Books give us the best kind of adrenaline rush. It's the thrill of not knowing what happens—do the main characters get together? Is the prime suspect guilty, or is it the one you've been suspicious of all the time? Suspense, drama, plots, and shocking revelations that prompt you to question the author— these are what book lovers live for, from tooth-rotting fluff, sick and twisted plots, to gut-wrenching endings that have us sobbing over ink and paper, the joy (and sorrows) of reading never end.

But even when we're blissfully lost in the comfort that reading brings us, reality strikes again. Everyone wants a happy ending, but not everyone gets one. Some by fate, some by choice, but reality is always present to pull us back from the brink of a 'happy ending', even from fiction.

But not every one of them is necessarily just for the plot, some give us a lesson, some a message, and some of them move us in ways we couldn't have imagined. Here are a few of those that shook me up completely, but also enabled me to look at everything in a different light and form perspective and views that I wouldn't have had before reading them.

(Quick heads-up: these stories deal with heavy themes—loss, grief, trauma, and mental health. Nothing is spoiled below, but check in with the trigger warnings and, most importantly, yourself. Dive in if you're ready, and if not, no pressure!)

1. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

This book is probably the Olympics of sadness (not exaggerating at all!). It's a story about four college friends in New York, but one of them, named Jude, carries a past so devastating, it slowly but surely engulfs the whole story. Despite having some comfort from his relationship with his friends, he never really finds true relief or respite from his sufferings. This is honestly one of the most beautiful but heart-wrenching books I've read, and it has a reputation for making readers ugly cry(me too).

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2. Normal People by Sally Rooney

This story revolves around Connell and Marianne, who orbited each other through school and college, never quite together, but never quite apart. The story is messy, tender at its edges, and frustratingly very real.

The romantic part isn't what makes it brutal—it's how Sally Rooney chose to portray loneliness, depression, and the unbearable ache of being completely misunderstood. And if you wish to twist the knife, there's always the movie adaptation starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal (the casting couldn't be more perfect), and it'll only intensify the feeling after reading the book, because Normal People is a narrative that thrives on the difficulty of communication and miscommunication, and it is relatable on many, many levels.

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3. A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman

A Man Called Ove revolves around the story of a grieving, miserable, grumpy, but somehow weirdly lovable old man who was living alone on a suburban street, mad at the world and everything else around him after the loss of his wife. Bitter and still grieving, Ove strikes up a memorable friendship with a young family who moves in next door.

If you think you can handle strong, delicate subjects like death, love, and loss very well, this book's last few chapters stand ready to challenge you and your ability to not ugly cry in public. It's bittersweet, it'll make you smile, maybe even get a chuckle or two out of you, but don't let that fool you because it'll also make you feel deeply for someone who doesn't exist, and it certainly had me pondering over it for days after.

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4. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

When Anne Frank's father published her diary, no one expected it to hit so close to home. It's just about a regular girl in hiding during the Nazi occupation in World War II, or so it seems to be. We've all heard about the heartbreaking stories from WWII of the victims of the Holocaust, but this one hits hard because in her diary, Anne shares about her dreams, fears, and her life in hiding.

Anne was just a regular girl trying to make the most of her life in hiding, and then it just... stopped. There is no dramatic ending or closure. It hurts to read her entries because we know how it ends, and the life she could've had. This book had me thinking and realising the cruel and difficult lives the Jews must've had in a way that seemed very personal, and also the strength of the human spirit, even in difficult times.

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5. A Dog's Chance by Casey Wilson

The second I saw an adorable dog and a girl on the cover page, I knew I had to read this. I picked this book off the shelf without much thought, and honestly? I don't regret it.

This is a beautiful story about second chances—both for dogs and people. A troubled teen, an unwanted dog, and a beautiful friendship that blossoms between them that saves both of them. If you have a soft spot for dogs like me, you'll like this book. It's about the unbelievable and irreplaceable bonds we form with dogs in our lives. And the cover of the book voices a beautiful thought that explains pretty much the plot of this book:

Sometimes the dogs we rescue...also rescue us.

Plus, if you're a fan or have ever read Marley & Me or The Art of Racing in the Rain, this would fit in the vibes.

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Honourable Mention to My All-Time Favourite: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This one isn't just a book to me—it's a feeling. It made my childhood, and probably has shaped me into the person I've become today, because I thrive on books and films, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower was certainly one of the best, according to me. Written as a series of letters, it follows Charlie, a painfully observant and introverted freshman year student, navigating the journey of adolescence. It captures the raw, messy feeling of growing up, grief, loss, first love, and finding where you truly belong feel like the first light entering a pitch black room.

And the iconic movie adaptation only deepens the ache. The tunnel scene, mixtapes, and Mr. Anderson, whose quotes and the character himself, that have stuck with me all the way along.

"We accept the love we think we deserve." This isn't just a quote; this is the messy, heartbreaking, yet beautiful truth of life. And all of these are why this book and the film hold a special place in my heart, and I'm sure you won't regret giving it your time.

Why Put Yourself Through These?

Of course, you'd be wondering, why read these books willingly knowing what they'll do to us? Because sadness teaches us the reality of life. These books and adaptations don't just entertain, they transform.

They'll break your heart, sure. But they'll also expand it. Sad, gut-wrenching books don't just make us cry; they make us human. And pain is proof we're alive and human. In the midst of these tear-jerkers, you'll find the most healing thing of all: beauty and hope.