10 Ultimate Emotional Books That Will Make You Cry

I came across many emotional books where the characters or storylines reach the deepest crevices of my heart, leaving me teary-eyed and emotionally drained. Some stories are heart-warming and inspiring, others are tragic and unforgettable, but either way, these stories have had a profound impact on my life. Grab a box of tissues and a glass of your favorite beverage, and read these 10 emotional books.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Set in World War II, The Nightingale follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, experiencing life challenges in Nazi-occupied France. The story follows the two women forced to make unimaginable choices while in the throes of war. Read about Vianne and Isabelle’s remarkable stories and how they weave in and out of each other’s lives while persevering against emotional, physical, and psychological hardships. This tearjerker is one of those emotional books that will stay with you for a long time – it’s one of my favorite books of all time.
Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Follow four college friends who move to New York City to accomplish their dreams. The main protagonist is Jude, a man with unimaginable trauma from his adolescence. Jude faces unimaginable mental illness and finds hope in his friends, his new family, and turning his trauma into helping others not experience the same hardships. This emotionally raw novel explores themes of friendship, trauma, survival, and the healing power of love. It’s a heavy, emotional book that lingers long after the tears have dried—it is my Roman Empire.
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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
A story about two teenagers who fall in love while one openly battles cancer and the other secretly falls in love at the same time as their heartbreaking diagnosis. Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters meet most serendipitously, and what follows is a breathtaking and emotional journey on love, loss, and the meaning of going on. I was reading this book at the gym, and I had several other women come up to me and say The Fault in Our Stars was one of their favorites because it was a deeply emotional book that made them cry, and one woman said this book pushed her to ask her now husband out!
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Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
This book can make you laugh, cry, and smile within 30 pages. Moyes gives us the story’s heart, Miss Louisa Clark, a young eccentric looking for a new job. Insert Will Traynor, a wealthy, once adventurous man who becomes a quadriplegic from a scary accident. When these two characters come together, you quickly discover the uncertainties around disability, autonomy, love, and how one difficult decision can impact the rest of your life and everyone around you.
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The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
Very few men can write a love story that can transcend time and make you feel like you know the characters in this love story, but Waller does just that with Robert Kincaid and Francesca Johnson. Francesca, an immigrant married to an Iowa farmer, sees a man pulling up in his beat-up truck. He’s a world-renowned photographer looking to capture the magical bridges within the county. When Francesa’s family leaves for the fair, she’s home alone and offers Kincaid a tour of the area. One thing leads to another, love blooms, difficult decisions are made, and lifelong secrets are found.
Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Paul Kalanithi was 36 years old and on the cusp of completing his training as a neurosurgeon. Just as he’s about to accomplish his dream, he’s diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. This story follows Paul’s life, a man who has spent his life looking for ways to defeat cancer, only to be the one fighting not to be defeated. What happens when your hopes and dreams are washed away? To have a family in the face of uncertainty? What’s left to live for? These are the questions Paul explores in his brilliant, raw, and philosophical memoir. The audiobook is a phenomenal option for this story, too.
Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
There’s always that one old, grumpy man everyone secretly loves, and in A Man Called Ove, you meet the man whose bark is worse than his bite. This emotional book follows Ove, an older man in a small town in Sweden, who is famous for being a grouch and goes out of his way to make other people sad or upset. However, when a new family moves in across the street, they read right through his steely exterior. Ove becomes the family’s honorary father and grandfather when a freak accident happens. When one thing leads to another, this heartwarming, hilarious, and relatable story will leave you crying tears of joy and sadness.
Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
It’s a story as old as time–when the bad boy, Landon Carter, meets the token “quiet girl,” Jamie Sullivan, sparks fly. Jamie, the minister’s daughter, is perfectly content keeping to herself, but one day, Landon is dared to ask Jamie to the homecoming dance. After the dance, everything changes, and soon, Landon learns of Jamie’s fate. This is a story about a young man who takes the giant leap of love that sets him on the path to manhood.
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The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
During their senior year of college, Gabe and Lucy meet, and their stories intertwine. With the common goal of making their life count and a chance encounter a year later, these two characters experience all the emotions that lead them to love. But what will their fate be? You’ll just have to wait and see—I didn’t see it coming.
Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Told from the pet’s perspective, Enzo is a dog who believes he was reincarnated as a human, which follows the life of his owner, Denny, who experiences professional and deeply personal challenges as a race car driver. The bond between man and dog goes without definition, but this relationship covers themes such as loyalty and unconditional love. Grab your tissues.
Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle

Emotional Books that Stay with You Forever

These emotional books are a roller coaster, but in the best way possible. They explore the deepest corners of the human experience — love, loss, grief, and redemption. Whether you’re in the mood for historical fiction, contemporary drama, or a heartfelt memoir, there’s a book on this list that will make you cry (and perhaps help you heal along the way). Have a tissue box handy, and be prepared to feel every emotion possible.

Which of these emotional books have you read? Looking for something lighter? Try some of my author highlights like: Abby Jimenez, Mariana Zapata, or Graeme Simsion.