I really enjoyed “Norwegian Wood” by Haruki Murakami for the relateable and strong feelings the protagonist displays and experiences. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it, but the tragic elements, while they would be quite “larger than life” if they happened to someone you knew or to yourself, were still very grounded in reality (the events could happen to someone irl) and very believable.
I’d really like to read another book with that kind of story- very everyday stuff that still stirs your heart. Besides Norwegian Wood I’ve so far only found that kind of intense but grounded in reality feeling from nonfiction memoirs. I would love to read a fictional story like that, too.
Another example I can give, though it’s an anime, is “Erased”, about a man who is thrown back in time to prevent the murder of his 10 year old classmate. The time travel part is fantasy/sci fi, but the strong emotions and tragedy are based in the abuse his classmate is suffering and his attempts to help her.
by PepperyCactus