Match BookMelancholy books
Melancholy isn't the same as dark. These books are sad in a quiet, reflective way — about memory, loss and the lives people didn't lead.
Everything here reads as melancholy overall. Pair it with a hopeful or bittersweet ending if you want the ache without the despair.
112 books, best known first. New to the dimensions? Here's what each one means.
- A Little LifeHanya Yanagiharaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · dark ending
- All the Light We Cannot SeeAnthony Doerrhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolverliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
I'm Glad My Mom DiedJennette McCurdymemoir · melancholy · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Persepolis: The Story of a ChildhoodMarjane Satrapimemoir · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
She’s Come UndoneWally Lambliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
The Book ThiefMarkus Zusakhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- The Brothers KaramazovFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeMark Haddonyoung adult · melancholy · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgeraldclassics · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- The IdiotFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueV.E. Schwabfantasy · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- The Kite RunnerKhaled Hosseinihistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Little FriendDonna Tarttliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · dark ending
The Lovely BonesAlice Seboldliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Ocean at the End of the LaneNeil Gaimanfantasy · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- The Perks of Being a WallflowerStephen Chboskyyoung adult · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
What HappenedHillary Rodham Clintonmemoir · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
A Monster CallsPatrick Nessfantasy · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
BabelR.F. Kuanghistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- Being Nixon: A Man DividedEvan Thomasbiography · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Critique of Practical ReasonImmanuel Kantnarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
Cry to HeavenAnne Ricehistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
Drowning RuthChristina Schwarzhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
HamnetMaggie O'Farrellhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the WorldHaruki Murakamiscience fiction · melancholy · moderate · ambiguous ending
Lincoln in the BardoGeorge Saundersliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- Me: MothAmber McBrideyoung adult · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Memories, Dreams, ReflectionsC.G. Jungmemoir · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Necessary LiesDiane Chamberlainhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Netochka NezvanovaFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Our Wives Under the SeaJulia Armfieldliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- Regretting MotherhoodOrna Donathnarrative nonfiction · melancholy · moderate · ambiguous ending
Saint XAlexis Schaitkinliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
Sea of TranquilityEmily St. John Mandelscience fiction · melancholy · moderate · ambiguous ending- SpinRobert Charles Wilsonscience fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
Station ElevenEmily St. John Mandelliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- Stone Blind: Medusa's StoryNatalie Hayneshistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The BindingBridget Collinsfantasy · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The Birth DearthBen J. Wattenbergnarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The book of evidenceJohn Banvilleliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Buried GiantKazuo Ishigurofantasy · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The Death of the HeartElizabeth Bowenclassics · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The dog starsPeter Hellerscience fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The forgotten gardenKate Mortonhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The GamblerFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The Gap of TimeJeanette Wintersonliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The House at RivertonKate Mortonhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Kingdom of BackMarie Luyoung adult · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Lake HouseKate Mortonmystery · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Last CoyoteMichael Connellymystery · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Left Hand of DarknessUrsula K. Le Guinscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous endingThe Lions of al-RassanGuy Gavriel Kayhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- The Lost SistersHolly Blackfantasy · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- The OverstoryRichard Powersliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The SafekeepYael van der Woudenhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Silence of the GirlsPat Barkerhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- The Slow Regard of Silent ThingsPatrick Rothfussfantasy · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
TiganaGuy Gavriel Kayfantasy · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
We Are All Completely Beside OurselvesKaren Joy Fowlerliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
White OleanderJanet Fitchliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
Alice I Have BeenMelanie Benjaminhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- Anatomy of a MisfitAndrea Portesyoung adult · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in AmericaLaila Lalaminarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Deep in the Shade of ParadiseJohn Dufresneliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- Drawing BloodMolly Crabapplememoir · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Drunk with Love: A Book of StoriesEllen Gilchristliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
Fair and Tender LadiesLee Smithliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
Five Quarters of the OrangeJoanne Harriscontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
HausfrauJill Alexander Essbaumliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · dark ending- I Cannot Get You Close Enough: Three NovellasEllen Gilchristliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- I Who Have Never Known MenJacqueline Harpmanscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Last ThingsJenny Offillliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Light Can Be Both Wave and ParticleEllen Gilchristliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Sarah ConleyEllen Gilchristcontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- SolenoidMircea Cărtăresculiterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Anna PapersEllen Gilchristliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Cabal and Other StoriesEllen Gilchristliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The changeling seaPatricia A. McKillipfantasy · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The DeepRivers Solomonfantasy · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Gilly Salt SistersTiffany Bakercontemporary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The gracekeepersKirsty Loganscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The ice stormRick Moodyliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The KingdomsNatasha Pulleyscience fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- The Lake of Lost GirlsKatherine Greenemystery · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- The List of Suspicious ThingsJennie Godfreyhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Living and the RestJosé Eduardo Agualusaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Memory PoliceYōko Ogawaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The New MeHalle Butlercontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The New WildernessDiane Cookscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Raven TowerAnn Leckiefantasy · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The Snow GardenChristopher Riceliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and DisasterSarah Krasnosteinmemoir · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
Things Don't Break on Their OwnSarah Easter Collinsliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
This Secret ThingMarybeth Mayhew Whalencontemporary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- Everyone We've BeenSarah Everettyoung adult · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
Idle GroundsKrystelle Bamfordliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- ImpermanenceDaniel Frisanoliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Last Summer BoysBill Riverscontemporary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- MaddyCarol Hallliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
No Place, LouisianaMartin Poussonliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- On a Clear Day, You Can See Block IslandGage Greenwoodcontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- Please Stop Trying to Leave MeAlana Saabcontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- SunburnDarren Dashcontemporary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Great Offshore GroundsVanessa Veselkaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The GulfRachel Cochranliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Moon and the OtherJohn Kesselscience fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- The Paper YearAvery Asterliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Winged HistoriesSofia Samatarfantasy · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The World of TomorrowBrendan Mathewshistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Untold LessonsMaddalena Vaglio Tanetliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- Voice Like a HyacinthMallory Pearsonliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · ambiguous ending
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