{"id":83629,"date":"2025-02-14T05:00:54","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T10:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/?p=83629"},"modified":"2025-02-14T13:44:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T18:44:58","slug":"ya-books-guarantee-a-good-cry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/ya-books-guarantee-a-good-cry\/","title":{"rendered":"16 YA Books That Guarantee a Good Cry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some books break our hearts \u2014 yet we can\u2019t get enough of them! Whether they\u2019re 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<\/i> bestsellers to incredible debut novels, these 16 YA books will have you feeling ALL the feels.<\/p>\n

no no 9780142424179 The Fault in Our Stars<\/i> by John Green <\/p>\n

Hazel Grace Lancaster isn\u2019t looking for love. She knows her cancer diagnosis is a death sentence, and she\u2019s 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\u2019t perfect, and cancer is an unpredictable disease. John Green\u2019s #1 global bestselling novel will keep you hooked from start to finish.<\/p>\n

9780525708087 The Glass Girl<\/i> by Kathleen Glasgow <\/p>\n

From the bestselling author who brought us tearjerkers like Girl in Pieces<\/i><\/a> and How to Make Friends with the Dark<\/i><\/a> comes a heart-wrenching novel about a teen\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

9780451478290 13 Reasons Why<\/i> by Jay Asher <\/p>\n

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\u2019t end with her death. Using seven cassette tapes, Hannah records the thirteen reasons for her death and the people responsible for it. Asher\u2019s heartbreaking story will haunt you long after turning the last page.<\/p>\n

9780823458943 For Lamb<\/i> by Lesa Cline-Ransome <\/p>\n

Keep a box of tissues close by when you read this book because you\u2019re going to need them. It\u2019s about a quiet teenage girl named Lamb who accepts a gesture of friendship from a white girl \u2014 with disastrous results. The story is set in the Jim Crow South and will have you tearing up before the end.<\/p>\n

9780593403846 If I Stay<\/i> by Gayle Forman <\/p>\n

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 \u2014 stay alive in a world without her family or join them in death. <\/p>\n

9780593404485 Always Isn’t Forever<\/i> by J. C. Cervantes <\/p>\n

When her best friend and soulmate dies, Ruby struggles to let him go. So, when Hart\u2019s soul gets transferred to another boy named Jameson, Ruby can\u2019t deny her attraction to him. This heartbreaking love story spans tragedy, grief, and new beginnings. <\/p>\n

9781524740986 Luck of the Titanic<\/i> by Stacey Lee <\/p>\n

It\u2019s April 1912, and Valora Luck has two missions \u2014 to join her brother and become a circus performer in New York City. She must travel on the new luxury ocean liner, Titanic<\/i>, to make her dreams come true. Because she is Chinese, she can\u2019t 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\u2019s maiden journey has a tragic end. Will Valora survive the ship\u2019s fateful sinking, or will she be one of the 1,500 dead? From Stacey Lee, New York Times<\/i> bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl<\/i><\/a>, comes a new period novel that\u2019ll transport you to the glamorous ship and send you on a breathtaking journey of survival. <\/p>\n

9781536239911 Gather<\/i> by Kenneth M. Cadow <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

9780385755917 All the Bright Places<\/i> by Jennifer Niven <\/p>\n

Theodore and Violet couldn\u2019t be more different. Violet can\u2019t wait to escape town, which bears constant reminders of her late sister. Theodore is the \u201cfreak\u201d that always thinks about death. When the two get paired together for a school project, they don\u2019t 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\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n

9780385755955 Holding Up the Universe<\/i> by Jennifer Niven <\/p>\n

There\u2019s more to Libby than just being \u201cAmerica\u2019s Fattest Teen,\u201d and she\u2019s 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\u2019t remember faces. Their whirlwind love story will make you cry, laugh, and swoon.<\/p>\n

9780553496673 Everything, Everything<\/i> by Nicola Yoon <\/p>\n

Lose yourself in Nicola Yoon\u2019s #1 New York Times<\/i> bestselling debut novel! Maddy is a prisoner. She can\u2019t 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\u2019s love story survive her SCID, or is it doomed from day one? This story will send you on a rollercoaster of emotions.<\/p>\n

9780385741279 We Were Liars<\/i> by E. Lockhart <\/p>\n

A modern classic and TikTok sensation, We Were Liars<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n

9781524715908 The Beauty That Remains<\/i> by Ashley Woodfolk <\/p>\n

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\u2019re coping with grief. Maybe there are some things that music can\u2019t 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\u2019s sexuality.<\/p>\n

9780593406854 Forgive Me Not<\/i> by Jennifer Baker <\/p>\n

After making a terrible mistake that ends in tragedy, Violetta must deal with the heartbreaking consequences. Violetta\u2019s actions put her behind bars and resulted in her younger sister\u2019s death. Now, Violetta must navigate the justice system, her family\u2019s grief, and her desire for forgiveness. This award-winning novel will give you all the feels.<\/p>\n

9781984836038 I Must Betray You<\/i> by Ruta Sepetys <\/p>\n

Attention history lovers, this one\u2019s 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 Ceau\u0219escu regime. The story follows Cristian as he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

9781101937679 Words in Deep Blue<\/i> by Cath Crowley <\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether they\u2019re tears of joy, sadness, or complete heartbreak, a book that includes a good cry is essential. The books in this list all pack an emotional punch and are guaranteed to get the tears flowing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":112336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[97,162],"coauthors":[1293],"class_list":["post-83629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-romance","tag-ya","ages_stages-teen"],"yoast_head":"\n16 YA Books That Guarantee a Good Cry | Brightly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"These books all pack an emotional punch and are guaranteed to get the tears flowing because sometimes you need a good cry.\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/ya-books-guarantee-a-good-cry\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"16 YA 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