Confession: A Walk To Remember, P.S. I Love You, My Sister's Keeper, The Notebook, Titanic and Marley & Me had me sobbing. And I loved them all.
Every once in a while we need a good cry so a good ol' tearjerker is something that I adore.
So why do we love tearjerkers? I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt says it best.
“I think there is something beautiful in reveling in sadness. The proof is how beautiful sad songs can be. So I don’t think being sad is to be avoided. It’s apathy and boredom you want to avoid. But feeling anything is good, I think. Maybe that’s sadistic of me.”
Today, I've put together a list of 12 tearjerkers that are guaranteed to move you to tears.
“How can something so wrong feel so right?”
I have a weakness. A weakness for books that push boundaries and challenge my views. Suzuma bravely tackles the controversial subject of incest in this unforgettable contemporary novel.
If you want a happily-ever-after allow me to tell you to walk away right now because this book will break you.
“I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race-that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.”
Narrated by Death, this intense novel sneaks into your heart and tears it apart.
And to clarify, yes I did cry during the ending.
“I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants of shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet and walk.”
Beautifully written, this intriguing contemporary is brimming with emotion. Rachel and I could not stop fangirl-ing over it! I can't wait to see more of Katja's work.
“I needed a whole heart once in my life. Is that so wrong?”
This poignant and heartbreaking novel touches on music, life and everything in between.
“Here lies Dobby, a free elf.”
A bittersweet book that marked the end of a magical era.
“Well, those who aren’t waiting for you don’t know what they’re missing.”
If I had judged this book based on this cover I would have missed this incredible and unapologetically heart-wrenching Indie novel.
“People believe what they want to believe.”
This book has so much soul and is guaranteed to blow you away.
Saving June - Hannah Harrington
“Look, it’s not ever going go stop hurting. That’s the reality. But after a while, it’ll get…easier. You’ll get used to living with it.”
When I picked up this contemporary, it was for the road trip and music element but the feels that came along with this beautiful read were a surprising bonus. Most of us have lost someone that we loved. Harrington explores the aftermath of such tragedies in this heart-felt book.
“Look, it’s not ever going go stop hurting. That’s the reality. But after a while, it’ll get…easier. You’ll get used to living with it.”
When I picked up this contemporary, it was for the road trip and music element but the feels that came along with this beautiful read were a surprising bonus. Most of us have lost someone that we loved. Harrington explores the aftermath of such tragedies in this heart-felt book.
The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
Take a chance on this book because you will either love it or be left wondering what the hell. Whatever your thoughts may be, this book is sure to be unforgettable.
“Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.”
Take a chance on this book because you will either love it or be left wondering what the hell. Whatever your thoughts may be, this book is sure to be unforgettable.
Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta
“It's funny how you can forget everything except people loving you. Maybe that's why humans find it so hard getting over love affairs. It's not the pain they're getting over, it's the love.”
This book is one sneaky bastard. Marchetta strings together a handful of simple words and weaves a powerful masterpiece. It is the kind of read that leaves you wondering what the fuck just happened because there is no way in hell that you saw THAT coming.
“It's funny how you can forget everything except people loving you. Maybe that's why humans find it so hard getting over love affairs. It's not the pain they're getting over, it's the love.”
This book is one sneaky bastard. Marchetta strings together a handful of simple words and weaves a powerful masterpiece. It is the kind of read that leaves you wondering what the fuck just happened because there is no way in hell that you saw THAT coming.
Harmonic Feedback - Tara Kelly
“Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality. Reality is brutal, it’s beautiful, it’s every shade between black and white, and it’s magical. Yes, magical. Because every now and then, it turns nothing into something.”
The world as seen through eye of some diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and ADHD. A refreshing and moving read for starters who are afraid to take the plunge with hardcore tearjerkers.
“Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality. Reality is brutal, it’s beautiful, it’s every shade between black and white, and it’s magical. Yes, magical. Because every now and then, it turns nothing into something.”
Reason to Breathe - Rebecca Donovan
“My world was delicately balanced, but the scales never hung even. When something improved, something else had to crumble.”
“My world was delicately balanced, but the scales never hung even. When something improved, something else had to crumble.”
Donovan holds nothing back in this heart wrenching novel about abuse, love and survival.
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So tell me, why do you think we love tearjerkers?
Do you have any recommendations for me?
Have you read any of these, if so share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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I definitely did cry during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Omg now I want to go back and read it again! It's been so long since I read it. Lol well you know I'm probably in the minority of people who didn't cry for If I Stay or TFiOS or Jellicoe Road. But I did cry for A Monster Calls, which you should read ASAP by the way! I don't remember if I cried for The Book Thief, but I do remember being emotional over it. I've heard a lot about Forbidden, I might consider picking it up sometime. Great List Nuz :)
ReplyDeleteI want to do a HP re-read too! I SERIOUSLY need to pick up A Monster Calls - So many raving reviews for it! AND YES PLEASE GIVE FORBIDDEN A TRY.
DeleteEven if you don't love it, I can guarantee that you will not forget it! ;)
I'm not much of a crier so I didn't ugly cry at the ones from this list that I have read heh. But, great list of recs and I'll be sharing this post :)
ReplyDeleteThe Deathly Hollows >sob< I cried when I read Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. I try to stray away from books that might make me cry but then I'll miss out on some of today's greatest work :))
ReplyDeleteI was talking to one of my friends after reading The Fault in the Stars and he questioned why I would read a sad book and I was like, because it makes you think, questions your decisions in life and I think this is a very interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI have read only two of these novels on here being The Deathly Hallows and TFIOS which I loved. However, I have cried at quite a few more books.
Recently I read Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott which was a difficult book about grief. When I was a little bit younger, I read Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful and absolutely sobbed my heart out, the book was so emotional. Code Name Verity, yet another historical war book that I remember crying over too. I cry quite a bit over books, so much that I have a shelf marked tear-jerkers on Goodreads. I definitely think books that are sad are worth reading and I love the quote you started the post of with. I think to be sad is definitely better than to be bored, because feeling is important and not enough people talk about their emotions or deal with them.
The Fault in Our Stars was the first book ever to make me really cry. If I Stay, Forbidden, HP7 and The Sea of Tranquility are tearjerkers too! I have Jellicoe road but haven't read it yet;
ReplyDelete“Here lies Dobby, a free elf.”
ReplyDeleteThat is the worst sentence ever. It made me cry buckets full of tears. I also cried while reading TFiOS and The Book Thief (but not at the end, lol).
Who doesn’t love a good tearjerker? The quote you chose for Sea of Tranquility sounds nice, I might check that one out. Great list!
The twists in On the Jellicoe Road just HIT ME out of nowhere, along with many many feelings. :( I'm so happy to see it here!
ReplyDeleteForbidden is the one book that I can say truly broke me. That book changed my life.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of a crier, but The book thief and Harry Potter always get to me, no matter how often I reread them.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Jellicoe Road turned me into a puddle of mess! It was absolutely heartbreaking. And Sing Me To Sleep!! I think more people should read it. It's a hidden gem! ^__^
ReplyDeleteI cried buckets while reading The Fault in Our Stars! Just all these feelings and they needed an out... (I was on a flight home and a very kind old lady offered me some tissues!). Harry Potter made me cry too. Who doesn't love a good old tearjerker? :)
ReplyDeleteGot a lot of recs from your post.And since I have utmost faith in your recommendations:)-it's guaranteed that I'll love them-I'll try checking them out.
ReplyDeleteAnd God,Forbidden completely shattered me!Lochan will always have a special place in my heart.
I don't think I am ready for a tearjerker soon,my heart is still healing.
And love that quote!It's so true.
Great choices! I really want to read Forbidden. I've heard the ending is insane. Am I an unemotional, unfeeling person since I didn't cry during The Fault In Our Stars?
ReplyDeleteRachel @ A Perfection Called Books
Definitely agree on The Book Thief and Harry Potter. I'm with Rachel though, didn't cry during TFiOS. But everyone warned me I would, so that may have had something to do with it.
ReplyDeleteI'm with ya and I love a good tear-jerker. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS OH MAI. I don't believe i've cried that hard for a book ever.
ReplyDeleteThe only two books I've read from this list are The Fault in Our Stars and The Sea of Tranquility. Oh this is so bad! I really need to get a move on with my TBR. I really want to read some Melina Marchetta so it'd probably be what I read first on this list! :D
ReplyDeleteCONFESSION: I rarely FULL-ON CRY when I read books. Sure I tear up a lot but never actual tears falling bc I usually read in public places/around family so AWKWARD.
ReplyDeleteBut. Omg.
The Book Thief. THE NEED TO CRY WAS MORE INTENSE THAN WHEN I READ TFIOS. AND THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING.
I actually didn't cry at all during If I Stay. IS THAT HEARTLESS?
Harrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Pottttttttttterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I need say no more.