Books
16 Books That Will Make You Cry, So You Better Prepare A Full Box Of Tissues
Be it because of a bad day or an epic break up, we all have those moments when we just need to throw ourselves a face-scrunching, nose-running, shoulder-heaving bawl session. Sometimes (now don’t hate me here), I kind of want that really good cry without having to search the DVR for a Nicholas Sparks film starring Ryan Gosling’s face — OK, so this doesn’t happen all that often, but when it does a gal wants to be prepared, am I right? And what better way to get those waterworks going than to pick up a book guaranteed to make you cry?
I’ll admit, my own days of tearing up over books go all the way back to when American Girl Kirsten Larson lost her best friend Marta on the journey to America; and that time when Mary Anne’s house burnt down in Baby-sitters Club Book #131. Since then, I’ve become something of an expert at crying while reading — that is: shedding a few tears without dampening the book’s pages into a wet wrinkle I’ll regret later. Try to master that skill before diving in to any of the books here because, from beginning to end, these stories will tug at your heartstrings, and make you shed a tear or two. Or, you know, 200 (the ones about dogs always get me the most, but they’re just SO GOOD.)
Keep the tissue box within reach — you’re gonna need it. Here are 16 books that will definitely give you that good old fashioned cry you’re looking for.
Image: Dan DeLuca/Flickr
'Still Alice' by Lisa Genova
Alice Howland’s life as successful wife, mother, and a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard seems perfect, until she is unexpectedly diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Still Alice is the unflinchingly honest portrayal of one woman’s experience with this tragic disease.
'The Art of Racing in the Rain' by Garth Stein
Narrated by a lovable dog, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a multi-tissue type of tearjerker. Enzo is a dog turned philosopher, with a joyous, hilarious, and poignant understanding of the human spirit. His owner, Denny Swift, is a race car driver who views life a lot like racing.
'I Know This Much Is True' by Wally Lamb
Dominick and Thomas Birdsey are identical twins, but they couldn’t be more different. Thomas is a paranoid schizophrenic who sometimes neglects to take his medicine. Dominick exhibits behaviors of PTSD in the wake of his baby’s death and subsequent divorce. When Thomas’s disease becomes unmanageably out of control, both their lives change irreversibly again. I Know This Much Is True is about loss, resilience, and the power of family.
'The Things They Carried' by Tim O'Brien
Let go of the high school required reading vibe this book might give you, and try it out again as an adult. Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried is one of the most powerful, important, and heartbreaking portraits of war ever written.
'Room' by Emma Donoghue
Jack is the sweet, endearing 5-year-old at the center of Room — but there are so many darker things at work in this book that’ll bring on the waterworks. There’s much more I can say here, but you know what? You’re just better off reading this one yourself, and trusting me. Promise.
'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak
Liesel Meminger is a foster child living in World War II-torn Germany. In the midst of the era’s book burning, Liesel begins stealing books the Nazi party intended to destroy — putting herself and those around her in serious risk. The Book Thief speaks to the indestructible power of literature — something that pulls at all of our hearstrings.
'Old Yeller' by Fred Gipson
A book with a puppy is always good for getting the tears flowing, am I right? If you don’t already know Old Yeller — the story of Travis Coates and his beloved dog, Yeller, from your childhood, definitely read this one with a box of tissues. And maybe some cheering-up chocolate.
'Ahab's Wife' by Sena Jeter Naslund
Ahab’s Wife reimagines the story of Moby-Dick, with an utterly heartbreaking cast of characters. At the center of the story is Una, a woman of emotional isolation and adventure, who becomes the wife of ill-fated Ahab. This is pretty much the most deliciously saddest novel I’ve ever read in my whole life. If it had a dog in it, there’d really be no hope for me.
'Me Before You' by Jojo Moyes
At first glance it seems like strangers Lou Clark and Will Traynor have their lives under control. But a series of unpredictable events will turn their individual worlds upside down, and bring them together. Me Before You is right up there with all of literature’s other great love stories.
'Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes
Flowers for Algernon is the story of Charlie — a human, and Algernon — a lab mouse, who undergo similar experimental procedures in order to enhance their intelligence. At first the procedure seems to be wildly successful, until Algernon’s health begins to fail.
'The Book of Unknown Americans' by Cristina Henriquez
Filled with the intimately specific hopes and dreams of U.S. immigrants from all over Latin America, The Book of Unknown Americans centers on the Rivera family: 16-year-old Maribel, and her parents, who have moved to the U.S. in hopes of providing Maribel, who has suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, with better educational opportunities and healthcare. The book is a love story and a political portrait of the U.S. at once — it’s masterful.
'The Time Traveler's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger
Henry has Chrono-Displacement Disorder — which dislocates him in place and time, suddenly and unpredictably, throughout his entire life. The Time Traveler’s Wife tells the story of his romance and marriage to Clare; a relationship fraught with challenges and insecurity, due to Henry’s disappearances.
'Geography Of The Heart' by Fenton Johnson
Fenton Johnson’s memoir, Geography of the Heart , tells the story of his relationship with his partner, Larry Rose, from the moment they meet in San Francisco through Larry’s battle with AIDS.
'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' by Jamie Ford
Young Henry Lee has fallen in love with Keiko Okabe, but after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a friendship between the child of Chinese immigrants (Henry) and a Japanese-American (Keiko) becomes impossible. Then, Keiko and her family are evacuated to an internment camp, and are forced to leave their entire lives behind. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet tells the story of what it means to hold on to hope and love for a lifetime.
'The Cellist of Sarajevo' by Steven Galloway
Loosely based on a true story, The Cellist of Sarajevo takes readers to the capital of Bosnia during the country’s civil war. When a cellist witnesses the slaughter of 22 of his friends, while they wait for government-issued bread, he risks his own life to hold a public vigil — playing his cello at the scene of their deaths, for 22 days straight.
'A Prayer for Owen Meany' by John Irving
Taking readers from New Hampshire to Vietnam, A Prayer for Owen Meany tells the story of two boyhood friends — one of whom thinks he is an immaculately-conceived “Christ Child” with destined to perform a life-threatening mission assigned to him by God.
