Brace Yourself: These New Releases Will Wreck You
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Some books give you a little life—others rip your soul out and leave you questioning whether happiness is real. And this month? This month is bringing a list of books that will wreck you so devastatingly good you’ll need a recovery period. These must-read books are packed with forbidden romance, heart-wrenching second chances, and endings that will have you staring at the final page like it just personally betrayed you.
Expect historical fiction set in Nazi Germany, a young woman facing the weight of class difference. And stories that will have you deep in your own life, thinking about first love, close friends, and the ache of the wrong time. If you’re ready for a cathartic cry. Or an ugly cry—no judgment! These upcoming book releases from publishers like Penguin Random House are about to wreck you in a good way.
So grab your tissues, prepare your best friend for the incoming emotional spiral, and prepare to fall apart because this list of sad books is here to ruin you—in the best way possible.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins
Release Date: March 18, 2025
Sunrise on the Reaping takes you back to the days before Katniss Everdeen’s rebellion. When Haymitch Abernathy was just a naive 16-year-old being thrust into the horrors of the 50th Hunger Games, watching Haymitch’s loss of innocence, losing his family, love, and hope for the future will tear you apart. Lenore Dove, his girlfriend, symbolizes what might have been. Her tragic end serves as the fire that forges Haymitch into the cynical mentor we know from The Hunger Games.
This book unearths his past with raw emotion, painting a heartbreaking picture of how hope can spark rebellion. Only to have it snuffed out by the Capitol, that is. You will feel Haymitch’s pain as your own. And Lenore’s death will haunt you long after you turn the last page. The story’s slow unraveling of love and loss will leave you emotionally scarred. Forcing you to reconsider everything you thought you knew about Haymitch and the cost of survival.
“The Dream Hotel” by Laila Lalami
Release Date: March 4, 2025
In a future where your dreams can be watched and used against you, Sara’s struggle to prove her innocence in a world of surveillance is a gripping and terrifying commentary on privacy, autonomy, and control. When Sara is accused of a crime she hasn’t committed based on the contents of her dreams, you’re pulled into a psychological web of mistrust and paranoia.
As Sara unravels the nightmare of being detained for something she didn’t do, her fight for freedom becomes a devastating metaphor for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by society’s expectations and constraints.
Lalami’s exploration of how technology and surveillance compromise our very sense of self will haunt you long after the book ends. The loss of control over your mind will wreck you. Leaving you questioning how much of your life is truly your own.
“Everything is Tuberculosis” by John Green
Release Date: March 18, 2025
John Green’s nonfiction exploration of tuberculosis is not just about the disease but about the lives it touches—especially those in marginalized communities. The story of a young tuberculosis patient in Sierra Leone and the broader history of the disease will open your eyes to the staggering inequities in healthcare. But what will wreck you is how Green weaves personal stories into the scientific and social histories—making the global issue of tuberculosis profoundly personal and heart-wrenching.
As Green shows the human cost of a disease that continues to ravage the world, you’ll be left reflecting on your privileges, vulnerabilities, and what it truly means to live in a world where so many don’t have access to the care they need. Prepare for a sobering and profoundly emotional reckoning.
“Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Emily Henry’s latest is a masterclass in the complexities of storytelling and relationships. Two writers with polar opposite personalities. One optimistic, and one jaded are forced into a creative rivalry to tell the story of a woman whose life has been full of twists and turns. As they dive into her life, they confront their own messy realities and emotional baggage.
The contrast between the optimistic and cynical characters will hit you hard as you witness the unraveling of their carefully constructed facades. Henry’s ability to layer humor and heartbreak will make you laugh one moment, sob the next, and reflect on your dreams, fears, and relationships. This novel will wreck you emotionally by showing you that sometimes, the most beautiful lives are the ones we least expect and that sometimes, the only way to move forward is to confront the messiness within ourselves.
“My Friends” by Fredrik Backman
Release Date: May 20, 2025
Fredrik Backman’s My Friends isn’t just about art or friendship. It’s about the profound and often painful way that human connections shape our lives. As a woman seeks the inspiration behind a famous painting, you’ll be led into the world of three teenagers who found solace in each other’s company years ago. The power of this book lies in the delicate portrayal of friendship. Its ability to heal, to hurt, and to leave scars.
As the narrative flips between past and present. The bittersweetness of lost time and missed chances will slowly crush your heart. The intertwining of art, memory, and connection forces you to confront the fragility of relationships and how, sometimes, the people who were once everything to us are the ones we lose. Backman’s writing will stay with you, breaking your heart in the most beautiful, soul-shaking way.
“The Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Release Date: June 3, 2025
The Atmosphere explores the tension between love, ambition, and the vastness of space in a way that feels incredibly intimate and overwhelmingly vast. The story follows Joan Goodwin, a communicator on Earth for NASA astronauts, and her emotional turmoil when a launch involving her love interest goes terribly wrong. As the space adventure unfolds, Reid’s exploration of love in the face of catastrophe and the sacrifices it demands will break you.
The stakes of space are high, but the personal stakes. The emotional sacrifice, the loss of connection—will leave you devastated. Reid’s ability to blend emotional depth with the isolation of space will make you feel as if you, too, are floating. Cut off from everything and everyone you love. You’ll ache for the characters, knowing that sometimes, the most significant risks are the ones we take with our hearts.
“Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” by V.E. Schwab
Release Date: June 10, 2025
V.E. Schwab’s Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil spans centuries. Weaving together the stories of three women from different times, all connected by the same earth. Schwab’s intricate world-building will drag you through heartbreak after heartbreak. As you watch, these women face loss, betrayal, and their deep connection to a land that binds them. The novel’s strength lies in Schwab’s ability to show how deeply the past influences the present and how the scars of history shape future generations.
You’ll be emotionally wrecked by how these women’s lives interconnect. Each one of them bears the weight of the past while trying to carve out a future. As the story unearths long-buried secrets, you’ll feel the weight of centuries of loss, pain, and yearning. Schwab’s storytelling will break you and leave you in awe of her characters’ resilience.
Don’t forget to check out my full review. Midnight Soil, Midnight Secrets: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Review.
“Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang
Release Date: August 26, 2025
Katabasis is a journey into the underworld, both literal and emotional. Alice Law’s quest to save her mentor’s soul after his death is an epic blend of fantasy and raw emotional storytelling.
What sets this book apart is the relationship between Alice and her rival, Peter Murdoch, as they venture into hell together. Kuang’s portrayal of their rivalry-turned-partnership is a masterclass in emotional depth and a devastating exploration of guilt, love, and redemption.
As Alice navigates the underworld, her emotional turmoil will cut deep, forcing you to confront your inner demons and fears of loss. The stakes couldn’t be higher. And the journey will leave you utterly wrecked as you watch these characters fight not just for survival but for their very souls.
“Cake Eater” by Carl Radke
Release Date: December 30, 2025
Carl Radke’s memoir is a raw and honest look at his journey through grief, addiction, and self-discovery. As a reality TV star, he’s long been in the public eye. Still, this memoir pulls back the curtain on his most vulnerable moments. His struggles with sobriety, toxic masculinity, and the devastating loss of his brother.
Radke’s candid storytelling will resonate with anyone ever facing profound personal challenges. But how he opens up about his pain and growth will break your heart. You’ll root for him as he navigates his darkest moments and finds the strength to rebuild himself. This isn’t just a story about a public figure. It’s a story about what it means to heal and the price of finding peace with your past.
“The River Has Roots” by Amal El-Mohtar
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Amal El-Mohtar’s debut novel is a hauntingly poetic exploration of love, loss, and the bonds that outlast even death. Set in the small town of Thistleford, the story follows two sisters whose deep connection transcends the boundaries of life itself. When one sister dies, the other must navigate grief, love, and the impossible choices that come with moving on.
El-Mohtar’s lyrical prose will leave you emotionally raw. Tearing open the deepest parts of your heart and reminding you of the fragility of relationships that shape us. The story will keep you in its grip long after the final page.
“A Curse Carved in Bone” by Danielle L. Jensen
Release Date: May 20, 2025
Danielle L. Jensen’s Norse-inspired fantasy is as much about heart-wrenching romance as it is about fierce destiny. The story revolves around a shield maiden torn between a past lover and the weight of a prophecy threatening to destroy everything she’s fought for.
With battle scenes that will leave your heart racing and romantic moments that might just leave you sobbing, this book challenges the idea of second chances. The emotional stakes are high, and the forbidden love story will have you questioning if love truly can conquer fate. Or if it’s doomed from the start. Get ready for a rollercoaster of heartache and hope.
“The Outcast Mage” by Annabel Campbell
Release Date: January 18, 2025
“The Outcast Mage” offers a fresh take on fantasy. Exploring themes of magic, redemption, and finding your place in a world that rejects you. When a young mage is cast out for something beyond their control, they embark on a journey to find acceptance and purpose. But this is not just a magic story. It’s about the search for belonging, healing from past wounds, and finding the courage to fight for what’s worth saving.
Annabel Campbell’s debut novel is an emotionally charged, rich tale that’ll keep you hooked from the first spell. It will break your heart as you fall in love with the characters’ growth and struggles. A journey of self-discovery that will leave you sobbing as you root for the outcast to overcome everything stacked against them.
“Say You’ll Remember Me” by Abby Jimenez
Release Date: April 1, 2025
Abby Jimenez’s latest romance is the kind of slow-burn love story that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. The novel follows Xavier Rush and Samantha, two souls who meet and share an unforgettable night. Only to be separated by family crises and circumstances.
Their love story is full of second chances. But it’s also fraught with the agony of timing. Both characters question whether they can ever return to each other.
This novel will break your heart, then carefully mend it together. And then leave you yearning for the kind of connection that feels like it’s meant to be, even when it’s with the wrong person at the wrong time. Jimenez’s writing will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the power of love to heal even the deepest wounds.
As you dive into these upcoming releases, prepare for stories that will shake you to your core and leave a lasting impression on your heart. From forbidden romances to gut-wrenching tragedies, these books promise more than just a good cry. They’ll bring cathartic release and a deeper understanding of the human heart. Whether you’re reading about love at the wrong time and navigating the complexities of friendships. Or witnessing second chances that change lives. Each one of these novels is guaranteed to wreck you emotionally in the best possible way. Don’t miss out on these literary gems; they are the books you’ll remember long after the final page and the ones you’ll need to add to your TBR right now.
Come on, you know you want more!
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