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It’s been a very, very long time since I watched a movie or read a book and actually shed real tears.
But let me tell you, I got into a full-blown depressive mood a few weeks ago (it always happens around Christmas), and I read some books that absolutely shredded my heart into pieces.
Of course, as your beloved and thoughtful blogger, I thought it would be genius to share some of my best recommendations for the most heartbreaking books – ones that will make you want to give up on reading altogether.
These books are so amazing and tackle all the painful, sad, and heartbreaking issues you could ever imagine.
I’ve got books on this list dealing with tricky issues with parents, loss, love, and even the pain of loving and losing a loved one.
So, check them out and keep your tissues handy.
1. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
This is a beautifully heartbreaking story set in India during a time of political unrest in the 1970s.
It follows four individuals from different walks of life who form an unexpected bond.
Through their struggles, they find both despair and hope.
It’s a book that will make your heart ache, but also remind you of the power of connection and human resilience.
The story stays with you, like the warmth of a hug after a long, tough day.
2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
This classic novel delves deep into the heartbreaking world of Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl who desperately wishes for blue eyes so she can be loved and accepted like the blonde, blue-eyed children around her.
It’s a painful story of self-worth, beauty, and identity, and it’ll make you think about how society affects us all.
Morrison’s writing is beautiful and vivid, though the story will certainly leave you teary-eyed.
It’s one of those books that stays in your heart long after you finish.
3. If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin
A tale of what could have been, this story is about two childhood friends, Autumn and Finn, whose lives take separate paths.
One night, their lives change in a way neither of them could have predicted.
The book feels like a slow, aching realization of how one moment can change everything.
It’s a story that reminds us of the fragility of life, and the sorrow of lost opportunities, especially when it involves people we love.
4. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
This one is a tear-jerker.
Anna, a girl conceived to be a donor for her sister Kate, who suffers from leukemia, faces an unimaginable choice when she’s asked to donate one more time.
It’s a heart-wrenching exploration of sisterhood, family, sacrifice, and the question of whether we can ever truly be free to live our own lives.
I couldn’t help but get emotionally caught up in Anna’s dilemma, and the story is filled with powerful, heartbreaking moments.
5. A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
This is a quiet, haunting story about a woman named Etsuko who reflects on her past after the suicide of her daughter.
Set against the backdrop of post-war Japan, it’s a novel that delicately examines guilt, grief, and the mysteries of the past.
The sadness and subtle tensions in the story are so deeply felt.
And, it’s a book that makes you think about how we understand the people we love and how sometimes we never truly do.
6. Room by Emma Donoghue
A young boy named Jack lives in a small room with his mother, where he’s spent his entire life.
It’s his whole world. But for his mother, it’s a prison, and she has a bold plan to escape.
The story is deeply moving, written from Jack’s perspective, which makes it even more emotional.
It’s about the fierce love between a mother and her son, and the lengths she goes to for his freedom.
And this one is a book that’ll make you cry and celebrate the strength of love and hope.
7. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
A tender story about love, family, and loss, this book follows William Waters and his relationship with Julia and her three sisters.
Their bond becomes complicated when secrets from William’s past surface, and it leads to a devastating rift.
It’s the kind of book that makes you think about how much we carry within us and how love, in its many forms, can either heal or hurt.
8. Fat Girl by Judith Moore
Judith Moore’s memoir is an unflinching look at her struggles with food, body image, and the longing for acceptance.
Her writing is raw, honest, and often darkly humorous.
But underneath the humor is a deep sadness about how we try to fill emotional voids with things like food, and how we try to love ourselves.
It’s a painful, yet beautiful read, and it really makes you reflect on how we all have our own battles.
9. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Jeannette’s memoir tells the story of her unconventional, sometimes traumatic childhood with her brilliant but reckless parents.
Her father’s charisma and her mother’s free-spiritedness made for a chaotic life, but Jeannette and her siblings learned to care for themselves.
The story is inspiring, though at times so heartbreaking.
It’s a reminder of how family can both break and build us.
And, it’ll definitely make you cry, especially when you think about the resilience of children.
10. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
This book is a beautiful, poetic letter from a son to his mother, filled with stories of family, war, and love.
As Little Dog recounts his experiences, he unearths painful truths about his past and his identity.
The writing is exquisite, and the story is both heartbreaking and tender.
It’s one of those books that leaves a mark on your soul ans that makes you reflect on what it means to love and to understand where you come from.
11. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Set in 1580s England, this novel tells the story of Agnes, Shakespeare’s wife, and their son Hamnet, who dies at a young age.
It’s a deeply emotional portrayal of grief, loss, and the mystery of love.
The sorrow in this book is profound, and it’ll make you think about the fragility of life and how we cope with the hardest losses.
This one is a haunting and stunningly written novel that left me with an ache in my chest.
Now tell me, have you read any of these books?
Do you think you’re going to check them out?
And if you’ve read any on this list, did you suddenly feel your eyes water a little bit?
This is a safe space, so feel free to say whatever you want!
Also, check out the related post if you want even more heart-wrenching recommendations – I think you’ll totally enjoy them!
