Hello friends! How are you? I hope you had a lovely week. I’m thrilled today to be back with one of my favorite thing to do here, which is…recommend books (obviously) of my favorite genre. Welcome (once again) to The Contemporary Corner!
I love emotional books. Maybe it’s because I might be a little bit crazy, or a masochist or something, but there is just…well I can’t help myself and keep on picking up books even though I know they are going to make me curl up under the covers and cry. Or like, try to hold myself together in public because apparently it’s weird when you feel like crying all of a sudden while reading a book, so I try to play it cool – and obviously it doesn’t work that well.
You know why? Because emotional books are able to reach into that place, deep inside of you and make you feel all of the things. For the characters, for the story, for the situation, for everything, really. This, if you ask me, really shows how powerful books and imaginary worlds can be.
Without rambling on too much here, welcome my little selection of books that made me emotional. Read: make me cry like a baby, whether I was reading it in public or not / broke my heart / I’m still sad and a mess thinking about these books.
I can’t talk about emotional books without mentioning The Sky Is Everywhere. This is the story about a teenager who lost her sister, suddenly, and has to deal with it while trying to go on with her life. It’s heart-breaking, really, everything was making me feel so sad while reading this. It’s one of my favorite books of all times though.
Breaking-down moment: I was reading this on the subway when I realized it was definitely NOT a good idea.
Read my full review here.
Another of my favorite authors is Lauren Oliver, and Vanishing Girls, one of her latest books, did not fail: it surprised me, it got me hooked from page one and it made me cry with the plot twist. It’s a story about two sisters, very different from each other, and I guess I should leave it at that and tell you to read it.
Breaking-down moment: At a lunch break two years ago. I was sitting at a table in the cafe and I cried. So that was fun.
Read my full review here.
I think that there are not many people who did not cry while reading More Happy Than Not. Especially since I am a very emotional bean, you can guess that I cried just as well. This story about Aaron, his family, his friends, his life and a twist of sci-fi is raw, real, emotional and very, very good.
Breaking-down moment: on my couch at home. (points for not crying in public!!)
Read my full review here.
Sometimes I wonder why I pick up books I know will make me cry, but I guess I can’t help myself. I love Morgan Matson’s books so I had to read that one, despite knowing it would not end well. Second Chance Summer is a story about family bonds between a daughter and a father, a summer story, and it’s beautiful.
Breaking-down moment: at work, during lunch break. I think you can conclude I read books in public and cry in public as well. Erm.
Read my full review here.
Awesome post!
Oh thank you so much! 🙂
I love books that make me cry, too! I don’t know why ?
Haha yay, I’m glad I’m not the only one. I don’t even know WHY I like these, but well…I love feelings things while reading books, I guess? 😛
Yes exactly! If it makes me cry I know that the writing is really good and I connected with the book!
Yes, I love that feeling. <3
Now I want to read all of them, thanks! I love books that can make me cry, and I haven’t read contemporary novels in a while, so it’s time to start again! 🙂
Ohh this makes me so happy! I hope you’ll enjoy these books, let me know what you think about them whenever you can read them 😀
I have such a love-hate relationship with emotional books, especially sad ones. It’s the kind of thing that I dislike while I’m reading them but love them in hindsight. Some of the books that I’ve absolutely loved– Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Book Thief, etc.– are super emotional, so I can never really tell how I’m going to feel going into them at first. Great post! 🙂
OH yes, I get the feeling. I’m feeling so…bad whenever I read a sad book and wonder like, why am I even reading this, that’s such a sad story and everything, but in hindsight, I love how it makes me FEEL everything. Thank you so much, Holly! <3 <3
Oh Marie, I constantly cried on the train when I read sad books in public. One time a passenger even moved away from me, because they didn’t know what was going on. Books are sadness, but I kinda like it. I still prefer being home alone though, because then I don’t need to hold back. Worst break-downs: A Monster Calls, The Book Thief, TFIOS and also Second Chance Summer. I had some massive emotional breakdowns for the Red Rising series as well as the Infernal Devices, but not AS bad.
OH yes, I prefer being home just as well, but sometimes I pick up books and have no idea they will be this sad. I didn’t know about Vanishing Girls ’til the twist hit me and made me cry like a baby haha.
I cried SO HARD while reading TFIOS, I couldn’t stop haha. That book broke my heart.
I sobbed for the entire final chapters. I could barely read it at that point …
Same. I could not see what I was reading, I could not see anything, I was such a mess ahah. The movie did not have the same impact, even if it was very sad as well.
Yeah, it was the same for me. I liked the movie and think they did a good job with it, but I wasn’t as devastated.
I guess it couldn’t be as good as the book was 😛
I love books about sisters! I haven’t read any on your list, but I have added a few to my Wishlist on Goodreads 🙂
Twenty Boy Summer made me cry, and I still get upset when I think about Tiger Lily (although, it’s not a true contemporary).
OH yay! Books about sisters are my favorites, really <3 I hope you'll love some of these books, Kelly!
I heard a bit about Twenty Boy Summer…It will have to go on my TBR now 😀 Thank you!!
Eek, I need to read Vanishing Girls! I read a lot of Lauren Oliver’s books, only some of which I really enjoyed, but I think that VG will be a bit better than the ones I read. And I really need to read Jandy Nelson’s books! I’m just waiting for I’ll Give You the Sun and The Sky is Everywhere to show up in my school library… XD
YES YOU DO! I hope you’ll love it! Which books by Lauren Oliver did you read already? And which ones did you enjoy? I want to know ALL THE THINGS 😀
Jandy Nelson is so, so good. I hope you’ll love her books just asmuch as I did 🙂
I read Replica, and Panic, and Before I Fall. Replica was great, Before I Fall was okayishly good, and Panic was just bleh.
I have so many contemporaries to catch up on! I’m glad I got to read some recently though. 🙂
Ohhh, well…I hope you’ll read Delirium next just as well, it’s one of my favorite series! <3
Yeah, I’m planning to!
This is an amazing post Marie, and oh I’ve read plenty of books that have made me cry. Mostly on the train where I either travel to or from work, which has gotten me some strange looks from everyone around me. 🙂
The only two I’ve read from this list are The Sky is Everywhere and More Happy Than Not which are definitely incredibly moving books, and were two five star reads for me as well. I haven’t gotten around to the other two but I need to pick up more of Morgan Matson and Lauren Oliver’s books are loving the one I’ve read by each of them! 😀
Oh thank you, Beth! If you have any recommendations of sad, great books, well I’m all ears 😀
Well I’ll probably be able to come up with a few. I can’t think of any contemporary ones off the top of my head though. 🙂
Well if you ever get an idea, you know where to find me 😀
I sure do! 😀
Great Post Marie!
I’m picturing the people surrounding you as you break down in public. I bet their like oh boy…
I haven’t read any of these, I am really interested in trying Second Chance Summer though! Definitely one on my TBR (they all are.)
2 books which made me cry are Me Before You by JoJo Moyes and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I think everyone may have cried at these!
🙂
Hahaha, I’m too engrossed in the story to pay attention to weird looks, I guess that’s a good thing haha 😛
I hope you’ll enjjoy that Morgan Matson book when you get around to it, it was such a great story.
And yes, ugh, I cried reading both of these books as well. TFIOS broke me haha.
my sister didn’t cry at all for TFIOS, I was like “why is your heart made of stone!”
OH NO REALLY?!! Haha, I don’t know how she did NOT cry. I could not hold back my tears ahah.
I read The Sky is Everywhere back when I was 13 and I bought me own copy today and I’m rereading it and AH IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL AND MY HEART.
OHHH YES! It’s such a moving book, I love it so much, but it’s so sad, right? I’m so happy you love it just as much as I do. Thank you so much! <3
Love this post! You must check out A boy like you by Ginger Scott and also Letters to the lost by Brigid Kemmerer. They are pretty wonderful books that really made me cry. If you’re comfortable with dark NA contemporaries then I would also recommend Punk 57 by penelope Douglas. I have Vanishing girls in my TBR and I’m so looking forward to devour it! 🙂
Oh thank you, Raven, and thank you for the recommendations, I need to check out these books 😀
Also, I hope you’ll read Vanishing Girls soon, it was such a great story <3
I love reading emotional books and I thought I was the only one haha! I think it helps me release my emotions from life that are trapped inside me. All of Morgan Matson’s books make me cry, but Second Chance Summer by far makes me sob the most. It really is so bittersweet.
Haha oh no you’re not the only one, I love these kind of books for the exact same reason 😀
So glad you loved SCS, such a bittersweet story.
I haven’t read the others, so I don’t know, but I also cried during Second Chance Summer! The way Taylor describes her father at his last moments really broke me</3 Also, All the Bright Places. It's a sad book from the beginning, but I didn't expect to tried (and have a hangover) because of the ending!
OH YES, it broke me just as well 🙁 Oh yes, All The Bright Places, how could I not think about that one – it was such a sad story. I really loved reading it though. A bit paradoxal I guess ahah. Thank you ! <3
I loooooove emotional books although it doesn’t take much to get me crying, haha. MORE HAPPY THAN NOT RUINED ME ?? At one stage I was stupidly thinking I was going to get through it without crying, HAH. I can’t even THINK about it without wanting to cry ? Vanishing Girls sounds really interesting! It’s been on my TBR FOREVER. I might have to try and get to it sooner than I was planing.
SAME hahaha, I cry like a baby all the time, oops.
I hope you’ll read Vanishing Girls soon, like, REALLY SOON, it’s such a good and underrated book, I think 🙂
Aww what a wonderful post!! I guess I’m just as masochistic cos I also like to do this to myself ? I also broke down over second chance summer- in a stranger’s house, where i was staying while I visited my brother… Awkward!! And I really want to read the other two books on this list!
Oh thank you! I’m so happy you liked it <3 I hope you'll manage to read the other books here and love them as much as I did 🙂
You’re welcome!! <3 Thank you!! 😀
I love this because I tend to read a lot of emotional contemporaries too. If a book really hits me in the feels and makes me cry then I call that a success even though it hurts ?. And I love how The Sky is Everywhere is on this list! That one is one of my all time favorites too and made me cry so much. I sobbed while reading it and good thing I was at home in my room rather than in public because there was no stopping those tears. Although, I did cry at my mom’s work while reading The Fault in Our Stars… I put my head down so no one could tell ?. Anyway! I haven’t read the others but most of them are on my TBR. And if you haven’t read it yet then I highly recommend I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios, that one made me cry too. Great post, Marie!! ?♥
Hahaha, oh well I was grateful to be at home when I read TFIOS because I cried so, so hard for that one hahaha.
I’ll Meet You There is very, very high on my TBR, you made me want to read it soooooo badly – it’s going to go in my next book order for sure, which will be soon hopefully 😀
I also reread TFIOS while baby sitting my cousin and cried then too. Because I didn’t learn the first time. ?
YAY! I so can’t wait for you to read it and to see what you end up thinking. ?
Hahaha – I don’t know if I’ll be able to re-read some books that made me cry, they were just too intense at times hahaha.
Great post, Marie! I’ve really only read More Happy Than Not from your list, and I totally agree that it’s so heartbreaking. I actually tried reading The Sky is Everywhere too ages ago when it first came out but didn’t enjoy the writing style at all, so… I suppose it’s just not for me, haha.
I think I’m gonna check out Second Chance Summer. I’ve read two Morgan Matson books and relatively enjoyed them, and I trust your opinion. <3
Thank you so much! Oh, I’m sorry to hear you did not enjoy it so much – I guess we can’t all love the same books though 🙂
Oh yay! I hope you’ll love Second Chance Summer – if you liked Morgan Matson’s books so far, chances are you’ll enjoy that one as well! Can’t wait to hear what you think of it 🙂
Love your recommendations Sweechie!! I try to stick to crime so I stay safe on the tears side xD but I love that you seek books that make you FEEL and go through so many experiences!
Hahaha, thank you my Sweechie! <3 I hope you'll want to try out one of these someday 😀
I try to avoid these kind of books if I can ‘coz I am sobbish lol. It’s not hard to make me cry and if I do, I have no problem crying in public. ? The ones that broke my heart and that I can still remember: The Fault in Our Stars, If I Stay by Gayle Forman. There are more but I think I buried them for the sake of my sanity lol. Very emotional and gripping. I try to limit reading them hehe. Great post, Marie! Keep recommending books. I would also love to follow you on Goodreads. Sending you my love. ?❤️
Hahaha, well I’m crying A LOT as well but..I seem to be drawn to these kind of books, I don’t know why ahah. TFIOS and If I Stay made me cry just as well!
Thank you so much, Anna! 🙂 I have my Goodreads Profile on my sidebar on the blog, but here’s the direct link if you want : https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7534484-marie 😀
I hope you have a lovely day <3
Haha, oh well.. almost anything can make me cry even the happiest of endings like in Hunger Games or in Fifty Shades. It makes me so emotional when they already have kids at the end. P.S. I Love You and Love, Rosie by Cecelia also made me cry for hours while reading them lol. Anything, that tugs at the heartstrings. Thanks Marie, I have sent you an add request! Thank you so much and you too! ❤️
LOVE, ROSIE! <3 I loved this story so much <3 <3 and PS. I love you made me cry a lot just as well, haha 🙂
I love books that make me cry, but I tend to read them only rarely and I usually wait until I’m in the exact right mood to read them. I have Second Chance Summer on my shelf for a while and it’s the only Morgan Matson I haven’t read yet, but I’m waiting for the right time 🙂 I did read More Happy Than Not and it made me sob like crazy. Adam Silvera is definitely one of the kings of tears. The Sky Is Everywhere is on my TBR ever since I read and loved I’ll Give You The Sun. Another book that made me sob like crazy was All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.
Oh I get it, I kind of have to be in the right mood to read these books just as well. They’re not easy reads at times, but I love how they make me feel everything.
I can’t wait for you to read Second Chance Summer! I hope you’ll love it <3
And yes, All The Bright Places is a great choice just as well, I could have easily put it on that list just as well 😀 Thank you so much lovely <3
I haven’t read any of these, but I do want to! I definitely love emotional books as well, though if I know beforehand that I’m going to cry I put off reading them for a long time ?
Hahaha I get it, I tend to do that as well.but sometimes I just can’t resist, then wonder why I do this to myself. These books break me haha but I love it.
I cry really easily while reading ? I just have to have some small connection with a character and if something even slightly sad happens it will have me bawling! But I really love those types of books so ??? Also I had no idea Vanishing Girls was sad, it’s been on my TBR for a really long time.
OH yay, well I’m exactly the same. I love getting attached to characters like that even if I end up crying for them ahah. Vanishing Girls was such a gripping read, I hope you’ll be able to read it soon and love it 🙂 Thank you, Michelle! <3
OMG I have definitely had that subway cry before 😛 I always try to disguise it as yawn as quickly as a can when I remember where I am
Hahaha, same, I try to be as discreet as I can but, erm, sometimes I fail ahah.
Oh, Marie, THESE BOOKS! So many hearts broken. The Sky is Everywhere made me SO EMOTIONAL, and same goes for More Happy Than Not. Yet I love them?? Seems like a common theme in bookworms to love heartbreaking books haha. <3 I really need to read Second Chance Summer now! I've only picked up one of Morgan Matson's books and that number should definitely increase haha. Loved this post! (Even though I'm super late ahah. <3)
Ohhh yay, I think you should read Morgan Matson’s books NOW. They are all FABULOUS and you’ll love them – but for Second Chance Summer, try not to read it in public and have a box of tissues ready. It made me SO emotional 🙁