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Woman's World
The Best Sad Books: 11 Captivating Novels to Read When You Need a Good Cry
By Melissa D'Agnese,
2 days ago
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A good book has the power to transport you somewhere else entirely, make you think, smile, swoon and laugh. But certain books have the distinct power to make you cry. And many readers agree the most special books of all are the ones that make you laugh and cry. But why would anyone want to read something so sad? Well, sometimes crying over a book provides an unmatched emotional catharsis within the safety of a fictional story. Books that stir up those deep feelings of heartbreak and sadness also allow readers to reflect on their own lives with new insights and personal growth. So if you happen to be in the mood for a very sad book, then you’re in the right place! Here, we gathered up some of the best sad books according to devoted readers and Woman’s World editors that are guaranteed to bring on the tears.
From Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone, which paints a vivid picture of a struggling family in the Alaskan wilderness, to Nicholas Sparks’ classic story about endless love, The Notebook , we have something for everyone — just make sure you have a big box of tissues nearby when you start reading!
This touching autobiographical story follows newspaper columnist John and his wife, Jenny, as they navigate their new marriage and life. They soon bring home a mischievous yellow lab puppy named Marley. Despite being expelled from obedience school and wreaking havoc, the pup finds a place in their hearts. What they don’t expect is for the 97-pound Labrador Retriever to also teach them unforgettable lessons about devotion, loyalty and unconditional love.
What readers are saying: “ If I’m feeling lonely or missing my far-away family, I love rereading some of my favorite books,” says Shay Trotter, Woman’s World Associate Editor. “The story was just as hysterical and full of heart the second time around. It reminded me that even if life brings you down at times, those sweet, small moments with loved ones lift you up.”
Quirky, intelligent Hazel is 16 years old and has been living with terminal cancer for three years when she meets the equally quirky and intelligent (and movie-star handsome) Augustus at a cancer support group for kids. Over time, they fall in love and bond over Hazel’s favorite book, a novel about the disease. But Hazel finds the book’s unsolved ending unacceptable. Desperate to know what happens to the characters, she and Augustus travel to Amsterdam, where the author lives, to find out.
What readers are saying: “I’ve never been one for young adult novels, but with three little ones keeping me hopping, I don’t have much time for reading,” says Patty Bontekoe, Woman’s World Executive Editor. “I spotted this at a bookstore and thought it looked like a quick read, so I picked it up. I loved every minute of this book, and while I did go through a box of tissues as I read, it reminded me that there’s so much to be joyful for, even in hard times.”
This heart-wrenching love story brings together two people who have nothing in common: Louisa Clark, an ordinary girl who has never left her tiny town, and Will Traynor, a rich, wheelchair-bound ex-hotshot who isn’t sure life’s worth living anymore. Hired to help moody, bossy Will, Louisa soon finds herself fighting for his future. A poignant, moving and heartbreaking tale.
What readers are saying: “My sister has great taste in books, so when she said this one tugged at her heartstrings, I immediately picked it up,” says Bontekoe. “I went through a box of tissues as I read, but I also laughed a lot. And I turned the last page feeling inspired.”
Now a popular Netflix series, One Day by David Nicholls has been described as an “instant classic” and “emotionally riveting.” This story, first set in 1998, centers on Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley, who meet one day and cannot stop thinking about each other. Over the course of the next two decades, the state of Dexter and Emma’s lives are revealed on the same day — July 15 th — each year. Together, and apart, they face trials, tribulations, missed opportunities, hopes and dreams.
What readers are saying: “ This story was a complete pleasure to read. ‘Two ships passing in the night’ plots have rarely been done so well. The fantastically frustrating characters captured my affection from the first day. I was sucked into their world(s) and laughed and cried along with both Emma and Dexter, somehow aligning myself with both protagonists simultaneously.”
Iconic author Nicholas Sparks wrote and published his first novel, The Notebook , in 1996 and it reached the New York Times bestseller list almost immediately. Decades — and one hit movie starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams — later, The Notebook is still one of the most popular love stories ever written. The tale, set in beautiful North Carolina, follows the emotional love story between rural Southerner Noah Calhoun and upper-crusted Allie Hamilton. Told in dual timelines, Noah and Allie’s story unfolds over the course of many years. A deeply moving portrait of true love.
What readers are saying: “Be prepared to cry! Nicholas has a wonderful way with words. The beginning teaches us that true love is out there and that life is also there at the same time. But once in a while the stars do align and happiness is within reach. The second half is filled with uncompromising love and told in a manner that evokes such strong emotions that you can't help but cry through almost every page.”
Gena Rowlands blew the roof off in her starring roles like A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and The Notebook (2004), but the star was also beloved for her gorgeous looks. The actress, who served as the muse for her filmmaker husband, John Cassavetes, was a Hollywood stunner and an inspiration, now celebrated after her […]
This heart wrenching tale follows Lucy and Gabe, who meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes their lives forever. When they both decide they want their careers to make a true difference in the world, their initial connection deepens and they fall in love amid the glittering chaos of their favorite city: New York. But as soon as free-spirited Gabe is granted his dream job as a photojournalist in the Middle East, everything Lucy knows — about life and love — changes.
What readers are saying : “My favorite way to pass the time on a quiet Sunday is by getting lost in a love story. From Gone With The Wind to The Notebook, I’m a total sucker for romance. So when a friend mentioned this novel left her starry-eyed, I swiped it up, and once I had read a few pages, I was enthralled. I was rooting for Lucy and Gabe, whose passionate, romantic tale proves that love does conquer all.”
Grand Central Publishing In this timeless love story by Robert James Waller — that was also made into an unforgettable movie starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood — two soulmates meet and their lives are irrevocably changed. Photographer Robert Kincaid has traveled the world, but when he travels up Francesca Johnson’s driveway in Madison County, Iowa, looking for directions, they both find something they’ve never had before.
What readers are saying : “I guess you could call me a true romantic. Some classic tales leave me feeling so starry-eyed that I read them over and over — and this is one of them! Their heart-tugging emotions are written so simply, realistically, and beautifully that I find myself reading late into the night, and I always have a box of tissues on hand!”
Catherine Newman’s novel We All Want Impossible Things leaves readers laughing and crying the whole way through. The story follows Edith and Ashley, who have been best friends for 42 years. The two have shared endless moments both big and small — from trick or treating to teenage parties, concerts, heartbreaks, marriages and more. They’re inseparable, but Edi is terminally ill and spending her last days at a hospice near Ash. Edi and Ash face this newfound heartbreak — alongside a funny rotating cast of characters, including family, friends and ex lovers. But the two friends also reminisce, laugh, cry, hold on and, ultimately, let go.
What readers are saying: “When I started this book, I knew what the end would be. As I read it, I laughed, I cried and I felt the love of all the characters. This book reminded me of the people I have lost and the people I will lose going through life. It made me remember to be happy and to remember to say I love you. Thank you so much for writing this book.”
Harrowing, heart wrenching, haunting…Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life is a study in deep trauma and friendship. The story follows four college classmates who dream of making it big in Manhattan. As their bonds strengthen over the decades, the group is held together by their brilliant friend Jude, a man scarred by childhood trauma. A stunning, shocking and heartbreaking novel.
What readers are saying: “I don't think I've ever cried so much while reading a book and going into this book blind probably wasn't the brightest idea, but I am glad that I didn't look up any of the trigger warnings (although in hindsight I probably should've) because it allowed me to dive head first into Jude's world. I felt everything so strongly and will never forget this story. It has etched itself onto me and will always be part of me. I can't imagine I'll ever be able to let go of any of these characters. As I sit here with tears still streaking my cheeks I can't help but hope that somewhere out there Jude and Willem and Malcom and JB are somehow reunited.”
Riverhead Books A movingly told saga unfolds in Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Sons . Set in Afghanistan from the 1960s to the 2000s, a teenage Mariam is married off to an older man so she can bear him a child. When that doesn’t happen, he becomes abusive and then takes a second wife. The women form an unbreakable bond amid the hardships they face.
What readers are saying: “N o words can describe the heaviness I am feeling in my heart right now. I will never re-read this as it is too emotionally devastating (I genuinely cant remember the last time a book made me cry so much), but I know it is a story that will stay will me for the rest of my life — that, I have no doubt."
Bestselling author Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone transports readers to 1970s and 1980s Alaska in this atmospheric and powerful tale about family, resilience and love. Ernt Allbright is a former POW who returns from Vietnam a different, volatile man. After losing yet another job, he moves his family to Alaska, as a last hope, where they will live off the land in America’s last frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni is growing up amidst her parents’ unpredictable relationship. What follows is a dangerous domino effect for the Allbright family as winter descends on Alaska and they fight for survival.
What readers are saying: “This story is about love. All kinds of love, deep and unflinching. Love between friends, lovers and mother/daughter is so rich, it sucks you right in. It’s also about pain and toxic relationships. The pain of war, mental illness, domestic abuse, loneliness and depression.”
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