Ongoing list.  If you're looking for some sad or dramatic stuff (with a HE). 
Some have a lighter tone than others. But all of these contain elements like ~complicated relationships, dogblood drama, tragic pasts, betrayal, or deaths. ... more>>

All of these have English translations. 

I have them sorted by genre

1-5: modern setting 6-7: world hopping novels8-13: xianxia 
14-18: more general fantasy or primarily historical  <<less

These are collection of tragic novels associated with unrequited love, betrayal, tragic fate, abusive character, and inhuman treatment. Most novels is about MC who find their misery is enough, want to get away from toxicity, and cherish what their tattered soul left. Not an easy journey ofc, since these worlds were created for MC to suffer. However, MC's spirit to be free is what highly valued. ... more>>

The other novels are purely angst that hurting the heart and shivering the bone.

There are many more heart wrenching novels i've read but not listed in here. I can't stand humiliation without victim ability to prevail it over and preperator's redemption. So this type of angst not listed in this list.

ATTENTION
⚠️Descriptions cointain spoilers⚠️ <<less

Mostly completed novels because cliffhanger in angst wont ever let me live my life in peace... more>>

Tw: Many of these novels may contain mention of self harm, depression, bullying, abuse, r*pe and su*cide. So, please please read reviews and tags properly before picking up a novel.  <<less

Tragedies that leave an empty feeling after reading.... more>>

Some makes you cry your heart 
Some makes your feel sad
Some just leaves a void

Comment below, if you know such more novels  <<less

Buff yourself and prepare some tissue, enjoy the feels!

Historical Novel I have read

This list will focus on protagonists which have been abandoned by their childhood sweethearts or best friends. I will probably also add some stories which... more>> has strong theme of abandonment and loneliness <<less

You know how the minute you see the “tragedy” “drama” “unrequited love” tags you’re like, NO this is not a novel I should read. ... more>>

BUT somehow you end up reading it anyways?

This is a list of novels that will make you get the feels, the heartache and also not want to put it down.

You have been warned.
Read at your own discretion. 

I repeat you have been warned.

Also READ the TAGS

Mostly BLs <<less

For those who's looking for ML that has been broken, misunderstood and betrayed by their love one's...... more>>

ML's still looking for Redemption.... <<less

Novels put on the back-burner or simply dropped. 

My list of danmei novels that I truly love, with amazing plot and world building, interesting characters, and good translations! ... more>>

I really like unique stories so I try my best to find stories with unusual and refreshing plots that are different, though sometimes clichéd and trope-ish stories will be included if executed well, also since it’s kind of my guilty pleasure ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ 

I really enjoy tragedies with happy endings, psychological and angst so be prepared for dog blood in some of them! I include both popular and underrated stories, though I’m definitely trying to dig around the more underrated ones I’ve read and newly discovered ones to recommend.

I’m a very picky reader so I don’t add stories frequently, but still regularly so!!

I update this list when I find a book i enjoy extremely!! <<less

Female protagonist gets a second chance through reincarnation either in her own body or a new body

Overlooked and underrated novels that are really unique in terms of either characters, world, story or even several at once and don't have glaring faults.... more>>

Lots of novels are interesting at first but are destroyed by either insufferable characters or a terrible story. Not these. And if you know others like them, PLEASE let me know!

Bad stories and characters are everywhere, good stories and characters are rare, but truly UNIQUE stories or characters are unforgettable and THAT is what I'm looking for after reading hundreds of titles.

People often complain that many novels' characters are flat and fixed. Well, here they are not just really well written, but grow and change over time.

No reincarnations into tr*shy young masters, no sect branches that have bigger branches behind them with sects behind them with bigger sects behind them, no fighting 10 ranks higher enemies because MC is so special, no repeating the same nonsense again and again for thousands of chapters, no all-knowing MC on a rail to the next key-item, no arranged marriages and no idiots to be killed by MC for a back and forth of revenge with family->sect->kingdom->world againd and again.

I've read many hundreds of the most popular titles and they won't make the list because of mentioned issues, or are new and I don't know of them yet.

I made a second list with titles that didn't make it because of flaws but are still a good read.

Ranked in terms of being well-rounded and polished. <<less

Angsty BL in no particular order.... more>>

Feel free to recommend me similar reads fellow sadomasochists. Enjoy~ <<less

[For untranslated CN novel suggestions, please refer to the Comment Section of this list]... more>>

Romance novels that will make you reconsider the pre-established order of things, that shine by their realism, that demand that you acknowledge cannon fodders, that hinder you in condemning villains. <<less