Books Like Saiyaara: Heartbreaking Love Stories That Stay With You
When an inconspicuous film like Saiyaara exceeds all expectations and hits 150+ crores in less than a week, it’s no more just a blockbuster—it becomes an emotion. And if you’re here, chances are you’re still crying about Krish and Vaani’s love story. We get it. That’s why we’ve put together a list of books like Saiyaara—emotional, romantic, and devastating in the best way possible.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through 7 unforgettable love stories that echo the emotional depth of Saiyaara. If you love heartbreak fiction, romance against the odds, or stories where love meets illness, memory loss or grief—this one’s for you.
Why Saiyaara Hit Us So Hard
Let’s start with the context. Saiyaara (2025), directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, stars newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. It’s inspired by the Korean film A Moment to Remember, but with its own soul. The film follows Krish Kapoor, a moody musician, and Vaani Batra, a shy poet. Together, they create music, fall in love, and begin to heal from past scars—until Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. What follows is a painful, poetic journey where love becomes memory’s anchor.
So, what makes books like Saiyaara that serve a dose of love with pain so popular? These stories tug at our hearts with themes of love lost, found, and fought for. They often deal with emotional trauma, illness, personal growth, and the kind of love that doesn’t just survive pain—it transforms it.
Now if you’re ready to break your heart all over again (in a good way), here are 7 must-read books that feel like the literary cousins of Saiyaara.
When quirky and broke Louisa Clark lands a job as a caregiver for Will Traynor, a wealthy young man paralysed in an accident, she has no idea what she’s in for. Will is cynical, bitter, and emotionally distant, while Lou is determined to break through his defences. As the days pass, their reluctant partnership turns into love, but Will has made a heartbreaking decision about his future that Lou must come to terms with.
Why it’s like Saiyaara: Like Krish, Will is a man burdened by the weight of his past. And Lou, like Vaani, slowly becomes the emotional anchor that transforms his life. This story explores love in the face of impossible choices.
Hazel Grace Lancaster is living with terminal cancer, resigned to her fate and reluctant to get close to anyone. Enter Augustus Waters, a charming and funny cancer survivor. Their relationship begins with a shared love for a fictional novel and grows into something far deeper. They travel across the world, fall in love, and wrestle with mortality in ways only teenagers living on borrowed time can.
Why it’s like Saiyaara: Hazel and Gus, like Krish and Vaani, create something beautiful despite their limited time. Illness is a shadow in both stories, but it’s the courage to love anyway that shines brightest.
Based on Ravinder Singh’s real-life experience, this Indian novel follows the author’s journey as he meets Khushi through a matrimonial site. Their love blossoms quickly and sincerely, leading to plans for marriage. But just when everything seems perfect, fate strikes a cruel blow. Written with simplicity and emotional clarity, this debut novel is a tribute to a love lost too soon.
Why it’s like Saiyaara: If you’re aching from Saiyaara’s emotional climax, this one will resonate deeply. Both stories explore the fragility of life and how love often arrives only to teach us how to let go.
Raghu, a brilliant yet reserved teenager, is haunted by a tragedy from his past. He hides behind rules and routine, afraid of letting anyone get too close. Then he meets Brahmi—rebellious, misunderstood, and hiding demons of her own. As they slowly let each other in, a tentative love story unfolds, one marked by guilt, vulnerability, and fear.
Why it’s like Saiyaara: Like Krish and Vaani, Raghu and Brahmi are two damaged souls trying to find healing in each other. The novel explores how grief and trauma shape relationships—and how love sometimes isn’t enough to fix everything.
Charlie and Silas are high school sweethearts—but one day, they both wake up with no memory of who they are or what they mean to each other. As they scramble to uncover the truth, they realise this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Each clue takes them deeper into a mystery about identity, trust, and fate.
Why it’s like Saiyaara: Vaani’s Alzheimer’s-induced memory loss mirrors Charlie and Silas’s situation. Never Never explores how love can remain even when memories are stripped away—making it a gripping emotional read with a paranormal twist.
When Finch, who struggles with mental health issues, meets Violet on a school bell tower, they save each other—literally. What begins as a class project turns into a journey of self-discovery, love, and heartbreak. But Finch’s inner darkness starts pulling him away, and Violet is left to piece together what remains.
Why it’s like Saiyaara: Finch’s emotional instability echoes Krish’s own internal struggles. The novel portrays how love can be both healing and devastating—especially when mental health looms large.
Madeline has never stepped outside. She’s allergic to everything. Her world is white walls, filtered air, and zero contact—until Olly moves in next door. Through windows, emails, and stolen moments, Maddy discovers love, risk, and the truth about her own life.
Why it’s like Saiyaara: Both Vaani and Maddy live lives limited by health and fear, but fall in love in a way that transforms them. It’s about breaking out of self-imposed cocoons and discovering that some things are worth the risk.
Whether it’s the heartbreak, the hope, or the healing—these books like Saiyaara will leave you gutted, grateful, and maybe just a little more in love with love.
Explore these emotional reads on Bookscape and let your next cryfest begin.
