Books that will make you cry
Keep the tissues close. These are the novels readers say broke their hearts, in the best way.
20 books
- 1Me Before You
Me Before You
Jojo MoyesThe heartbreaking story of a caregiver and her patient facing life-ending decisions will deeply move readers.
- 2The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars
John GreenTwo teenagers falling in love while battling cancer explore love, loss, and the fragility of life.
- 3The Book Thief
The Book Thief
Markus ZusakSet in Nazi Germany, this novel about a girl who steals books and finds solace in stories is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
- 4The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner
Khaled HosseiniA powerful tale of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of Afghanistan's troubled history.
- 5The Road
The Road
Cormac McCarthyA post-apocalyptic journey of a father and son fighting to survive reveals the depths of love and despair.
- 6The Bell Jar
The Bell Jar
Sylvia PlathPlath's semi-autobiographical novel about a young woman's mental health struggle is poignant and unsettling.
- 7To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper LeeThrough the eyes of a child, this novel explores racial injustice and moral growth in the American South.
- 8East of Eden
East of Eden
John SteinbeckAn epic family saga exploring the complexities of good and evil, and the lasting impact of secrets.
- 9The Notebook
The Notebook
Nicholas SparksA poignant tale of enduring love and memory loss that evokes deep emotional responses.
- 10A walk to remember
A walk to remember
Nicholas SparksExplores themes of love, loss, and faith through the story of a tragic romance.
- 11The Color Purple
The Color Purple
Alice WalkerA harrowing yet hopeful story of abuse, resilience, and sisterhood in the American South.
- 12Beloved
Beloved
Toni MorrisonA heart-wrenching narrative of a mother's love and the haunting legacy of slavery.
- 13The Old Man and the Sea
The Old Man and the Sea
Ernest HemingwayA short novel about perseverance, loss, and the human spirit that stirs deep emotions.
- 14The Silent Patient
The Silent Patient
Alex MichaelidesA psychological thriller that delves into themes of grief, guilt, and unspoken pain.
- 15The Vanishing Half
The Vanishing Half
Brit BennettExplores identity, sacrifice, and the enduring impact of childhood separation on two sisters.
- 16A Thousand Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Khaled HosseiniTwo women’s friendship amid war and abuse becomes a devastating story of love, endurance, and sacrifice.
- 17Flowers for Algernon
Flowers for Algernon
Daniel KeyesA man’s brief chance at extraordinary intelligence reveals the heartbreak of loneliness, lost possibilities, and human dignity.
- 18Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go
Kazuo IshiguroFriendship and first love unfold beneath a quietly devastating awareness of mortality and the futures its characters cannot have.
- 19A Monster Calls
A Monster Calls
Patrick NessA boy facing his mother’s illness confronts the tangled truths of grief in a compassionate story that offers no easy comfort.
- 20Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men
John SteinbeckTwo itinerant workers cling to a shared dream in a spare, heartbreaking novel about friendship, vulnerability, and impossible choices.
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