8 Touching Books That Will Make You Cry Like a Baby

More than one of our Instagram readers picked THE GREAT BELIEVERS as the last book that made them cry . . . and we totally agree with you. Rebecca Makkai’s dazzling novel is about a circle of artistic friends consumed by the AIDS epidemic in 1985 Chicago and the few survivors who reunite thirty years later in Paris. The two stories—past and present—intertwine and take us through the heartbreak of the 80s and the chaos of the modern world as these incredible characters seek out goodness.

Khaled Hosseini’s unforgettable and heartbreaking debut novel will enlighten you, sadden you, and challenge your idea of what it means to be good. Set against the backdrop of tumultuous, war-torn Afghanistan, this sweeping story of friendship, family, and redemption has become a beloved classic.

Novels about pets and their humans induce tears instantly. In this novel, a cat named Nana and her human, Satoru, travel by van across Japan to meet up Saturo’s longtime friends. A story of friendship, gratitude, and loyalty unveils as they make their way through scenic Japan.

You wouldn’t think that a stories collection from the mind behind BoJack Horseman would be on a list of tearjerking reads. And yet, here we are. SOMEONE WHO WILL LOVE YOU IN ALL YOUR DAMAGED GLORY is an offbeat collection about love in its highest, lowest, and weirdest forms. Perhaps the relatable part might make you cry but the dark humor will definitely make you laugh.

When Lauren Schroff encounters an eleven-year-old panhandler on the street she doesn’t plan to stop. But then she changes her mind and gives him spare change. She does this every day for the next three decades. AN INVISIBLE THREAD is the story of an unexpected lifelong friendship between a busy sales rep and a disadvantaged young boy. If this story of friendship and kindness doesn’t make you cry, we don’t know what will.

Read the full review of AN INVISIBLE THREAD.

Ove is a lonely and cranky old man with staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. When an annoyingly friendly couple and their two children move in next door, Ove finds himself with several unexpected new friends, an unkempt cat, and a new outlook on life.

Read the full review of A MAN CALLED OVE.

A personal and moving memoir, PAULA is titled after Isabel Allende’s daughter who fell gravely ill in 1991 and passed away thereafter. PAULA is filled with the words Allende wished to tell her daughter and written as a letter to her—about the events that unfolded during her coma, Allende’s childhood and bitter memories, of secrets, and of their curious ancestors.