Romance Books That Made Us Cry Ugly Tears
Grab the tissues and brace your heart, these are the romance reads that hit us the hardest. Whether it's soulmates torn apart by fate, second chances shadowed by trauma, or forbidden love that scorches and scars, these books deliver unforgettable emotion and stories that stay with you long after the final page.
If you’ve ever closed a book and just sat there, emotionally wrecked… this list is for you.
A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole
Tropes: friends to lovers, young adult, childhood sweethearts, terminal illness
A breathtakingly tender story about young love, soul-deep bonds, and grief, this book is guaranteed to destroy you in the best way. Rune and Poppy are inseparable, until life cruelly intervenes. If you’re after a pure emotional release, this one will gut you.
Blurb:
One kiss lasts a moment. But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime. One boy. One girl. A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade. A bond that neither time nor distance can break. A bond that will last forever. Or so they believe.
When seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns from Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, he has one question: why did Poppy Litchfield, the girl who was his everything, cut him off with no explanation?
What he discovers is a truth that will shatter him. And that the greatest heartache is yet to come.
Head Above Water by C.E. Ricci
Tropes: MM romance, enemies to lovers, stepbrother romance, grief, second chance
A heart-wrenching and deeply emotional story about grief, forbidden love, and healing in the arms of the one person you're not supposed to want. This one will absolutely ruin you in the best way.
Blurb:
That’s the thing about hearts—like waves, they break too.
Grief hits hard, and just when it feels like he’s drowning, fate throws Cannon—his estranged stepbrother—back into his life.
Straight. Engaged. Off-limits.
But grief is complicated, and so is the chemistry between them.
As old wounds heal and forbidden lines blur, love becomes both the anchor and the storm. But when the inevitable goodbye comes, how do you keep your head above water?
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Tropes: second chance, redemption arc, single parent, forbidden love
Kenna returns from prison, desperate to reconnect with her daughter, but no one is ready to forgive her, least of all the man who might be her only ally. This one is painfully raw, full of heartbreak, guilt, and healing.
Blurb:
A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story.
After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns home to reunite with her daughter. But everyone is determined to shut her out—except Ledger Ward, a local bar owner who happens to be one of the only connections to her child.
As Kenna and Ledger grow close, the risks increase. If the truth about them comes out, it could destroy everything.
Darling Venom by Parker S. Huntington
Tropes: mental health, grief, slow burn, forbidden romance, love triangle
An achingly beautiful, deeply emotional journey through love and loss. From rooftop promises to second chances with the most unexpected person, this story is tragic, messy, and unforgettable.
Blurb:
My first love ended in tragedy. My second began with his brother.
I wasn’t supposed to be on that roof on Valentine’s Day. Neither was Kellan Marchetti.
We met on the verge of ending our lives—and made a promise to meet there every Valentine’s Day. For three years, we kept our pact. On the fourth, everything changed.
This is not your typical love story. It’s venomous, disgraceful, and written in scarlet scars.
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
Tropes: military romance, single parent, brother’s best friend, grief
A letter from a fallen soldier sets the stage for a love story wrapped in loss, secrets, and unexpected healing. You’ll cry ugly tears and then some—this book doesn’t hold back.
Blurb:
Beckett,
If you’re reading this, it means I didn’t make it. Get off the guilt train, because I know you would’ve saved me if you could.
I need one thing from you: get to Telluride. My sister Ella is raising twins alone, and she’s been through more than anyone should.
You can help her, even if I’m gone. She’s strong—but she shouldn’t have to do this alone.
No Tomorrow by Carian Cole
Tropes: rockstar romance, mental health, first love, second chance
A love so fierce and fragile it consumes. Blue and Piper’s story is a haunting tale of passion, heartbreak, and the toll of inner demons. It’s unfiltered, emotional, and impossible to forget.
Blurb:
They say you never forget your first love.
Blue was mine—my first, only, and forever. I found him in a park, playing guitar with a dog at his side. I was captivated.
We fell hard. Then he vanished.
Years later, he’s famous—and still in love with me. But his demons run deep, and loving him comes at a cost.
He called me the keeper of his heart. But even I couldn’t save him from himself.
Exodus (The Ravenhood #2) by Kate Stewart
Tropes: found family, love triangle, secret society, tragic romance
This is not your typical love story. It’s gritty, passionate, and full of betrayal. The heartbreak in this second book will shatter you—especially if you fell for all the boys of Triple Falls like we did.
Blurb:
Can you live a lie?
Triple Falls is a ghost town full of memories—and mistakes.
I didn’t heed the warnings. I let love rule and ruin me.
Now I’m back, to face the truth, to grieve, and maybe to heal. But some endings hurt more than the lie that led to them.
Under Your Scars by Ariel N. Anderson
Tropes: villain gets the girl, morally grey, serial killer romance, mental health
A twisted, emotional rollercoaster that pairs a broken anti-hero with the one person who sees his humanity. Dark and disturbing with emotional weight—it’s the kind of book that leaves scars on your soul.
Blurb:
"If you're so concerned about my humanity, Elena, then reach into my soul and find it, because I'm not sure I have any left."
I’m a serial killer, and she’s my light.
Elena saved me from ending my life—so I took hers apart instead.
Now she’s tangled in a web of murder, darkness, and obsession.
And I don’t know how to let her go.
Remember Us This Way by Sheridan Anne
Tropes: second chance, friends to lovers, high school romance, sports romance, tragic love story
This story isn’t here to comfort you—it’s here to break you. A deeply emotional, soul-shattering romance that explores first love, loss, and the kind of pain that stays etched on your heart forever.
Blurb:
Noah Ryan was my whole life—from start to finish, it was always him.
He showed me love, forgiveness, and the kind of hurt that forever marks a soul.
Our time together was intense, powerful, and heartbreakingly short.
He was my salvation. And I was his first great love.
This story is a tragedy—written to rip your heart out and leave it gasping for air.
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
Tropes: forced proximity, enemies to lovers, trauma bonding, taboo
What starts as survival becomes something deeper in this hauntingly emotional, intense romance. It’s painful, raw, and beautifully told. If you’ve got a soft spot for broken people finding love in the dark, this is it.
Blurb:
Cora never expected to wake up in chains. Or to find her sister’s enemy, Dean, shackled beside her.
They’ve always hated each other—until survival forces them together.
But their captor has plans that blur the line between pain and passion.
This isn’t just a story of trauma—it’s about what happens after.
Torment: Part Two by Dylan Page
Tropes: dark romance, captivity, MC romance, trauma
Dark, twisted, and emotionally crushing. Torment explores power, submission, and how love can bloom in the most brutal circumstances. This story pushes boundaries and tears hearts apart.
Blurb:
My dreams are gone. I’m controlled, broken.
Shay owns me now, and I’m forced to submit to keep the people I love safe.
But as time passes, comfort replaces fear—and I begin to crave the monster who caged me.
He’s my tormentor, but now… he’s something I can’t live without.
Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan
Tropes: small town, trauma healing, silent hero, friends to lovers
Archer Hale doesn’t speak—but his love story with Bree screams in emotion. A gentle, slow burn romance that aches with pain, hope, and healing. One of the most quietly powerful reads out there.
Blurb:
When Bree arrives in Pelion, she hopes it’ll be her fresh start.
But then she meets Archer Hale—a mute, reclusive man hiding secrets and scars.
Their connection is instant, but their journey is anything but simple.
This is a story about healing, hope, and the voice love gives to those who’ve been silenced.
The Fabric of Our Souls by K.M. Moronova
Tropes: depression, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract
This one’s raw and real—a story of two people on opposite ends of life’s spectrum who might just save each other. Set in a mental health facility, it’s a reminder that healing often begins in the most unlikely places.
Blurb:
I’m 26 and want to die.
After a failed attempt, I wake up with my brother crying over me—and a nurse with cruel eyes who sees right through me.
Soon, I’m moved to a strange rehabilitation center where I meet him again—now my roommate.
He craves life. I crave death. But somehow, we begin to change each other.
The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
Tropes: trauma recovery, young adult, coming of age
Eden’s journey through grief, pain, and self-discovery is heart-wrenching. This is a brutally honest exploration of trauma and survival. You’ll feel everything she feels—anger, numbness, heartbreak, and eventually, strength.
Blurb:
Eden wishes she could rewind the clock.
But after one horrifying night, she buries the truth and the version of herself she once knew.
Now she’s pretending. Pretending she doesn’t need love or justice.
But eventually, even she can’t pretend anymore.
The Way I Am Now by Amber Smith
Tropes: second chance, recovery, college romance, mental health
The powerful sequel to The Way I Used to Be follows Eden into college and toward justice. It’s a story of reclaiming power, healing through love, and finally facing what’s been buried. It’s hopeful—but not without more tears.
Blurb:
Eden and Josh never had a fair shot.
Now, in college and with her rapist finally on trial, Eden reconnects with the boy she once loved.
But can love survive the chaos of trauma, courtrooms, and a past that won’t stay buried?
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Tropes: Greek mythology, MM romance, slow burn, friends to lovers
A devastatingly beautiful retelling of the Trojan War through the eyes of Patroclus. This is a story of devotion, fate, and the cruelty of glory. The ending will break you—and stay with you forever.
Blurb:
Patroclus, an exiled prince, becomes close to the golden boy of Greece—Achilles. As they grow up together, their friendship deepens into something neither expected. But when Achilles is called to war, love and destiny collide in the most heartbreaking way imaginable.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Tropes: mystery, young adult, tragic twist, first love
This story pulls you in with a dreamy summer romance and shattered family secrets—and then tears the ground out from under you. You’ll want to reread it the second you finish. One of the most shocking emotional gut-punches in YA.
Blurb:
A beautiful and privileged family. A private island. Four friends and one terrible secret.
When Cadence returns to the island after a mysterious accident, she begins to piece together what really happened—and discovers the shocking truth behind the lies.
The Tragedy of Felix and Jake by J. Daniels
Tropes: MM romance, friends to lovers, mental health, addiction recovery
A raw and heartbreaking journey through sobriety, shame, and forbidden connection. Felix and Jake's story is messy, painful, and oh-so-beautiful. Perfect for readers who love when love is the hardest thing to hold onto.
Blurb:
Felix is a recovering addict. Jake is his sponsor—off-limits in every way.
But boundaries blur and feelings grow. Risking it all could cost them their progress and their futures—but not falling might cost them something even greater.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're looking to ugly cry, scream into a pillow, or simply feel every emotion under the sun, these books are proof that romance isn't all sunshine and butterflies. Sometimes, it’s messy. Sometimes, it’s tragic. But it’s always, always worth it.
📚 Browse New Releases Here
📖 Shop All Books Here
📦 Shop Book Series Sets Here
💫 Shop Book Merch Here
Happy reading, romance lovers!
