Hey Book, You Made Me Cry

To be fair, I cry over a lot of things, so maybe it’s not THAT big a deal if you find me crying over a book. I’m literally Rachel.

BUT, these books aren’t ones that had me wiping away a few tears- these books had me SOBBING, cursing the world for ever making me pick that book up and wondering how a stack of dead tree could make me WANT TO DIE. Those are the kinds of books on this list. (Harry Potter books are not on this list, because I will most definitely be talking about those in detail during my HP re-read later this year, see: my eventual Why Order of the Phoenix Broke Me post and its companion piece How The Half-Blood Prince Set Out To Attack Me, Personally). Actually, all these books are on my all-time favorites list, so really this post is just an excuse to talk about how much I love them ok cool let’s gooooo!

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusack

Uhhhhhhh. Oh my god. You would think that a book narrated by Death himself might warn me a bit that there was… ya know, some death coming. BUT NOTHING COULD HAVE PREPARED ME. I remember so vividly the first time I read this book because I was full-on sobbing late at night and my sister walked into my room and was like, omg what is happening and I was just a disaster. This book is so beautiful and full of love and friendship and family but GOD IT HURTS.

THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller

Madeline Miller is an actual goddess. This book is absolutely outstanding. I love Patroclus and Achilles so much and Miller just has a way of writing prominent Greek figures that makes me want to SCREAM. IT’S SO GOOD. The story that she writes and the relationship between the two boys is so powerful and the ending is just CRUSHING because even though you know it’s coming, it doesn’t soften the blow.

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta

AGH. I’ve had this on Kindle for years but I recently came across a physical copy from a secondhand bookstore near my work and I’m so happy it’s actually on my bookshelves now. This is a contemporary romance but it’s SO MUCH MORE. Taylor and Jonah are one of my favorite book ships everrrr and the added plot of Hannah’s manuscript and all the secrets that entails is so fascinating to read about. Another great book about how precious friendship is and I LIVE FOR IT.

WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE SUMMER by Jenny Han

I was obsessed with this series when I first read it in high school. It was a definite comfort series for me and I probably read it at least once a year throughout college as well. It’s just such a cute, fun series and I love the characters. I did a Top Ten last month about my favorite OTPs and I’m sorry to say I completely spaced and forgot to add Belly & Conrad to that list! Here’s me making up for it: I LOVE THEM. Finally getting Conrad’s POV in this book was everythingggg. I recently convinced my sister to read this series and she loves it just as much as me. I have sooo many things highlighted in my ebook of this and I always, always cry when I read Conrad’s letters to Belly. LUCKILY THOUGH, this book makes me cry happy tears, so it’s OK. 🙂

Have you read any of these? What book has made you cry the most? :’)