16 YA Books Guaranteed to Make You Ugly Cry
Some of our favorite books have made us cry in public, and a book can sometimes destroy your emotions while also making you stronger.
1. Just Breathe by Cammie McGovern
There’s no way you won’t be crying at some (or many) points in this book, which is a combination of Five Feet Apart and If I Stay. The bond that develops between David and Jamie will leave you desperately hoping that they both find healing and happiness.
2. Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
Jamal’s best friend, Q, is unaware that he died and is about to die again, and Jamal blames Q for his parents’ deaths. How can Jamal fix things if he can’t tell Q the truth? Buy Early Departures now!
3. Who I Was With Her by Nita Tyndall
Corinne will have to learn to be honest with the people in her life, because the only thing worse than losing Maggie is being heartbroken over a relationship no one knows about.
4. Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
As the embers of the Great Depression are kindled into the fires of World War II, it will be up to Frankie to find something worth holding on to in this shattered America, and you will be outraged, comforted, and inspired by the strength of women in this masterfully told story.
5. How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow
How to Make Friends with the Dark is a story about a girl’s grief journey and how she learns to make friends with the dark, even when it feels like the darkness is tearing her apart.
6. Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
Jack will learn that his actions have consequences, and when one choice turns deadly for someone close to him, he must decide what he’s willing to do to save the people he cares about.
7. The How & the Why by Cynthia Hand
Cynthia Hand, author of The How and The Last Time We Say Goodbye, died at the age of 60.
8. Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley
Three Things I Know Are True is a young adult novel-in-verse about Liv and Clay. Liv’s mother is suing Clay’s family, and there are community divisions Liv knows she shouldn’t cross, but Clay is also her friend, and she refuses to turn away from him.
9. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Mateo and Rufus are about to meet for one last great adventure, in which they’ll be able to live a lifetime in a single day thanks to an app created by Adam Silvera.
10. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
When they meet on the ledge of the school’s bell tower, it’s unclear who saves whom. Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he is constantly thinking of ways to kill himself. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting down the days until graduation.
11. Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Mindy Kaling’s new book, Heroine, shatters us every damn time. A gut-wrenchingly powerful book from the one and only Mindy, Mickey is forced to find a way to keep her catcher’s job after a car accident just before softball season.
12. Sorry For Your Loss by Jessie Ann Foley
When Pup succeeds at a photography assignment he thought he’d fail, things begin to fall into place, and his dream girl reveals her true colors.
13. History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, drowns, and the only person who truly understands his pain is Jackson, who is losing himself in his obsessive compulsions and destructive choices.
14. Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
The main character Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won’t break Judy’s heart in Abdi’s Like a Love Story, which is set in 1989 in New York City. Abdi’s book will break your heart and put it right back together.
15. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
Marin tries to flee her entire life, but you can only run from your past for so long; it all has to come out at some point. Marin still feels the pull of the life she’s tried to flee thousands of miles away, at college.
16. Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
Far From the Tree is the story of three siblings who were given up for adoption and never met, and their reunion will tug at your heartstrings and make your eyes well up with tears. Being the middle child has its ups and downs, but for Grace, discovering that she’s the middle child is an entirely different experience.
What is the saddest book ever written?
Here are a few of the most heartbreaking suggestions.
- Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive. Fredrik Backman’s My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry. Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You. John Grogan’s Marley and Me. Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon. Alice Walker’s The Color Purple.
Why do books make you cry?
Sure, many books are sad because a main character dies, but it is also possible to make a reader cry because of the death of a minor character or simply a sad event; what happens here is that we feel the main character’s pain over their loss, rather than the loss of a beloved character.
What is the most heartbreaking book?
41 Books That Are Guaranteed to Make You Cry
- John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper. John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars.
What is a sad book?
Michael Rosen’s Sad Book is a book written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Quentin Blake that describes how Rosen overcame his grief and was able to remember the good times he shared with his son.
Does reading increase IQ?
Reading increases your crystallized intelligence by adding to that storehouse; in fact, increased emphasis on critical reading and writing skills in schools may explain why students today perform about 20 points higher on IQ tests than they did in the early twentieth century.
Is a little life LGBT?
A Little Life follows four friends, three of whom are clearly not homosexual; Willem and Jude are in a homosexual relationship; J.B. is homosexual; Willem and Jude are in a homosexual relationship.
Why do I cry when reading sad?
There is limited research on the science and psychology of crying. Some researchers believe crying is a way for your body to get rid of stress-related hormones, while other studies show tears may trigger the release of endorphins.
Is crying an emotion?
Crying is a natural response to a wide range of emotions, from deep sadness and grief to extreme happiness and joy, as a phenomenon that is unique to humans.
How do I stop crying when I read?
Tips on how to stop crying
- Instead, walk away.
- Use words.
- Have props and use distractions.
- Think about something positive or funny.
- Concentrate on breathing.
- Blink and move the eyes.
- Relax facial muscles.
- Get rid of that lump in your throat.
What is a sad genre called?
Blues music is known for being sad, and the lyrics frequently tell stories about the hard lives of the people who write blues songs.
Is holding up the universe sad?
In many ways, this was a unique story, but it never felt gimmicky, and there was a lot of emotion and heart in this story, but it never felt emotionally manipulative.
Is a little life sad?
This book is a depressing hunk of paper with very little happiness in it. A Little Life is a long, winding tunnel spotted with skylights. You walk forward in the darkness with a couple of friends, and you are struck with sadness after sadness.
What is a good title for a sad story?
What do you think a good title for a sad story should be?
- Pray for the best.
- Point of retreat.
- Pride and Prejudice.
- Gone with the wind.
- Troubled memories.
- Hind sight.
- Tears of sorrow.
What to do when a book makes you sad?
Don’t bemoan a sad ending; instead, smile because it made you feel that way; smile because if you’re emotionally invested in a character and you’re devastated when tragedy strikes, then the author has accomplished their literary goal.
Is all the light we Cannot see sad?
All the Light We Cannot See connects readers to the novel’s characters by exposing a wide range of emotions, including joy, humor, sadness, and everything in between. The novel is beautifully written, with a strong voice and a lot of emotion.