I think there are two genres of sad books: the ones that make you cry and the ones that make you depressed. This list covers that second genre, the books that crush your soul and make you grieve for not only the characters but for the state of the world and the real people going through similar situations. Be warned, these books cover sensitive topics that some people may not be comfortable reading about, and I would put them all at a PG-13 level or higher. Exercise caution with what you choose to read and take care of yourself. And if you'd like some background music while you read or some songs that will let you wallow in your grief when you're finished, here's a playlist I made.
The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin
The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is structured as an investigative novel looking into the life of New York City street artist Addison Stone leading up to her tragic drowning, and it’s written so well that I honestly forgot that none of it really happened. I had to look it up multiple times to confirm that this was, in fact, incredibly realistic fiction. Through a series of interviews with friends, family, colleagues, and Addison’s ex-boyfriends, readers learn about Addison and her life: her childhood in a sleepy little town in Rhode Island, her relationship with her dysfunctional family, her struggles with mental illness, and her career in New York City. It all adds up to a very interesting, if unstable and arguably unhealthy, life, and Addison’s career is on an upward trajectory toward the end of the book. Then she dies, and even though I knew it was coming--that her death was the whole (fictional) reason this book was written--it still felt like a shock. Addison’s life echoes things felt and experienced by a lot of people. It looks into the delicate balance between maintaining your identity while being psychologically healthy and gives readers a more realistic look at the lives of artists, showing that they are often not as glamorous as we think. Her short life reflects on the many young innovators who have died too soon and serves as a reminder that success does not guarantee a happily ever after. Truly one of the most interesting and real-world connected fiction books I’ve ever read, plus it’s perfect for lovers of true crime.
You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
You’d Be Home Now covers just about every depressing humanitarian crisis there is, from homelessness to drug addiction to driving under the influence. The story starts with 16-year-old Emory Ward beginning her junior year of high school after what one could describe as an…interesting summer. 4 months ago, Emory was in a car crash with her brother Joey, his friend Luther, and her classmate Candy MontClaire, which completely rocked all of their worlds. Luther lost an eye and went to juvie for carrying drugs; Emory’s knee and family shattered; Joey, a known stoner, was sent to a wilderness rehab center when it became apparent how bad his drug addiction was; and Candy died. As the story progresses, Emory begins to realize that maybe things aren’t as she thought. Maybe her brother isn’t cured, maybe her popular neighbor isn’t as great as he seems, maybe the homeless addicts living just outside town deserve better, maybe she doesn’t have to be who people say she is. You’d Be Home Now covers some of the most depressing issues in the world, but it also shows that there are kind spots of light in the darkness. It’s a heavy read, but weirdly, and also kind of heartwarming. So, if you'd like a little side of joy with your meal of shockingly bad reality, this book is for you.
Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
This book comes out swinging right from the start, which means it might not be the best for beginners in this genre, but it's great for people who love a fast-paced plot that still has some intrigue. The story begins with the main character, 17-year-old Charlotte “Charlie” Davis, in a mental hospital and hating every second of the experience. Her friends brought her there after an attempted suicide, and she’s now in rehab for self-harm. While in the hospital, readers begin to learn more about Charlie’s backstory and the reasons she cuts herself. Charlie leaves rehab with nothing more than a bus ticket to Tucson, a little bit of cash, the small number of belongings she came in with, and a vague plan to reconnect with an old friend who’s promised to look out for her. Her time in Tucson is filled with ups and downs as Charlie tries to balance staying clean and finding support with staying alive. Girl in Pieces kind of covers everything, from the failings of the mental healthcare system (who lets an unstable 17-year-old take a bus to Tuscon with no plan?) to homelessness to the realities of relapsing in addiction. It’s a reminder that not everyone’s path to recovery is linear and that you cannot “fix” people, especially people you date. But it also shows the value of a support system, that support can come from unlikely places, and that there are people who want to help, even when the world seems hopeless.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Thirteen Reasons Why is known to be a depressing book, and for good reason. The whole premise of the book is that 17-year-old Hannah Baker recently committed suicide and left behind an interesting form of a note: 7 double-sided cassette tapes containing the 13 reasons she killed herself and the people behind those reasons. These tapes were given to each of the people she holds responsible for her death, starting with the first person (Justin Foley, Hannah’s first kiss) and being sent to the next person on the list after they’ve been listened to. We experience all of this through the perspective of Clay Jensen, Hannah’s classmate and crush. Clay is mentioned on the tapes, which is why he receives them to begin with, but not for the same reasons as everyone else. As he learns about the underlying causes of Hannah’s death and all the silent signals for help she was giving before she died, he navigates the grief of losing a relationship he never had. When Thirteen Reasons Why came out, it was criticized for romanticizing suicide to teenagers, but I kind of think it does the opposite. It shows how much can be hiding under the surface of a person or an entire school, and as Clay learns how to recognize the warning signs and potentially help those that are struggling, readers do too, with more relatable examples than those videos they show in school. This book is heavy and not for the faint of heart, but I think it’s totally worth reading if you can stomach it.
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
This is by far the most soul-crushing, gut-wrenching book on this list, and it’s also one of the best books I have ever read. My Sister’s Keeper follows the journey of 13-year-old Anna and her family as she sues her parents for medical emancipation. Anna was born as a donor baby for her sister Kate, who was diagnosed as a toddler with a rare and difficult-to-treat form of leukemia that is prone to relapsing. Being a donor baby means that Anna was born through IVF with the perfect genetics to donate blood, stem cells, and even organs to her sister. Anna isn’t sick, but she’s been in the hospital almost as much as Kate has and has missed out on her childhood just like Kate. This book looks at a family stuck in a lose-lose situation and the various ways they deal with their grief. It also looks at the ethics of donor babies and siblings donating things to each other when they’re too young to understand the implications. This book truly crushed me but also drew me in from start to finish. It’s an amazing story that is definitely in my top ten books of all time, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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