Books that are like “One Day” but with an HEA
If you were torn apart by One Day on Netflix (or the book by David Nicholls, or the 2011 film with Anne Hathaway), then a happy ever after is just what the heart ordered. I, for one, am a big fan of heart-wrenching romances. Give me the HEA, but make me cry a lot along the way. Rip my little heart to shreds, then put it back together. So if you’d like something like that, then here are some books to add to the TBR.
Note: some of these books deal with grief, loss, and other heavy issues. Please check the content warnings on Storygraph (linked) before picking any of these up.
Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
This book is one of my all-time favorites. Be warned: the first half of this book is SAD. The last half is cathartic. I truly don’t think the author was just tugging at heartstrings for the sake of tugging at heartstrings, and the main character needed to go on this difficult journey to finally reach her Happy Ever After.
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
This book came into my life at just the right time. Lydia’s journey with grief is devastating yet beautiful to read, and anyone who has ever lost someone dear to them can relate to her. The romance is not a huge focus in this book—so while it technically has an HEA, it’s also perfect for someone craving something that’s more women’s fiction.
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
This book is so tender and heartfelt. Helen Hoang writes such amazing stories, and she is a go-to if you’re looking for neurodiversity rep. Esme is a main character I wanted to root for with my whole heart, and this is just such a sweet book to make you cry the happy tears.
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
This book was strange in all the best ways. It includes a trope that I always find fun, the journalist on an assignment trope, and an absolutely entertaining cast of characters. My love for this story really snuck up on me!
Float Plan by Trish Doller
This one has a pretty devastating start, but I loved following Anna’s journey, literally and figuratively. She has been through so much—after her fiancé dies by suicide, she decides to embark on the sailing trip they had planned as a couple. She realizes she really needs help, so she hires the handsome Keane to help. “In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn't mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.” My heart!
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
When people mention second-chance romances, this one by CLo is pretty much always on the list, and for good reason. It captures the yearning desire of childhood and the pain of missed opportunities as an adult. It has a male main character who has pined away for years, YEARS I tell you, and that is my catnip.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
I read this before I read Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, and then I heard many people say this is basically the same story and CLo’s is better. I don’t know, I enjoyed them both!
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
This is definitely one of the most unique romance books I’ve ever read, and heartachingly beautiful. When Shane and Eva connect as kids, they’re not in the right points of their lives to be with each other. When they reconnect, the chemistry sizzles on the page—but are they able to find love again as adults with baggage and their own lives?
The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas
Three years ago, Anna lost her husband to a tragic accident. She sometimes calls his phone to hear his old voicemail greeting, but to her surprise one day, someone answers! Going on the journey for Anna to overcome her grief is so special; also, while she is still grieving in her own way, this one seemed less heavy to me than something like The Two Lives of Lydia Bird where the loss is much fresher. Good for if you want tug-at-my-heartstrings lite.
