Just like some love to listen to sad music (that’s also me), there are plenty of us out here who love to enjoy a good cathartic book cry. You’ve got your classic sad book sandwich, that starts happy, has a sad middle, and then has a happy ending. You’ve got the books that are just a sad ride the entire way and the book ends the same way. And, of course, there are the books that are deceivingly happy, and then BAM. The point is, there is a difference between a sad book and a sad ending. Sometimes they are both, sometimes everything is hunky dory until it’s not. I mean, Romeo and Juliet was a great time until the Friar fucked everything up, right? Right? So behold, 11 fantastic books with heart-wrenching endings for the days we all just want to wallow in our sadness a little longer. I’ve got YA and I’ve got adult. I’ve got sci-fi, historical romance, lit fic, and even a little body horror. I hope you find the next book that devastates your soul. Happy reading! (Vague spoilers ahead!) If you can’t get enough books with sad endings or have read everything on the list and want something more obscure, the bibliologists at TBR are here to regale you with recommendations. Check out Tailored Book Recommendations, Book Riot’s book subscription service!
