Top Ten Tuesday: The Books That Hurt My Heart

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.


This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
The Books That Hurt My Heart




I love emotional stories. Sure sometimes I O.D. on the angst and have to seek out some happy fluff in order to remove the dark cloud over my head, but then I'm right back at it. I love a book that that can put me through the wringer, letting me experience the gamut of emotions. From joy and hope to pain and heartbreak. When an author can take me on a journey that has me feeling All The Things and reduces me to a puddle of tears - I'm so there.

So what does that say about me? I'm sure a therapist would have a field day with that, but that's a whole other post for another day. In the meantime, here are the books that hurt my heart... and I loved it.


This one is probably obvious, but the list wouldn't be complete without it. Much of The Nightingale was a tough read but by the time I got to the end my heart was broken and I was a puddle of tears.

When it comes to making my heart hurt, Morgan's story did that big time. Her pain seemed to bleed off the page and I felt a physical impact while reading it. 

This may seem like an odd addition - a random book from a YA paranormal series - but the Lux series happens to be my favorite YA paranormal series (how's that for specific?) and Opal was the one that about did me in. There were several scenes that had me blinking back tears and the ending was so shocking and so "no, this can't be happening!" that it definitely makes this list.

The Bronze Horseman has to be the gold standard (see what I did there?) for heartbreaking books. Set during the Siege of Leningrad, main character Tatiana suffered. My heart hurt over and over again... and that ending! *wails loudly*

Krista and Becca Ritchie are one of my favorite writing duos and they are masters at creating characters who are so realistic you feel like you know these people. And when they're in pain, I'm in pain. Daisy and Ryke experienced loss (and the frightening possibility of loss) in Long Way Down and I was right there with them.

Living Dead Girl was a short but powerful story about a girl who was abducted at the age of 10. Now 15, her abductor talks more and more of her death. Her life at the hands of the pedophile was so bleak that she viewed death as a welcome escape. This isn't a story for the faint of heart and it left me feeling pretty disturbed.

While Goodnight, Nic did have a super swoony romance, it also dealt with loss and grief. Nic's grief was so overwhelming that it was impossible not to grieve right along with her.

It's been almost six years since I read Ugly Love and I still haven't recovered.
Ugly Love = ugly cry

Sweet, precious Archer. One of my favorite fictional characters ever. His story broke me. The more that was revealed, the more my heart hurt for him. 

I'll Meet You There is one that made a huge impact on me. It's one of those unforgettable stories that became an instant favorite. And while both characters have strong, poignant stories, it was Josh's story that made my heart hurt. His struggle to adjust to his new normal after serving in Afghanistan made me want to do anything possible to take away his pain and give him peace.


Have you read any of these books?


46 comments

  1. Loved Archer's Voice! Living Dead Girl does sound disturbing! I hope it had a good ending.

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    1. Weeellll... the ending was just as sad/disturbing as the rest of the book. I mean, something good came of it, but it was still overall sad to me. :(

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  2. Same here for Ugly Love, Long Way Down, Archer's Voice and The Nightingale. Also Bright Side, Full Tilt, and When It Rains.

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    1. I *still* haven't read Bright Side. Gah! And I don't think I know When It Rains... I'll have to look that one up.

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  3. Great list! I haven't heard of a few of these, and Living Dead Girl sounds ROUGH.

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    1. Living Dead Girl was a HARD read. And I finished it feeling so hopeless. :(

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  4. I sobbed and ugly cried as I read The Nightingale. Heartbreaking! Lots of tears as I read Ugly Love and I'll Meet You There too.

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    1. Oh my goodness, The Nightingale about destroyed me. So heartbreaking!

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  5. Funny, I was just in the mood for something super angsty. Ugly Love definitely had me crying and I loved I'll Meet You There so so much!

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  6. These do sound like good reads!

    My TTT .

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  7. I love a good heartbreak book! I too seek them out!

    My TTT: https://ichlese.blog/2020/07/28/top-ten-tuesday-my-favorite-seasonal-book-movie-sustenance-pairings/.

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  8. I remember when I'll Meet You there came out and I saw really good reviews for that one. I also like it when a book really affects me emotionally.

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    1. I'll Meet You There was such a powerful read. Really unforgettable.

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  9. Oooh, I totally agree with you! I love feeling like I've been on a whole journey when I'm through with a book. The only one of these I've read is THE NIGHTINGALE and yes, it is a heart-hurting novel. But such a good one!

    Happy TTT!

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    1. The Nightingale was definitely one that hurt my heart!

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  10. GRRR... Blogger ate my comment. I hit "publish" and there was this little broken Blogger logo - Blogger is like a vengeful ex boyfriend to me lol.
    In any case, the only one of these I've read is I'll Meet You There - for the past few years I have been avoiding sad books.

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    1. LOL Vent away! With the new switch-over of the Blogger interface I'm not exactly singing Blogger's praises right now, either. :)

      I don't necessarily seek out sad books (that would be rather sadistic, I think), but I do gravitate to books with some depth that are sure to have an emotional impact.

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  11. Great idea for a topic! I want to read Ugly Love.
    Here's my TTT list this week.

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    1. Ugly Love was one of the earlier ones I read from Colleen Hoover and is still one of my favorites.

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  12. The Lux series is my favourite too!

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    1. I have such an unhealthy obsession with Daemon Black. LOL

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  13. Ah, The Nightingale! One of my favorites - such an emotional read!

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  14. I don't tend to read a lot of books that pull on the heartstrings, so I honestly can't remember the last one that had an emotional impact on me in that way. Now I'm going to have to rectify that by reading one from your list!

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    1. I always feel kind of let down if a book doesn't get me emotionally invested.

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  15. i love your post title and books that get my emotions riled are usually some of the best
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. The emotional ones are usually the ones that make the biggest impression on me.

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  16. I feel you on The Nightingale, I haven't read the others.

    Here's my TTT if you want to take a look https://readwithstefani.com/10-books-i-want-to-read-by-the-end-of-2020/

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  17. I need to read The Nightingale. I’ve been avoiding it because people keep saying it’s painful!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  18. So far I've only read The Nightingale from your list, but oh yes, it definitely hurt my heart. Such a great read.

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  19. 1000% agree on Living Dead Girl. That was wrenching.

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  20. You KNOW that I was a mess after Birthday and I'll Meet You There! Archer was amazing too!

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    1. Birthday really made an impact and I actually had a hard time getting through it. That one hurt.

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  21. Same for me for Bronze Horseman and The Nightingale.

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  22. I've read only Opal and Archers Voice from this list and totally understand why they made the list... The Bronze Horseman, the Nightingale are two that everyone seems to love so I need to read at some point... And Goodnight, Nic and Ugly Love I own so REALLY need to read at some point!

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    1. I wish Goodnight, Nic had got more attention when it released. It really deserved it.

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