Tee hee!!! *giggles with devilish glee* 
It would appear that some of us have a high-tolerance for high angst, and we devour ’em like candy, despite the heart wrenching pain they’ve put us through. Kinda like sour candy. 😉 And sweet. We just can’t get enough. So of course, we start screaming ’em from the rooftops, and our fellow readers jump in with gusto, only to come back to us, jaw dropped, betrayal in their eyes… pointing at little ol’ us!
“HOW DARE YOU NOT TELL ME and let me read that without sufficient warning!!!” They say.
“What what whaaaaaaaat?” We exclaim, innocently. *giggle* “You didn’t love it? Come on… you know that was SO GOOOOOOOOD.”
“Yes,” they often agree… “and yet I never want to go through that again!”
*gasp*!!! 
Like Amy says:
“I’ll never forgive you” is said with all love and affection ’round here. And usually follows the reading of a phenomenal, emotional book based on a recommendation. 😉 I *know* I have quite a few I’ll-never-forgive-you’s stacked up against me, LOL!”
You are SO right, Amy! You ‘n me, Amy… partners in “hardcore book-angst” crime, forever!! 😛 In fact, Amy and I just love this genre (the heartache-y, uber-angsty kind) and so I asked Amy to give us her best!
Amy: My list? I just love books that make me feel as many feels as possible and I want to feel them STRONGLY. 😉
Now… just because they reacted that way, doesn’t mean it ends badly, right?! No spoilers here. Nope.
But you can bet your butt, that at some point (maybe the whole point) it will rip your heart out, shock your sensibilities, and well… you’ll either love it and want more, or you’ll be like these guys, and never forgive us!
Take a look at this conversation. It was priceless.
P.S. This is definitely an opportunity to jump into some of these recommendations ’cause you KNOW, if we’re talking about ’em here, these books will keep you on your toes, and make you feel BIG TIME!
Lanie: I read Me Before You: A Novel upon reading your review and I might never forgive you for it. I swear my eyes were swollen for days after that. I might not make it through the movie
Maryse: LOL Lanie!!!! But come on, it was awesome right? Please forgive me?? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeassseeeee? 😛
Amy: “…and I might never forgive you for it.” <—– *giggle* Lanie, that’s something which is said quite often around here. Book peer pressure at it’s finest. 😀
Maryse: *starts throwing ME BEFORE YOU peanuts at everyone* What’s a little “i’ll never forgive you” between friends, right? 😛 *giggles*
Sofia: The Bronze Horseman Trilogy. I’d never have read it if you hadn’t recced it on here, and I’m scarred now. Emotionally scarred. Also, most heroes now are mentally compared to Alexander, and usually don’t compare!
Amy: RIGHT!! 😀 ‘Cause “I’ll never forgive you” is said with all love and affection ’round here. And usually follows the reading of a phenomenal, emotional book based on a recommendation. 😉 I *know* I have quite a few I’ll-never-forgive-you’s stacked up against me, LOL!
Milissa: Amy, I want all your books that I won’t forgive you for. You have a lot of things I want to read, but you put initials and I’m at a lost.
Amy: *squeals and hugs Milissa* Woman after my own heart!!!
Let’s see…
- I don’t think Grey will forgive me for THERAPY,
- Tessa may or may not have forgiven me for And After (Until the End of the World, Book 2) series…see, no acronyms there! 😀 ),
- Fabi hasn’t forgiven ALL of us for Rainfall,
- and you might not forgive me if I rec Forbidden,
- When It Rains (Rains Series Book 1) (MAJOR ugly cry in there), and
OH! I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this one, and it may not affect others like it did me (I have a soft spot for books with teens in turmoil) but Jumping Off Swings …holy freaking moly! It’s four POV’s surrounding a teen who gets pregnant (including the preggo teen and the daddy), and I swear there is one part near the end that had me sobbing. Literally sobbing out loud…HEAVING sobs.- Ooh!! Accidentally on Purpose!
- And as of this week, Every Ugly Word.
Amy: Okay peanut gallery…y’all have any other never-forgive-Amy recs for Milissa? 😉 *happy wiggly dance* I need to go take a peek in my library to get some more.
Amy: …having a twist or turn that is upsetting is something I relish. Yes, I like getting worked up like that over a book. 
bev: Amy yeah talking of the The Black Jewels Trilogy series. You crack me up. Hmm so if want Amy to read a book just tell her how upsetting the book was, lol. and..uh.. It’ll make you cry and um throw your ipad. Grr still haven’t forgiven the author. Read it, read it now.
Jean: Amy and Michelle, I am not very happy with you guys right now. Just finished And After. Really? I’m dying here!!! How much can a person take?
Amy: *cautiously scoots next to Jean* Need a hug?
Jean: You should be cautious Amy! WTH!!! Thank you for telling me to wait to read the end though….. Glad I did it while in private because I cried like a baby! I’m on the last book now and need it to end on a good note!
Michelle: *points at Amy* it’s her fault Jean! Yeah I had to read the whole series in a row with the way things end in both books BUT I promise it wraps up well. I’m glad Amy got me to read them seriously since I loved the series and definitely remember a lot of the story…they stick.
Jean: You are right Michelle. I can’t see ever forgetting this series.
Amy: *peeks out from behind Michelle* You forgive me, Jean? Michelle and I promised the series would end well, and it does! It…just…takes a rough road to get there. And leaves some scars. 
But I loved it. I’m so glad that you two understand why that series still affects me!
Tessa: I liked And After. If you remember, I was threatening the author’s life, not yours. I liked Accidentally on Purpose. I even chose Bright Side knowing it was sad, and adored it, even if it did tear me apart until Gus came out. Then Gus, you know the whole crying thing at the beginning. *Do Epic!* I won’t read Forbidden but that’s my issues. When It Rains was sooooo good. I didn’t cry with that one, but it did twist my heart and I just wanted to hug her. A LOT. I own Rainfall and still have to read it. For some reason, If He Were With Me didn’t make me cry. *shrugs* Alright Amy, name me an Ugly Cry book I yelled at you for.
Maryse: YES!! I loved SO many of these, you guys. Right there with y’all, and I think my reviews of ’em will probably uncover some with grudges against me, right there in the comments. LOL!!!
Marion: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma this is angst with a capital A. It’s a testament to her brilliant skills as a writer that a book I went in determined to hate, ended with me having tears running down my cheeks, my self righteous emotions out of whack and a story that I will never forget!
bev: No. No. No. Didn’t cry but remember a little book called The Tied Man.
MichelleS: The Tied Man!! Yes, agreed. OMG. That tore out my guts
Amy: Okay Tessa, that’s why I said you may or may not have forgiven me. Yay! You have! 😀 Oooooh, now you have to read Rainfall though. THAT one is a heartwrencher. THE TIED MAN!!! YES!! *snicker* Did I start that one? A couple that may cause some unforgiveness depending on your triggers or heartache tolerance… Badger and Hausfrau (yes, I’m STILL talking about that one). And of course the one that started it all for me… Thoughtless!
Sharon: …the most angst I have ever read? Thoughtless. I have read and reread that at least 10 times. It’s my go to angst. Come to think of it, I am overdue for my annual reread.
Sianne: I absolutely loved the Thoughtless series. Was amazing. Another winner ive just read was Life Interrupted by yessi smith that kept me on my toes
Lanie: Maryse, I might never forgive but I still love you <—I think that actually might be a line in a book lol. And Amy, what’s with that list? *must-resist-book-peer-pressure* Sigh, what’s the use? We all know I’m going to read all the books you mentioned. If anyone needs me this weekend, I’ll be swimming in my tears of angst.
Maryse: *hugs Lanie and hands her some arm-floaties to make her sad-swimming easier*
Maryse: Oooooooh Hausfrau: A Novel needs to be mine!!! 😀
Amy: Maryse! You have to read Hausfrau. HAVE to. It was just so, so different. She is the perfect antiheroine and I never hated her or even disliked her, even when I was shocked by her actions. SHOCKED. It just reads so matter of fact, and even though the back and forth between past and present was disconcerting at first, once I adjusted to it I *loved* it. I think I’m still reeling from the last part of it. Remember how Drowning Instinct was different from other teacher-student books? Well, this one is different from other cheating books. I don’t care that it has a lower rating on Amazon (just over 3 stars overall)…I will keep gushing about it!
Cindy: Lets see…emotional…Night Road by Kristin Hannah. I’m still not over it. Scary….Pretty Girls: A Novel by Karin Slaughter …gave me goosebumps, amazing writing, awesome heroine. Angst… So many! Thoughtless definitely came to mind! .. Just started Me Before You! 
I always search for those amazing books where there is that perfect amount of chemistry between characters! Love it!
Teri: I definitely avoid these types of books (although Thoughtless did have an HEA and is one of my all time favorites) but I just read Me Before You for my book club-otherwise I would never have read it. Ahhhhh. I can’t get it out of my mind. I don’t even think I want to see the movie although it looks like it will be fabulous.
Amy: Another one I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned… Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser. Four POV’s with one in second person (at the end the second-person POV makes sense). I *really* liked it but holy sh!t was what happened INFURIATING, almost to the point of being disturbing. You’ll either thank me for the rec or curse my name. 😉
Amy: My list? I just love books that make me feel as many feels as possible and I want to feel them STRONGLY. 😉
Lee: Rainfall totally broke me, I still well up every time I try and describe it to someone, and I read it months ago!
Cheryl: Amy, I can jump on the angst bandwagon with the others. You have gotten me to read some angst-filled books I probably never would have. I feel like a schizo when I say I love and hate you for it. Beautiful books that made me feel like I had been run over by the end.
MichelleS: This post!!! Is it happy books? Or crying angsty books? If you want happy, for me that was something like Seduction and Snacks (Chocolate Lovers #1) (laugh out loud funny). Angsty (may never forgive whoever recommended these) books: Forbidden (T. Suzama), CARNAGE: Book #1 The Story Of Us (L. Jones) – cried and cried. I was so mad at you guys for making me read those. But you know the saddest thing ever for me in a book that I still can’t forgive the author for? VERY OLD SPOILER SO I DON’T THINK I NEED TO WARN YOU BUT JUST IN CASE YOU NEVER READ BDB EARLY BOOKS….. when JR Ward killed off *spoiler* and when they told *spoiler* and they all had to hold him down. Gut wrenching. Hated that.
Mandy: Carnage- I still have a love hate relationship with it.
Sharon: Carnage? Left me in such a coma, I didn’t think I would recover.
Sharon: Oh. So many Angsty books! Why do I crave them? No idea, I just know I love them. And I think you are missing a biggie in this list. Most angst lately, The Fish Tales! All the way til the end with this series too.
Hayling: I’m still not speaking to my friend Rosie for recommending The Fish Tales. And she’s not even sorry!
Rosie: Nope. Not sorry. But don’t act so hard done by—you turned around and gave it to Marie and ruined her life. Did you even apologize? I bet not.
Marie: I still hate Hayling for that. And then I gave it to my sister. Wow, Christmas was tense that year….
Maryse: OMG I LOVED The Fish Tales!!!!!!!! Rosie is SO smart!!!!
Karen: The Law of Moses will always be my ‘make it stop, it hurts too much’ favourite book!!
Nicci: Stealing Harper (Taking Chances and Forgiving Lies Book 2) should be here.
Rebecca: I totally agree with Fish Tales and with Law of Moses – sob fests but love love love.
Jaime: Oh yes definitely Stealing Harper. Years later and it still hurts!
Maggie: Probably what kicked it all into action for me and made me dislike my daughter was Thoughtless, Stealing Harper…
Maryse: *snort* 😛
Amy: it is my absolute FAVORITE subject when it comes to books and because I have been reminded of books I forgot about which wrecked me, like MichelleS’s reminder of “that” BDB event *sob* and Stealing Harper…holy moly, I thought Taking Chances was hard to read (loved the angst though) but Stealing Harper KILLED me. GAH! And I can’t even say why because…because…oh, just read them and you’ll know why! BUT, you shouldn’t read SH without reading TC first or else it won’t have the full effect.
bev: Taking Chances. That heroine *grr*. I could not stand her. Totally wanted them both to leave her.
Cheryl: So many new books to add to my angst collection. *my gut hurts in anticipation*
Nancy: Maryse What about Stolen by Lucy Christopher, and I won’t say why and spoil the book. How to Kill a Rock Star gets “honorable mention, too”! After I Do: A Novel and Forever, Interrupted: A Novel and I know it was mentioned but Forbidden. I still love you Maryse even after I’m thinking of all these tears!
Maryse: LOL Nancy!!! *snuggle*
Jeannie: I love these kinds of books – the ones that stay with you for days but have you wondering if you enjoy self-torture reading books that leave you an emotional wreck! Frankly, I have never read Thoughtless, it is one of those books I am afraid to read! It’s on my TBR pile, but I keep putting it off. Maybe I will get the courage to read it one day lol.
A few books that I didn’t see listed were God Shaped Hole: A Novel by Tiffanie DeBartolo. I loved it, but it was tough to read and it stayed with me for days. Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde – I so wanted to throw my Kindle for most of this book! So many people recommended it and I kept wonder why? Why would they do that to me? lol But I loved it! Unlit Star by Lindy Zart – It left me an emotional wreck for days. I loved it, but another one for the list of “Ways I enjoy torturing myself”.
Maryse: OMG JEANNIE!!! You’ve been with us forever, and you haven’t read Thoughtless?!!! *gasp* That was one of THE ONES that started it all, for us. Oh you need to marathon read that series ASAP. PLEEEEEEEEASE!!!!
Lisa: Maryse you have to add God Shaped Hole: A Novel to this list. It’s the most heart wrenching soul wringing book I’ve ever dared to read. And being the opposite to yourself and Amy (terrified of angst and heart ache not drawn to it) I’m pretty chuffed that there are a few on here I’ve read. Go me.
Maryse: Absolutely!! And…. done! 😀 I know all about that one and it is PERFECT for this list.
Shannon: Try this one… Willow. I read it about four years ago for the first time and it’s been on repeat several times! I promise you will never forgive me!
Maryse: Oooooooooh you play hard-ball. I love your ominous promise, Shannon!!! *rubs hands together* 😀
Michele:
- With the Father by Jenni Moen,
- Jezebel by K. Larsen,
- The Choice by Nicholas Sparks,
- This Side of Eden: A Love Story by Derrick Hibbard
- LOVE (Crush series Book 3) and Chasing Nikki (Chase Walker Book 1) by Lacey Weatherford
- Pulled by A.L. Jackson
Maryse: YAY!!!! Thank you Michele. And… tee hee!!! It would appear that your heart is still stuck in your throat over these, ’cause you seem a little…. speechless. Guys, I think Michele pulled a “I’ll just leave these here…” on us! I LOVE IT! 😛 And now I’m scared. I see Jezebel on there and I already KNOW that one belongs here for sure!!!
Sharon: I feel a one-click marathon coming up now. I am going to preload the angst! Good thing it’s Valentine’s Day so I can justify the clicking!
Cait: Holy sh!t! My favourite type of books!! I’m so excited about this post as I need a new read and was struggling to find something angsty! So I’d also recommend “The Fault in Our Stars – major cry” and “Last Days of Rabbit Hayes: A Novel oh gosh I cried for days, it was amazing!
Fabi: Question for all you “love to cry” ladies. When you’re reading one of those books and you’re overcome by emotional tears, is your spose in the room watching sports or the history channel? Are you children and maybe their friends hanging out texting on their phones? Are you maybe on a lunch break from work or sitting on the train/subway? What do people say when they see you fall to pieces?
Maryse: I do it alone. 😉 At least as best as I can…
Jen: I Love You to Death by Natalie Ward had me crying in the grocery store the day after I finished it! Just thinking about it when I was in the store had me sobbing!
bev: Fabi, I hate crying in public. Like when watching movies with others and trying to hide it, lol. Or a documentary in a class.:-/
Grey: Crying in public… try to avoid, I’m an ugly crier lol! Oh MichelleS, you just made me tear up girl remembering that scene in BDB though…damn, that was so f*cking bad… whew… gah, *blink, blink*
Tessa: Fabi, I read those in front of the computer. No one can see the tears unless I lift my head up. Also, NEVER with little dude awake or at home. OMG, he’d go nuts and would be unable to handle it. I’d get a lot of hugs, but he’d tell me six months from now that I cried one day.
Michelle: Crying books I try to read in private. When I lived outside Boston I had an hour commute on the train and did cry in public once. The lady next to me was giving me the side eye so I pointed and said really sad book. I didn’t want her to think I was emotionally unbalanced…well I probably would have blended in with a good percentage on the train but that’s besides the point 😉
Amy: Crying in public…uh, I’ve done enough embarrassing things in public so I try to avoid crying in public if I can. At home, I usually find another room to read in if I know I’m going to start crying, or I stop reading until I can be alone. Doesn’t mean hubby hasn’t caught me in an ugly cry before though. 😉
Amy: Jean…is it safe for me to give you hugs? Or are you going to end up choking me out? 😛 In all fairness though, once you get past *this* stage of emotion you are going to think of MBY and swoon and sigh and just feel in love with it. I am *absolutely* confident of that! AND you need to watch the trailer now. 😉 Oh hey, the perfect way to bounce back from an emotionally-draining read (at least for me) is to jump into a PNR book! I KNOW we can all help you out there… Come on, Cheryl…give Therapy a shot! It’ will put you through the gamut of emotions but it’s FUN!
Cheryl: I’m at 25% of Therapy and it is already kicking my gut and I KNOW it’s only going to get worse. Amy, are your ears burning yet?!
Amy: Oh yes, Cheryl. Yes they are. 😛 Here… *slides shot of Jager to Cheryl* You’re gonna need it before too long. Aaaaaand… *opens box of See’s chocolates* Only the best for ya. 😉
Jean: See what Amy does to us?!?! But yes Amy, I am already starting to have those feelings for the book. Begging all my friends to read it now!
Amy: *snorrrrrrt!* I love you guys. 😉
Aimee: When it rains was definitely an ugly cry book!! But if you haven’t read Moto by M. Never then please do!! It does have a little bit of mfm but it will make you ugly cry!!!
So… what angsty, scary, or emotional books have you read that you’ll never forgive someone for (and yet you kind of loved)? Or… what book do you want to recommend to us?
➔➔➔ Looking for more of our favorite recommendations? Browse our “Ultimate Favorites Lists” here. Are you in the mood for a certain kind of story? Browse our favorite “genre/trope categories” here and our reader favorites lists too.
) just put all of her books on super-sale, so anyone that hasn’t read ’em yet? I IMPLORE YOU to do so!!! Perfect weekend to discover her!!! 😀
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