Please recommend novels without HEA

[Anonymous]

The Netanyahus

[Anonymous]

Some I enjoyed this summer include:

The Institute
The Lifeguards
Astonish Me
Apples Never Fall

None of the above focus on love relationships at all except Astonish Me and it’s not happy! Enjoy and hope one of these might distract you.

[Anonymous]

Normal People

[Anonymous]

Read literary fiction, where there seems to be a competition right now for unsettled or miserable endings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im currently going through a rough patch in my marriage and cannot stand any books with a happily ever after. Too depressing for me right now.

Please share books without HEA. They can be romance books or not, or not even feature a relationship at all- I just can’t read a book about people falling in love and knowing they’ll be together forever.

By definition, the romance genre requires an HEA. If it doesn't have an HEA, it's not romance, it's something else with a romantic subplot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never read this but I wonder if The Year of Rest and Relaxation would fit the bill. Maybe instead of a sad ending you just need a sad book about how someone coped?

Oh no...no. Please don't read this right now (from someone who has).

The Valley of Amazement might fit following along with the Amy Tan recs above. Or Gone With the Wind depending on whether you think you need a man for a HEA (I imagine Scarlet was just fine).

[Anonymous]

Just saw a post full of recommendations that coined the phrase “divorce lit.” I think these are right up OP’s alley:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRoPRQBr/