There’s nothing better than cracking open a new book and having it make you sob. Sometimes you just need a book that will make you feel all kinds of emotions. A category that always seems to make me cry is young adult fiction. They’re full of such raw emotions, and reading these books from the perspective of someone who’s still trying to figure out the world is a rollercoaster of emotions. YA books have evolved to be these deeply emotional books. Laura Rennert of the Andrea Brown Agency said it perfectly. “There’s an absolute hunger for books about deeply emotional topics, no matter how tough a subject it is.” YA readers are looking for a book that will give them a good, cathartic cry. The following YA books are some that continuously manage to make me cry every time I read them and read about what these characters are going through.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 

This cult classic was first released in February of 1999 and has continued to make readers emotional. It’s a coming-of-age story that follows Charlie as he navigates high school through all the awkward first dates, family drama, and the death of his best friend. It’s such an emotional read, and we get to see this all through Charlie’s perspective. This book has resonated with readers since it was first published and has continued to do so with the film adaptation released in 2012. 

It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

The second book in the Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy follows Belly Conklin as she continues to navigate life as a high schooler, tries to figure out her friendship with Conrad Fisher, and learns that her summers will never be the same—not after the loss of Susannah Fisher. Belly, along with the reader, had become attached to the woman that was Susannah—filled with light and laughter. She was someone who battled cancer and beat it once before, so reading of her death was hard. Seeing how much light she brought to everyone and to suddenly have that go away was heartbreaking to witness. It’s an amazing book that I like to reread every summer, especially now that the trilogy is a show on Prime Video, which has just started production for the third and final season.

Laurel Everywhere by Erin Moynihan

Laurel never thought she’d feel this type of pain. The pain of losing her mom and siblings in a car crash. The pain of being left to fend for herself after her dad disappears. Laurel struggles to find her place in a world without her family and learns to find a new norm. Through all this pain, Laurel strives to feel better with the help of her best friends Lyssa and Hanna, the latter whom she’s shared a kiss with. This book is beautifully written. The way that Moynihan can write such emotional scenes is incredible. It’s a beautiful story dealing with trauma, friendship, and love.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Taylor Edwards and her family are back at their old summerhouse after her father gets some unexpected news about his health. She finds herself confronted with her former best friend, Lucy, and Henry Crosby, her old boyfriend. This is a book about second chances, which Taylor learns all about this summer with her family and friends. This book was heartbreaking, especially in the last couple of chapters. I loved being able to see Taylor’s character arc and to see how she handles such hard news. I would definitely grab a box of tissues when reading this book. It’s incredibly gut-wrenching, but I couldn’t put it down.