16 YA Books That Guarantee a Good Cry
by Laurie Espino
Some books break our hearts — yet we can’t get enough of them! Whether they’re tears of joy, sadness, or complete heartbreak, a book that includes a good cry is essential. Sometimes, you just need a book that will fill you with emotion and leave your guts feeling like a used punching bag. From New York Times bestsellers to incredible debut novels, these 16 YA books will have you feeling ALL the feels.
-
The Fault in Our Stars
Buy from:Hazel Grace Lancaster isn’t looking for love. She knows her cancer diagnosis is a death sentence, and she’s taking life one day at a time. Then, at a Cancer Kid Support Group meeting, she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor. As they spend time together, Augustus breaks down the walls Hazel put around her heart, and they fall in love. But the world isn’t perfect, and cancer is an unpredictable disease. John Green’s #1 global bestselling novel will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Buy from: -
The Glass Girl
Buy from:From the bestselling author who brought us tearjerkers like Girl in Pieces and How to Make Friends with the Dark comes a heart-wrenching novel about a teen’s struggle with alcoholism. When Bella becomes overwhelmed by her life, she turns to alcohol for comfort. But after a bad night lands her in the hospital, she realizes she needs professional help.
Buy from: -
13 Reasons Why
Buy from:Hannah Baker is dead. After enduring years of social ostracism, slut-shaming, public humiliation, bullying, and even sexual assault, Hannah commits suicide. But her story doesn’t end with her death. Using seven cassette tapes, Hannah records the thirteen reasons for her death and the people responsible for it. Asher’s heartbreaking story will haunt you long after turning the last page.
Buy from: -
For Lamb
Buy from:Keep a box of tissues close by when you read this book because you’re going to need them. It’s about a quiet teenage girl named Lamb who accepts a gesture of friendship from a white girl — with disastrous results. The story is set in the Jim Crow South and will have you tearing up before the end.
Buy from: -
If I Stay
Buy from:Mia was just a typical teenager. She loved spending time with her family, listening to Yo-Yo Ma, and playing the cello. She was also falling in love with her boyfriend and fellow musician, Adam. But one day, a fatal car accident takes the lives of her parents and beloved younger brother. Mia gets caught in the in-between. She has a choice to make — stay alive in a world without her family or join them in death.
Buy from: -
Always Isn't Forever
Buy from:When her best friend and soulmate dies, Ruby struggles to let him go. So, when Hart’s soul gets transferred to another boy named Jameson, Ruby can’t deny her attraction to him. This heartbreaking love story spans tragedy, grief, and new beginnings.
Buy from: -
Luck of the Titanic
Buy from:It’s April 1912, and Valora Luck has two missions — to join her brother and become a circus performer in New York City. She must travel on the new luxury ocean liner, Titanic, to make her dreams come true. Because she is Chinese, she can’t get on board as a passenger and must stow away on the ship. Everything will be okay if she can make it to New York without being discovered. But as we know, this ship’s maiden journey has a tragic end. Will Valora survive the ship’s fateful sinking, or will she be one of the 1,500 dead? From Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl, comes a new period novel that’ll transport you to the glamorous ship and send you on a breathtaking journey of survival.
Buy from: -
Gather
Buy from:This emotional debut novel tackles heavy themes with dry humor and plenty of heart. More than anything, Ian wants to keep his family together but faces enormous challenges. His mother is recovering from opioid addiction, and they live in extreme poverty. Faced with an unexpected tragedy, Ian and his dog run away from home, trying to avoid the bleak future that awaits them.
Buy from: -
All the Bright Places
Buy from:Theodore and Violet couldn’t be more different. Violet can’t wait to escape town, which bears constant reminders of her late sister. Theodore is the “freak” that always thinks about death. When the two get paired together for a school project, they don’t know what adventures await them. Brilliantly written, this heartbreaking story illustrates the toll of mental health on teenagers and shows that sometimes happy endings don’t exist.
Buy from: -
Holding Up the Universe
Buy from:There’s more to Libby than just being “America’s Fattest Teen,” and she’s ready to meet someone who sees her for who she is. A cruel prank nearly derails her life but also introduces her to Jack, a charming boy who can’t remember faces. Their whirlwind love story will make you cry, laugh, and swoon.
Buy from: -
Everything, Everything
Buy from:Lose yourself in Nicola Yoon’s #1 New York Times bestselling debut novel! Maddy is a prisoner. She can’t leave her house because of her SCID, a rare genetic disease that leaves sufferers with no immune system. Germs and infections are her biggest enemy. But after seventeen years of being trapped (literally and figuratively), Maddy is ready to break free. Her accomplice? Olly, the brand new neighbor that moved in a few days ago. Can Maddy and Olly’s love story survive her SCID, or is it doomed from day one? This story will send you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Buy from: -
We Were Liars
Buy from:A modern classic and TikTok sensation, We Were Liars is an unputdownable thriller about a group of friends spending the summer on a private island. As the summer heats up, the friends become more destructive until it reaches a boiling point. The shocking ending will leave you reeling.
Buy from: -
The Beauty That Remains
Buy from:Ashley Woodfolk gives us a borderline soul-crushing novel about love and loss. Autumn, Shay, and Logan are inseparable bandmates. Music had always kept them together. But death comes for each of them, and now they’re coping with grief. Maybe there are some things that music can’t fix?! Raw, honest, and full of turmoil, Woodfolk unfolds three stories of heartbreak while not shying away from challenging topics like suicide, depression, and coming to terms with one’s sexuality.
Buy from: -
Forgive Me Not
Buy from:After making a terrible mistake that ends in tragedy, Violetta must deal with the heartbreaking consequences. Violetta’s actions put her behind bars and resulted in her younger sister’s death. Now, Violetta must navigate the justice system, her family’s grief, and her desire for forgiveness. This award-winning novel will give you all the feels.
Buy from: -
I Must Betray You
Buy from:Attention history lovers, this one’s for you! Set in 1989, Cristian Florescu is trapped in communist Romania. Cristian and his fellow countrymen are oppressed by the dictatorship government of the Ceaușescu regime. The story follows Cristian as he’s forced to become an informant and betray his family and friends for the good of Romania. Friends turn on friends, family betrays family, and the realities of war make this historical novel impossible to set down.
Buy from: -
Words in Deep Blue
Buy from:Henry and Rachel grew up best friends and shared a love for books. For Rachel, it was always a bit more than friendship. She left town with her feelings hidden in a note for Henry to find. After the tragedy of her brother’s death, Rachel comes back to town and starts working at the same bookstore as Henry. As they spend the days together, they exchange letters hidden in books. Books get compared to life, life gets compared to books, and Henry and Rachel find love and healing through the power of words.
Buy from:
