Tear Jerkers: grab the tissues, grab the wine, get the ice cream and hold on for the ride

1. Happiness by Heather Harpham

Happiness begins with the story of two completely opposite people- Heather who is an extroverted California girl, and Brian who is an intellectual (but funny) homebody and writer who hates to leave his New York City apartment. Shortly after they start dating, Heather becomes pregnant- only Brian never wants to have kids. Heather finds herself back in California delivering her baby girl alone. Suddenly – the doctors at the California hospital realize that Heather’s baby, Gracie, is in immediate health danger. As the mystery of what is wrong with Gracie grows spirals downward- Brian reemerges in California and helps Heather decide what to do with their dire situation. This memoir tells the tale of a heartbreaking story of Gracie’s spiraling health with countless blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants. Despite all of the suffering, Heather tells the story of happiness throughout the twists and turns of their journey. This book really opened my eyes to how much we should appreciate in this world despite all of the backward steps we take every day.

I promise there’s a happy ending but I also also promise you might cry buckets before you get to the last chapter.

Happiness was the April 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and I will link it here on Amazon.

2. An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff

This book pretty much landed in my lap by happenstance and I’m so glad it did. Does anyone remember those Facebook posts where you post your address and someone sends a book to you and you send a book to the next person’s address? Why can’t we bring those back?! I’ll be honest with you here and tell you I had low expectations when I started reading this book. It drew me in from the first chapter. “She was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. He was a homeless, eleven-year-old panhandler on the street. He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and built an unexpected, life-changing friendship that has today spanned almost three decades.” Quoted from Goodreads.

This book tugged at my heartstrings and I know it will for yours too. It’s one of those feel good stories you need to read when you’re feeling down about the world, our country, petty politics, and even feeling sad about humanity itself. It is a heart warming reminder that there are good people in this world and goes to show how one small act of kindness can change your life and even someone else’s. I give this book five out of five stars.

I’m so glad I read it and it’s a fitting time to post about it as Laura and Maurice were just featured on The Today Show this week talking about the power of kindness and the projects they are doing in schools to spread kindness throughout the world. Here I’ll link the video.

https://www.today.com/video/how-1-woman-s-act-of-kindness-for-a-hungry-child-led-to-a-lifelong-bond-65502277581

3. The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

Ok- this book pairs nicely with a glass or three of chardonnay. You’re going to need it. This is not your average romantic story. I cried. A lot.

“Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes both of their lives forever. Together, they decide they want their lives to mean something, to matter. When they meet again a year later, it seems fated—perhaps they’ll find life’s meaning in each other. But then Gabe becomes a photojournalist assigned to the Middle East and Lucy pursues a career in New York. What follows is a thirteen-year journey of dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and, ultimately, of love. Was it fate that brought them together? Is it choice that has kept them away? Their journey takes Lucy and Gabe continents apart, but never out of each other’s hearts.” Quoted from Goodreads.

This book is written as if Lucy is writing to Gabe and I loved how the author made it so relatable to REAL relationships as well as how women think. I devoured this book in one weekend and gave it five stars. I will link it here on amazon. (It's less then $10)