Emotional Annihilation Toolkit
Are you currently not crying to the point of vomiting, but you want to be? Need to conduct a science experiment to find out if you are in fact the ugliest crier in all of Pagebound? Well, do I have the list for you! Brought to you by the fine, very sad, folks of Pagebound! These books have been frequently suggested or upvoted in PB club posts about sad books! Suggestions in any genre, and extra tissues, are welcome!
created by acidicchaos
last updated July, 2026
Comments
as a water sign i’m an expert in crying 🙂↕️ i think the stationery shop by marjan kamali would be a great addition!
as a water sign say no more!! Immediately added!! With love and plenty of spare tissues, yours in tears - AC (Scorpio Ascendant)
sincerely, a scorpio sun🦂
Lol as a scorpio sun + pisces moon, I think my libra and sag placements must be working overtime because I do not cry easily at books/movies 😅
omg with the water moon too? i’m such a baby i try to blame it on my water signs but i only have two placements the rest are air and earth😭
As a water sign, this list will destroy me, I'll blame you for shortening my life span 🥹 Thanks anyway 🥹
Also, I remember crying on The Storyteller's Secret if ever
Just went to add it and I see a couple with the same title - do you remember the author's name by chance?
Yes sorry about that, it's Sejal Badani! It's a red cover.
Also by another Indian author, Girls Burn Brighter by Shoba Rao, this one is stomach churning
Beautiful!!! Added!! I shall blame you for these when I'm ugly sobbing on the floor hahaha
wait. Project Hail Mary? 🧍♂️ (I haven't watched the movie either, was just surprised to see it pop up because I have evidently not encountered a lot of talk about its emotional side hahaha)
I haven't read it so idk, but it was suggested a couple of times. I thiiiiink because of loneliness/isolation but tbh everything is kind of blurring together for me at this point.
People who have read it - let me know if it's a good fit!
Ahhh gotcha, makes sense, sounds like something that could pull at heartstrings in it!
hi yes Shark Heart: A Love Story would do nicely here 🥹
I'm starting to get a little scared about how many books on my TBR are a good fit for this list - did not realize this one was going to make me sob! Added to the list! Thank you!!
also reccing know my name by chanel miller! i think i cried at about 3 separate parts when reading this 😭
Yessssss I have been avoiding this one because I know it will destroy me. It definitely needs to be on this list!! Thank you!
understandable, i was not expecting to cry as much as i did 😭 i feel like i read so many sad books at least it comes in handy now 💀😭
may i suggest i'm glad my mom died by jennette mccurdy 😭🙂↕️
Yesssssss fantastic addition for the list!! Added!! Thank you!!
another rec: solito by javier zamora that one killed me
