While I ’m not necessarily a modality reviewer , there are times that I ’m depend for a book that will , for lack of a better condition , make me sense " all the tactile property " . There aredozens of popular booksthat have become famous for their teardrop - jerking narratives , but these 10 are among some of my favorites across all writing style — and are much secure to make you cry . However , I ’d be remiss not to admonish you to proceed with caution or without tissues on the ready .

10The Nightingale

Written By Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah has long been known for her fantastically emotional news report , andThe Nightingale , write in 2015 , is no exception . The novel is one of her most beloved works , and , regardless of being publish a decennium ago , is endlessly recommended and has become apopular BookTok read . There ’s a reasonThe Nightingale ’s narrative has stuck with readers all those years , and its heartbreaking story is as tragic as it is endear .

The best historic love story books are a encompassing tilt that consists of various historical eras , romance tropes , and singular reason for being the best .

The storyfollows two sister during the German occupation of France in World War II , and depicts woman ’s " concealed " office in the war efforts — each doing their part to fight against oppression . While one sis hazard off to connect the French Resistance , the other is go out to play legion to a German soldier in her own home . The story shows how their unlike paths affect the overall war effort , and the ending is beautiful and binge - jerking at the same time . Kristin Hannah is also the source of pop novel such asThe Women , andThe Great Alone .

Book covers of The Familiar by Leigh Barudgo & Outlander by Diana Gabaldon against a faded purple background with red doodles.

9As Long As The Lemon Tree Grows

Written By Zoulfa Katouh

As Long As The Lemon Tree Growsby Zoulfa Katouh stick to Salama , a pharmacy pupil turn infirmary volunteer during the Syrian Civil War , as she attempts to find her way out of the body politic before her dear sister - in - law of nature Layla gives birth . The tale is beautifully written and perfectly encompass the struggles of surviving and maintain promise in a warfare - tear country , and Katouh does a brilliant Book of Job of plunge the reader in such an environment .

WhileAs Long As The Lemon Tree Growsmay be daunting to leap into , given its serious themes , its narration is well deserving the tear that will be throw .

The tale is full of tragedy and loss , but all the more prevalent are the theme of hope and resiliency — which are symbolized by the stinker Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree themselves . WhileAs Long As The Lemon Tree Growsmay be frighten away to jump into , give its serious theme , its narrative is well deserving the tears that will be spill — andKatouh expertly draws out readers ' emotionsalongside those of her characters .

Marley and Me and Lion

8The Time Traveler’s Wife

Written By Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler ’s Wifeby Audrey Niffenegger is another classically tragic love story — come the lives of both Henry and Claire , who meet each other at completely different multiplication in their animation . Despite being only eight long time apart in age , Clare is six years old when she meets 36 - year - old Henry , but Henry is 30 when he cope with 22 - class - old Clare . And as the novel ’s title of respect indicate , the story revolves around Henry ’s ability to time travelling and his wife , Claire , who is often lead to waitress for his return .

Niffenegger does an unbelievable job at building out the romance between the two friend , Henry and Claire , all the while weaving magic realism into the book ’s plot with the musical theme of time travel . There are several ups and Down both characters endure during the 30 years the novel span , but clock time and time again it seems as if fate was always meant to bring them together . The Time Traveler ’s Wife ’s ending is one of the hardest to get through , but I promise the story is deserving your meter and tears .

7Handle With Care

Written By Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is another author well known for her tear - jerking novel , likeMy Sister ’s Keeper , butHandle With Careis another of her extremely heartbreaking stories . The novel orbit around Willow O’Keefe , a five - year - old young lady turn out with osteogenesis imperfecta , otherwise known as brickly bone disease — meaning she will have 100 of breaks over the course of study of her spirit . This diagnosis has affected the O’Keefe family in different ways , and the overall story is told through several POVs away from Willow ’s own , including her female parent Charlotte , her father Sean , and her elder half - sister Amelia .

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While Willow ’s diagnosing clear affects her daily life sentence , she is full of life — know as being as funny as she is smart . However , in evaluate the liveliness her daughter is confined to living , Charlotte start to take action that tear aside the reality the O’Keefe ’s and those closest to them have come to know . treat With Careexplores the complex ethical dilemma of prenatal diagnosis , the effects of parental selection , and overall the impact of handicap on family animation .

Heath Ledger as William in A Knight’s Tale

6The Things We Leave Unfinished

Written By Rebecca Yarros

While Rebecca Yarros may be intimately known for her super popularEmpyrean Seriesnovels , the source first got her start in contemporary romance — andThe Things We Leave Unfinishedis one of her dear . The novel is a romantic historical fabrication submit position during World War II , and depicts two discrete love stories — one from the days of the war and another in present - day America . The narrative kicks off as Georgia Stanton ’s marriage falls apart , and has her go back to her great - grandmother ’s acres , only to find democratic romance author , Noah Harrison , intends to end her deceased grandmother ’s unpublished novel .

If you ’re familiar with any of Yarros ' study , you should understand when I say this book is one of her most devastating .

As they begin to work together in the hopes that Georgia ’s nanna ’s story will be told in a way that respect her bequest , the pair chop-chop notice her unpublished novel is based on her own romanticist past — which brings readers back to England during WWII and begins to unknot the mystery of Scarlett Stanton ’s own tale . The narrative is imposingly able to enchant the romance of both the past and present , and , if you ’re conversant with any of Yarros ' workplace , you should understand when I say this book is one of her most annihilating .

The Nightingale, Heartless, and The Time Traveler’s Wife book covers

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

5A Little Life

Written By Hanya Yanagihara

A Little Lifeby Hanya Yanagihara is another novel that has become extremely popular with referee on BookTok in late years , despite being originally published in 2015 , and isknown for making almost everyone who read it cry . The story follows the life of four schoolfellow from a modest Massachusetts college — Willem , JB , Malcolm , and Jude — as they move to New York to make their way in the macrocosm as grownup . The story spans over several decades and sees each of the characters fight with their relationships with one another , success , and addiction — and it ’s heartrending in every possible way .

4Flowers For Algernon

Written By Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon , by Daniel Keyes , was published in 1959 and haslong been count one of the most unplumbed and inspiring novels — while being profoundly sadden . The tarradiddle is about Charlie Gordon , an intellectually handicapped man who undergo an experimental operating room in the hope of increasing his intelligence activity . While Charlie is their first human subject , the procedure itself had already been successful for that of a research lab mouse named Algernon .

The story explores root of the ethics of scientific experiment , the treatment of the intellectually handicapped , and love . It ’s an incredibly grievous story that is told through Charlie ’s own POV through a series of written " progression news report " or diary entree — which progressively change in clarity as his intelligence levels commute . Algernon and Charlie ’s relationship is one of the best thing throughout the novel , and , whilst improbably distressing , is immensely heartfelt .

3The Kite Runner

Written By Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini’sThe Kite Runneris another unforgettable historical fiction — say the story of an improbable friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his Father of the Church ’s retainer in Afghanistan . The tarradiddle spans over the course of 40 years and explore the paper of friendship , treason , and how the action one takes can ultimately lead to redemption . The family relationship between its two principal protagonist , Amir and Hassan , drastically changes throughout the novel , but their story is equally gut - wrench and endearing .

2Bridge To Terabithia

Written By Katherine Paterson

WhileBridge To Terabithiamay technically be marketed as a fry ’s novel , its taradiddle is one that is meant for everyone to study at one point in time in their life-time . I take this when I was young , and in a recent re - read , it was just as compelling and devastating as it was when I was a child . The floor follows Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke , two fifth grade students who , after a rough introduction , become fast friends and make a world of their own making the right way in their backyard , experience as Terabithia .

However , their days of reverie are suddenly - lived when one 24-hour interval Leslie enters the forest alone and tragedy smasher . The story show how friendships , even at such a youthful age , can touch on and change a individual for the adept . The powerful themes of friendly relationship , resource , and even the struggle of heartache and lossare applicable to readers of all old age , and I ’d extremely recommend give this novel a read if you have n’t yet already .

1Heartless

Written By Marissa Meyer

Heartlessby Marissa Meyer might finger like a surprising addition to the list , but conceive me when I say thatwhile this playscript is full of magic and whimsicality , it ’s also incredibly tragic . The novel is anAlice in Wonderlandretelling of sorts , as Meyer uniquely creates an origin write up for the ill-famed queen mole rat of Hearts . While the tale does check that to let in other famous characters , such as the King of Hearts and the Mad Hatter , Meyer expertly weaves her own twist into the narrative .

However , as her future of becoming the Queen of Hearts propose , hers is not a glad ending .

Marissa Meyer is known for her ability to save compelling retellings of fairytale level , and it ’s no surpriseHeartlessis one of her most popularfantasybooks . The story follows Catherine , a young girl of noble birth who wishes for nothing but to open a bakeshop with her good - acquaintance Mary Ann . However , as her future of becoming the Queen of Hearts hint , hers is not a well-chosen ending . Heartlessadds so much more astuteness to the quality fromCarroll ’s original news report , and it ’s almost unimaginable not to mourn the character Meyer ’s origin story created for her .

picture of the cover of the nightingale book against blue background

As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow book cover

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger book cover

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult book cover

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros book cover

A Little Life

Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes book cover

The Kite Runner Book Cover

Josh Hutcherson and Annasophia Robb in Bridge to Terabithia.

A crop of the Cover of Heartless by Marissa Meyer

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