What Are Your Saddest Book Recommendations.

[u/glitteringdiscocat]

I will start by saying a couple things (trigger warning maybe for some?)

1 - I’m not suicidal. Definitely going through it mentally but promise not that♥️

2 - my therapist tells me all the time I need to be comfortable in the discomfort.

3 - I’m entering my late 20s and freaking out about it I think

Context: okay so so some conflicting things internally going on for me. 1) I tend to avoid big emotions, specially sadness, loss and grief (I’m sure there’s many layers of things there). For example, any scary or sad movie, I read the plot during the movie previews to “prepare myself” for feeling sad, scared, etc. And I try to steer clear of sad books. 2) I feel very unsettled in life atm. While things are going wonderful, I feel as though I am missing out. I’m reflecting a lot on college and realizing I didn’t really take the opportunity to see the world/find myself/get to where I dreamed of. My life changed, the things I thought I wanted have somewhat changed. But I still don’t know. I just feel lost. 3) I have all the feelings and none of the feelings. I have struggled for years with moderate depression, ADHD, anxiety (specifically very similar to OCD).

But I decided this summer, after a particularly hard year, I need a heart-breaking and gut-wrenching book and a good long cry. And I think if I read something that’s maybe been life changing for you, it may be life changing for me too.

Normally, I read and prefer fiction. But I’m open to many fiction genres. I am a romantic, and so I definitely aim for romance, but enjoy historical fiction, coming of age, YA, etc.

So please, can you recommend the saddest, gut wrenching, beautiful, book. Thank you♥️

[u/ClimateTraditional40]

Doomsday Book Willis, Connie

Last One at the Party Clift, Bethany

McKillip, Patricia The Changeling Sea

Flanders Anthony, Patricia

In Memoriam Winn, Alice

Not So Quiet, Smith, Helen Zenna

[u/joebubbles]

Madonna in a Fur Coat

[u/kawaii_jendooo]

Maybe not the saddest I've ever read, but definitely very sad and I think would be fitting in your case: "Stoner" by John Williams... I just noticed the genres that you listed at the end so here's also a couple more sad books in those genres:

• I agree with the other commenter who said "Madonna in a Fur Coat" (romance)

-"The Stationary Shop" by Marjan Kamali (historical fic/ romance)

-"Mornings in Jenin" by Susan Abulhawa (historical fic)

-"The Song of Achilles" by Madelline Miller (romance)

-"Crossing" by Pajtim Statovci (historical fic)

-"The Garden of Evening Mists" by Tan Twan Eng (historical fic)

-"Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee (historical fic)

-"Lonely Castle in the Mirror" by Mizuki Tsujimura (YA) (a little more hopeful and less depressing than the others, but it made me cry so it's included lol)

[u/LATlovesbooks]

I read the fan fiction that the book Alchemised by senlinyu was published from and I sobbed. Just thinking about the last line would set me off for a month. I haven't read Alchemised yet because I know it will be the same so I know I need to be in the right headspace for it. It's a dark dystopian fantasy romance.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is one of my all time favorites and I sobbed even though you know what is happening

For a happier book where the tears sneak up on you, read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen. It's You've Got Mail in a fantasy land that feels like western steampunk. It's like the exact plot in the first half and then expands more into the fantasy later.

I really loved the writing in all 3 of these so the tears felt worthwhile. Also, I am actually not much of a book-crier so these had to earn it.

[u/Fancy-Restaurant4136]

A Fine Balance by Mistry,

Of Mice and Men