What to read when you want to cry: sad book recommendations

We’re nearing the end of spring semester, and whether you’re mourning the loss of your senior friends or breaking down about an impossible final, the tears are imminent. In honor of what can be a stressful time, here are some books that are sure to hit you right in the feels.

‘Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow’ - Gabrielle Zevin

This coming-of-age story follows two gifted kids as they navigate relationships, school and work, specifically designing video games. Zevin dissects the different iterations of friendship and how they evolve over time. The way Zevin depicts the interactions between characters absolutely rewired my brain chemistry. This book made me think differently about what it means to engage in play and why we stay friends.

‘You Could Make This Place Beautiful’ - Maggie Smith

This stunning memoir by American poet Maggie Smith details her rise to fame after publishing her poem “Good Bones,” the deterioration of her marriage and her grief as she learns to navigate. This book is sad, funny and incredibly honest, often at the exact same time.

Smith often writes about living in the Midwest – she resides in Bexley, Ohio – giving this story another layer of relatability.

‘Either/or’ - Elif Batuman

This book follows a sophomore girl at Harvard, where she attempts to make sense of the confusing social rules and questions what she really wants to do with her life. This is an amazing book to read if you feel uncertain about your own studies, and it reminds readers to follow where their passions lead.

‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ - Ocean Vuong

This is my absolute favorite book, and I will never stop recommending it. This beautiful and profound memoir follows Vuong’s upbringing as the child of a Vietnamese immigrant mother. Vuong explores topics of intergenerational trauma, sexuality, class, institutionalised racism and mental illness.

I reread this book at least once a year, and it holds a special place in my heart, never failing to remind me that we are all less alone in this world than we think.

mahones5@miamioh.edu