5 Books That Broke Me

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Today, I am sharing five books that completely WRECKED me. Most of these are romances, and three are young adult books that took me completely by surprise. These were all five stars for me, and SO many tears were shed with each one. To me, feeling such powerful, heartbreaking emotions is generally a sign of a strong book, and I would definitely say that that is true for these books. Happy reading!

1. A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

Official 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 his native Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, where he befriended Poppy Litchfield as a child, he has just one thing on his mind. Why did the girl who was one half of his soul, who promised to wait faithfully for his return, cut him off without a word of explanation? Rune’s heart was broken two years ago when Poppy fell silent. When he discovers the truth, he finds that the greatest heartache is yet to come."

A Thousand Boy Kisses

I cried for AT LEAST 100 pages of this book - full on sobs that just wouldn't stop. A Thousand Boy Kisses is very much a character-driven book, and following the relationship between Rune and Poppy is something I wish I could experience again for the first time. This is NOT a happy book, I want to add, but I 100% believe that it is worth the read if it sounds like something you are interested in. This is a book about true love, and it's one I will definitely reread someday.

Content warning for loss of loved one, illness.

My rating: Five Stars

2. You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

In this beautiful YA novel, Julie is grieving the death of her boyfriend, Sam, after a tragic accident. She decides to call him just to hear his voicemail again, but when Sam actually picks up the phone, Julie is stunned. They begin having conversations over the phone, and Julie feels that she has a piece of herself back. But when holding onto Sam so tightly keeps her from continuing to live her life, they must come to terms with what has happened and let go. 

You've Reached Sam

 

I cried five or six times during this story, and I couldn't help but give it five stars for that reason alone. When a book stirs those types of emotions in me, I know it's a powerful one. I was honestly terrified to pick up this book because I knew it was going to be a heavy read, but I'm so glad I did. You've Reached Sam addresses grief and loss in ways that hit hard. I loved the characters and the flashback memories with Sam in them, and it made me so happy to see Julie and Sam together in even the smallest of moments. Basically, everything about this book was amazing, and I will be recommending it to everyone. I cannot wait to see what Dustin Thao writes next! 

Content warning for loss of loved one, grief, bullying.

My Rating: Five Stars

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao.

3. Last Resort by K. Bromberg

Callahan and Sutton have a one-night stand that both expect to walk away from, but when they end up traveling to a resort together for work, Callahan is determined to have her again. Sutton wants to make him work for it, however, attempting to ignore the feelings that she may or may not have for the man.

Last Resort

Last Resort was AMAZING. I cried multiple times throughout it and truly loved getting to see both Sutton and Callahan's perspectives. There was just something about Sutton that really made me feel connected with her, and my heart broke for her at one point in the story. Although he put on an alphahole front, I think Callahan really was a sweetheart. The plot was fast and easy to read, and although I was expecting more steam, I wasn't expecting to have my heart broken, so there's that. I would 100% recommend checking this book out and cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

Content warning for sexual content, emotionally abusive/manipulative ex-partner, loss of loved one, grief.

My Rating: Five Stars

Thanks so much to Valentine PR and K. Bromberg for the ARC of Last Resort!

4. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Official blurb: "When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn't think it's love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly."

Ugly Love

 

Ugly Love was my first Colleen Hoover book, and it was the start of a new author obsession. I sat in the bathroom of the room my sister and I shared at midnight, crying so hard that I couldn't see the pages of the book. This is the first book I read that made me cry THAT MUCH, and I knew before I finished it that it would be a new favorite of mine. Tate and Miles were both AMAZING characters, and although their relationship is most certainly toxic at first, Miles growing through everything he has been through is very evident. Ugly Love is vulnerable and heartbreaking - it's one of my favorites.

Content warning for sexual content, car accident, loss of loved one, grief.

My Rating: Five Stars

I also posted a reading vlog last year where I read this one, feel free to check it out here!

5. The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen

I'm going to be completely honest; I kept putting off reading this book because I wasn't super excited about it anymore. I had had it on my NetGalley shelf for over a year, so I didn't see the harm in letting it continue to sit there for a while. I finally picked it up because it fulfilled a readathon prompt, and I'm mad at myself for not reading it sooner. 

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is a beautiful and raw exploration of friendships and racism in the 1950s. It follows Ethan, a bi-racial teenager, as he spends the summer in Ellison, Alabama, as a "lesson" from his dad for getting suspended from his school back home. He struggles to fit in because no one in the town accepts people who might be different from them, until he meets Juniper. Juniper is a whirlwind of happiness and excitement, and she and Ethan embark on an invincible summer. 

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones

I loved this book. It was important and heartbreaking; I couldn't put it down. I cried for the last 10 or 15% of the book, tears that just kept falling. Ethan and Juniper were both wonderful characters, and their friendship was beautiful. I got angry at the stuff Ethan went through, and I was happy when the friends were happy together. This book was not as lighthearted as I thought it would be, but I am still so happy I picked it up. This is one I will be thinking about for a long time, and I would highly recommend it.

Content warning for racism, death, bullying, divorce.

My Rating: Five Stars

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the ARC of The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen.



I would HIGHLY recommend all of these books; they hurt me in the best way possible. Have you read any books like this?