Sometimes you just need a good cry, amiright? And while thrillers are going to pretty much always be my go-to, sometimes I just want a sad story I can get lost in and shed a few tears over. It’s often the sad books that haunt me the most, and get a five star rating for making me feel all the feels. So. If you’re also on a hunt for books to make you cry.. keep reading.

Books to Make You Cry: 3 favorites that require tissues

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My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Average Goodreads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.09)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. Before I even knew how to read, I was obsessed. I would carry books around with me everywhere; constantly turning the pages and pointing at the letters until one day, the string of black marks began to make sense.

I would read book after book, sometimes finishing an entire stack of my Babysitter’s Club series in a weekend, and would resort to picking up my aunt’s latest Marry Higgins Clark novel. Yes. Even at the ripe old age of 9.

But whenever someone asks which book started my love affair, I always think of My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult, that I read when I was about 19 years old.

It was the first book (that I can remember) that made me feel ALL THE FEELS. The book ripped my heart out of my body, tore it into a million pieces, then slowly started to piece it back together again.

My Sister’s Keeper tells the story of one family fighting for their health, freedom, safety, sanity, and love. Kate was born leukemia. Anna was conceived and born with a purpose: to be a bone marrow match for Kate. At 13, Anna takes a stand and makes a decision that will tear her family apart, and change the course of all their lives forever.

I was devastated. Angry. Surprised. Impressed. And immediately hooked. Picoult gained a lifelong fan that day, and I’ve read every book she’s written since.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

Average Goodreads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Truth be told, I’m really not much of a CoHo fan. Please don’t come at me! I mean sure.. her stories are catchy, and if she can get any and everyone to pick up a book and be excited about reading again, then I can totally get on board with that. But. She’s not my favorite. Her stories lack depth (sorry!) – but that’s okay. Sometimes light is exactly what we need, right?

But. Reminders of Him (although I still wish it went deeper in some spots), touched my mom-heart and made me cry. Surprising me probably the most of all.

Reminders of Him tells the story of Kenna Rowan. After serving five years in prison, she’s returned to the spot where it all began, hoping desperately to reunite with her four-year-old daughter.

But rebuilding her life and relationships is proving to be impossible. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, everyone except Ledger, a local bar owner with a link to her daughter.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry

Average Goodreads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.07)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was also the first Fredrik Backman book that I read, and similar to Picoult, made me feel all the feels. And I cried.. a LOT. Like, a lot, a lot. My family had to ask me numerous times if I was okay, and for awhile, I wasn’t sure I would be.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry follows the story of Elsa, a seven year old girl who can’t quite find her spot in the world. Luckily, she doesn’t need to worry much about what others think because she has the safety and love of her very best friend; her seventy-seven year old spitfire(and slightly crazy) grandmother. She’s also Elsa’s only friend, but she has always taught Elsa one important lesson: everyone is different and everyone belongs.

When her grandmother dies, Elsa finds a series of letters left behind apologizing to the people her grandmother had wronged in her life. Elsa’s greatest adventure begins as she sets out on a quest to deliver each letter.

Cue. The Tears. And that’s all I’ll say because my heart can’t take it.