April showers bring…well we aren’t there quite yet! I have been in a mood y’all, this mood of feelings and sadness and gut-wrenching stories, but I secretly love it here. There’s truly something lovely about beautiful writing, an amazing plot, and a wonderful character arc that just makes me fall hard for a story. My rule of thumb is, if it doesn’t make me cry then I don’t want it LOL. I will rarely read a story for the cheese, it just doesn’t feed me with the feels the way I want and that’s ok. This is the hill I’m choosing!
10 of my go-to-make-me-cry books
The way I boo-hoo cried while reading this book, I was not prepared for the beautiful story within these pages. The only trigger I will say upfront for this book is this is a story about a child with cancer, which is not explicitly stated and it is just thrown at you within the prologue. But if you can push through this story, you will be filled with a second chance at love and patience for a wounded heart.
Yarros really put us through the emotional rollercoaster on this one. I don’t normally enjoy single-parent stories but this one pulled at my heartstrings. Watching this mom fight for her little girl while also struggling to open up her heart and learn to trust again romantically was such an incredible story. Be prepared for the tears to flow. My sister is still upset about this recommendation but in the best way possible.
This was such a CUTE story!!! And the consensus has been, ‘this is not vibe but I’m so glad I read this.’ This story is a one-night stand/accidental pregnancy trope but the character’s banter really made this story worth the read. As you can see from the cover, this story also has a physical disability rep. The author used a lot of her personal experiences as a new mom and her physical differences as a foundation for the FMC.
The love interest Bo, oh sweet Bo, we just love him so much! Bo is what all the girlies need and want but didn’t know we needed and wanted. He’s such an amazing character to fall for. What I loved most about this story, is they both have their internal struggles but they equally encouraged each other, communicated and work together not just for themselves but also for their little bundle of joy.
I almost did not read this book…yep, nope, book 1 in this standalone/series was just not my vibe and I was ready to never look back. But everyone in the book community was vetting for book 2 Heartless, so I said ok let me give it a go. I had to pick my jaw up multiple times from the floor, I was rooting and scolding throughout the whole book, and the cute little kiddo definitely snatched my heart.
This story is a single dad/nanny trope along with an age gap. I enjoyed Willa because she’s this feisty 20-something just trying to enjoy her summer and somehow thinks because she can manage a bar, she can then manage a 5-year-old little boy on a ranch. Then you have grumpy dad Cade; this is one of the few grumpy/sunshines that I loved because his anger had a true purpose.
Their relationship was really sweet to read. The smut in this one is spicey, nothing was held back in this book. So buckle up and hold on because this cowboy will buck.
Looking for a heartfelt sibling story, look no further. I have only read 1 book by Robin Benway but I enjoyed and appreciated her writing style and storytelling. This book follows 3 siblings who have all had very different upbringings, all given up for adoption and somehow able to find each other and form this beautiful bond.
I did not cry but I was filled with so much love and encouragement while reading this. This is a great YA story that doesn’t read too young and the message of ‘what does family mean to you’ really shines brightly.
Off this quote alone, I might just re-read this story. I love Archer and Bree’s connection from the very beginning. This is one of my favorite tropes, where you have the alienated character and someone else comes along and just sees them for who they are, and a beautiful connection forms. But wait…she speaks his language, literally, we have an ASL (American Sign Language) rep! As I was reading I could literally see Archer’s light shining through his character. Him being able to experience someone who wants to know him and not just push him aside because of rumors around town. So so good! Archer has my heart truly.
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! If you enjoy a story set in a quick time frame and “what happens in Vegas” vibes then this will definitely be for you. Now the plot is chaotic *clears throat* destination wedding for your sister – the groom is your ex – so to make things bearable you end up sleeping with not just one of the groomsmen – but the best man! The layers and character development we get in this story are so good for such a short amount of time. Let’s not forget the romance. Rome had my heart from the very beginning! This is a great book to pick up during the Summer to enjoy by the pool.
Another story that from the beginning I will mention is the triggers, this is a heavy and intense domestic violence story. I had to take multiple pauses to process and give space to those who have gone through these terrible experiences.
This story will sit with me forever and ever. Kennedy Ryan held no punches and was able to deliver a beautiful story of resilience, love, and growth when the light at the end of the tunnel was not seen. The relationship between Iris and August is so sweet. He has so much patience and understanding for her. Iris finds comfort and strength within him, to fight for herself and her daughter and to get out of her situation. Again, this is a tough read, and would recommend taking breaks while reading.
I watched this movie before I realized it was first a book. And let me tell you, I cried during the movie and I cried while reading this book. I’ve read a couple of books by Racheal Lippincott and I absolutely love how much care she puts into her characters and the banter and cuteness.
This YA story follows 2 teens who have Cystic Fibrosis and is life-threatening for them to be around each other, so they must stay at least 5 feet apart. But of course, a very cute and wholesome romance happens. This is one of those feel-good stories of what does life means to you? Is life a day-by-day experience? Is it the value of success? Is it the memories you have made or the obstacles you’ve overcome? I loved this story so much and would highly recommend this one for sure! And it really ages well, this was written in 2018 and the story ages well with the times.
Don’t Cry For Me is a story that starts as a letter from a father on his deathbed to his gay son, with the intent to say all the things he was not able to say. There is a lot of healing from generational trauma within this story, and even forgiveness for what our parents didn’t know and forcing certain “acceptable” standards. There is a second companion book that just released this year called Isaac’s Song and I am definitely picking that one up soon.
I have a sweet spot for TJR’s writing and I recently have read quite a few of her backlist and really enjoyed them. This story pulls at your heartstrings from the very beginning. I want to keep my thoughts short and sweet on this because the development of the story is really what makes this book so good. This idea of maybe you’re allowed to have more than 1 true love in a lifetime and what happens when you encounter both at the same time? I actually may love her backlist books more than the current books she’s put out and would recommend checking those out.
Honorary Books ( read these if…)
Hopefully I was able to convert a few people into possibly picking up an emotionally satisfying book! If so, please let me know. Or if there’s any suggestions that would fit within this scope I’d love to check those out as well. Stay dry friends, Happy Reading!
Book Reviews & ARC’s
Firstly, I want to say thank you for considering me for your book reviewers; I am super excited. I love to read and encourage adult readers to take the leap, pick up a book, slap on a pair of headphones, and listen to an audiobook. While I love reviewing ARCs and books from authors, I want to provide guidelines and answer frequently asked questions on our process.
See HERE for further ARC requests