fest. The supporting characters are just as endearing. This is one of those books that will fill your heart with love, kindness and empathy. It will make you feel warm, and the warmth may find its way through your tears. You can get the book here! π
π RECOMMENDED READ: Here is How Benjamin Alire Saenz is Redefining Masculinity!
3. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I had no idea what I was about to experience when I picked this book. I hadn’t watched the movie, and I was utterly oblivious of the pain. So, this is a heads up for you. Read this book only if you are ready to be destroyed emotionally. This book follows the story of Louisa Clarke and Will Traynor. Louisa is hired as a companion/caregiver for Will by his mother. After Will’s tragic accident, he is paralysed from the neck down.
He was a successful guy who loved adventures and sport, but the accident made him bitter, and he hated his life. You may think that this book is a clichΓ© love story, but I beg to differ. This book is not only about Will’s suffering. It’s not about Louisa being the typical saviour for Will. Instead, this book is about how Will transforms Louisa’s personality. He makes her believe in herself and inspires her to dream big. And brace yourself for the ending because it’s going to be quite a crying fest! You can get the book here! π
4. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
‘It Ends with Us’ is a heart-warming novel that follows the story of Lily, who has built her life all by herself. From a small-town Maine to Boston, she has emerged into this strong and independent woman who starts her own business and works hard to make it successful. Then, one day out of nowhere, she meets Ryle β an incredibly handsome neurosurgeon. Lily instantly grows a soft spot for him, and so does Ryle.
Now, you must be thinking that is another typical boy-meets-girl love story, but let me assure you that it is anything but that. When I started reading this book, I almost found the characters shallow but wait until Atlas Corrigan enters the plot. This book is undoubtedly about love and friendship, but you will be surprised how this book explores much deeper social issues. I don’t think I have ever cried this much over a book. This one had me weeping for the characters. But, trust me, it’s a must-read. You can get the book here! π
5. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
This is one of those books that deserves to be read by everyone, irrespective of their age, because there is so much to learn. This book follows the story of a ten-year-old boy August Pullman, who has Treacher Collins Syndrome, because of which he has some facial differences. The book makes us see the world through August’s perspective as someone who looks different and is treated differently.
However, the best part about this book is when the book gets into other character’s points of view. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most heart-warming books that I have ever read. It made me cry so much. So, if you are thinking about picking this book, be prepared with the tissue box. You are going to need plenty of those. You can get the book here! π
6. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
Have you ever read a book that made you feel seen and heard? This is one such book for me. I found fragments of my life in the lives of Frances and Aled from Alice Oseman’s book Radio Silence. Frances is a study machine, and there is nothing in her life more than her textbooks. Until she met Aled, who becomes her one and only friend.
Their friendship started to get intense when the trust between the two breaks, and the story gets rather interesting. This book explores the themes of friendship and platonic love. If you love reading books about love and relationships but hate the messy romantic part, this book is ideal. I found myself sobbing in the middle of the night while reading the ending of this book because that’s how intense it gets. You can get the book here! π
7. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
An enormous family tragedy leaves the sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto in a challenging situation as he tries to find happiness once again. His girlfriend Genevieve is exceptionally kind and provides him with all the emotional support he needs during such a terrible time. Aaron befriends this guy named Thomas, and soon they become best friends. With Thomas, Aaron discovers new things about himself. As he gets closer to Thomas, his old friends and Genevieve feel that he is drifting away. One single memory turns Aaron’s life upside down. What is Aaron’s reality? To find out, you have to pick this book. This book is mind-blowing, and it will hit you intensely. You can get the book here! π
8. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
How can I not mention this book in this list? Khaled Hosseini is a master storyteller who knows the art of transporting his readers to another world. Even though his stories are fictional, we all know that the events happening in the book aren’t just restricted to the fictional world. He presents in front of us the consequence of war and what war does to its victims. With this book, he tells us the story of Laila and Mariam.
It’s about their perpetual suffering, misfortune and the challenges they face as women in a country engaged in war. The writing in this book is palpable, almost tangible. This book will take you to the very edge of your emotional capacity and break your heart completely. If you haven’t felt the mesmerising wonder of reading a book in a long time, I am sure this will help you come out of that phase. It will make you cry so much and then make you smile with the intensity of love and the sacrifice that follows. You can get the book here! π
9. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Many people do not feel comfortable enough to read the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee because it’s a classic, and the language may seem a tad difficult. So, if you are one of them, you must get your hands on The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas because this book is easy to read, relevant and an absolute eye-opener. This book is about a thousand realities, so calling it fictional seems disrespectful. This is not just a book. It’s a revolution.
This book follows the story of Starr Carter, who witnesses her childhood best friend Khalil being shot to death by a white police officer. The news makes to the national headlines and the book centres around Starr’s journey of not giving into silence. This one book is enough to make you aware of the discrimination happening in society. The conversation between Starr and her father will make you feel anger, frustration, and so much more. You will find yourself crying out of rage because this book is spot-on fantastic. You can get the book here! π
10. Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
I want to end this list with one of the most heart-breaking and heart-warming books I have ever read. For those who don’t know, this book is based on the real-life story of Lale Sokolov, who was forcibly sent to the concentration camps of Auschwitz. Since he knew multiple languages, he was appointed as the tattooist to mark the prisoners permanently.
He meets Gita while tattooing her and falls in love with her instantly. He decides that he will not only survive Auschwitz but also marry Gita. The book covers how Lale rescued and looked after his fellow prison mates. If this book doesn’t make you cry, then no other book will. The fact that the book follows a real story makes it an even more emotional read. You can get the book here! π
Other than the above books, many other books are just as emotional. Some of them are β All the Bright Places, The Fault in Our Stars, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Kite Runner, My Sister’s Keeper, No Time For Goodbye, etc.