14 Tear-Inducing Reads That Will Stay with You Forever
Catch the Sun
Catch the Sun is a mesmerizing YA standalone survivor romance from Jennifer Hartmann, the acclaimed author of Still Beating, Lotus, and June First. The story follows Ella Sunbury and Max Manning, childhood friends reunited after a decade. Ella, overshadowed by her felon brother, and Max, burdened with family responsibilities, ignite a hopeful journey together. Heartwarming yet tragic, their story is an emotive rollercoaster filled with resilience and the quest for healing.
Read MoreA Thousand Broken Pieces
Savannah Litchfield and Cael Woods, both grieving profound losses, find solace in each other during a therapeutic world tour for bereaved teens. Savannah clutches her late sister's journal while Cael grapples with memories of his brother. Together, they mend their fractured hearts piece by piece. This touching narrative is a poignant exploration of loss, love, and the redemptive power of human connection.
Read MoreA Thousand Boy Kisses
Rune Kristiansen's return to Georgia brings a reunion with Poppy Litchfield, the girl who was his entire world. Yet, Poppy's inexplicable silence has created a chasm between them. Rune soon learns that their greatest heartache lies ahead. This standalone young adult tearjerker romance is a testament to the enduring and poignant nature of young love.
Read MoreA Walk to Remember
Nicholas Sparks weaves a tale of young, unlikely love in A Walk to Remember. In 1958, high school senior Landon Carter forms an unexpected bond with Jamie, the minister's daughter. Jamie's quiet strength and unwavering faith teach Landon about the depths of the heart and the pains of living, inspired by Sparks's own sister's life and courage.
Read MoreMy Sister's Keeper
Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper addresses ethical dilemmas through the story of Anna, conceived to save her leukemia-stricken sister. As Anna grapples with her identity, she challenges familial bonds and moral boundaries. This novel probes profound questions about sacrifice and self-discovery, making it an emotionally charged and thought-provoking read.
Read MoreIf I Stay
Gayle Forman's critically acclaimed novel If I Stay takes us through the harrowing journey of seventeen-year-old Mia. After a car accident leaves her in a comatose state, Mia faces the ultimate choice: waking up to a life marked by irrevocable loss or letting go. This poignant work underscores the fragility of life, love, and familial bonds.
Read MoreFlowers for Algernon
Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for Algernon is an acclaimed tale of transformation and tragedy. Charlie Gordon’s journey from a low IQ to a genius, courtesy of experimental surgery, mirrors the rise and fall of a lab mouse named Algernon. As Charlie's intellect grows, so does his awareness of life's painful truths, culminating in a heart-wrenching fall back to his former state.
Read MoreThe Fault in Our Stars
John Green's The Fault in Our Stars is a poignant narrative about Hazel, a terminally ill teenager whose life is upended by Augustus Waters. Their romance, born in a cancer support group, is laced with humor, tragedy, and profound reflections on life and love. This novel is both uplifting and heart-wrenching, promising a story that will stay with you long after the final page.
Read MoreFive Feet Apart
In Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Stella Grant and Will Newman are two teens with cystic fibrosis. Despite their mutual attraction, they must stay six feet apart to avoid potentially fatal cross-infection. Their struggle and yearning for connection while maintaining distance forms a powerful narrative about love and life’s constraints.
Read MoreBridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia explores the powerful friendship between Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke. The two create an imaginary world called Terabithia, where they reign supreme. When tragedy strikes, Jess must navigate the real world without Leslie, finding strength and courage in their shared memories. This timeless story of friendship and loss remains deeply moving.
Read MoreThe Book Thief
In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, young Liesel Meminger navigates life in Nazi Germany, finding solace in stolen books. As she shares her readings during bomb raids, her story intertwines with that of the Jewish man hiding in her basement. Narrated by Death, this book is a hauntingly beautiful tale of resilience, humanity, and the power of stories.
Read MoreAll the Bright Places
Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places tells the story of Theodore Finch and Violet Markey, two teens standing on the edge of despair. Their meeting sparks a journey of discovery and healing. Finch’s fascination with death and Violet’s struggle with her sister’s death culminate in a love story that is as unpredictable as it is heartfelt.
Read MoreWonder
R.J. Palacio’s Wonder follows Auggie Pullman, a boy with a facial deformity, as he enters mainstream school for the first time. This uplifting and heartwarming story explores themes of acceptance, kindness, and the true meaning of beauty through Auggie's struggles and triumphs in the fifth grade. Wonder is a tale that inspires empathy and courage.
Read MoreEverything, Everything
Nicola Yoon’s debut novel, Everything, Everything, brings to life the story of Maddy, a girl allergic to the outside world, and Olly, the boy who moves in next door. Their forbidden romance explores the risks of love and the lengths we go to feel truly alive. The narrative creatively unfolds through vignettes, illustrations, and diary entries, making it a compelling and unique read.
Read MoreWhether you're a fan of youthful romance, complex family dynamics, or tales of unexpected friendship, each of these books provides a deeply emotional journey. So, grab a box of tissues and dive into these unforgettable stories that beautifully blend love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.