Hey Everyone – it is Day 5 of the Book Blogging Challenge and the topic is Recommend a Tear Jerker. There are definitely some great ones out there…you know – the ones where you definitely DO NOT want to be in public because you will be a red eyed, blotchy faced, crying mess. Does the image below look familiar? Just know that my fear of looking like this while reading Jaime’s recommendation is what has prevented me from actually reading it.
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So I knew the sadness was coming…it still killed me. If He Had Been With Me is one of those stories that I approached knowing there was going to be some heartache but it also had a wonderful story about life, first love, family and friends. It was a quick read which is good as I didn’t really want to put it down. The main characters are Autumn and Phineas who have grown up together. All through the book flashbacks are mixed in to allow us to really get to know these characters and I have to admit, they are now some of my favorites.
The story follows the characters through high school from their first day all the way through graduation. This story isn’t just about their high school experiences though. It covers some pretty deep topics – depression, divorce, love, pregnancy just to name a few.
Going into this book I knew it was going to make me sad but as Autumn says “Sometimes sad is beautiful.” The book is beautifully written and the characters are complex and imperfect. That is what makes this such a good book in my mind.
Check out my full review here.
Jaime’s Pick
Firstly, let me just say that this cover makes this seem like Me Before You just might be a lighthearted, sweet romance. While it does have bits of that, it certainly isn’t a fluffy read.
This was me when I turned the last page of this book:
Moyes gives us a story that has a deep, emotional plot and shares it in a way that at times made me laugh and smile, and frown and sob. Equally. The story itself is so amazingly told and the characters will pull you in from page one.
While it’s definitely Will & Clark’s relationship and the growth of it that is the main focus, Moyes uses their story to delve deeper into other topics and what an amazing job she does. Family dynamics, the right to choose, and living life are just a few of the topics at the forefront.
I can’t say enough how much I fell for these characters that Moyes created, and I think that is why this story is sticking to my bones so long… The dynamic between Will and Clark was absolutely equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking.
If you’re looking for a thought provoking read, with incredibly developed characters and a story that will have you laughing and crying and sobbing in turns definitely give Me Before You a read. This has made it onto my top books of all-time list and I think you’ll be incredibly moved by Will & Clark’s story… I know I was. In fact… I’m still thinking about it and I know that I will be for days to come.
Check out my full review here.
So there you have it. Two of the books that we have read this year that brought us to tears….tell us what you think and make some recommendations to us in the comments. We want to hear what books you recommend that require a box of kleenex and perhaps some really good ice cream.
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