https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/fukyagaku_sei_no_himawari_bunsatsu_ban/ (this one is sad af if u actually understand the plot. It has some plot twists in it so u gotta pay attention a bit)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/watashitachi_no_shiawase_na_jikan/ even if u don't read straight stories, give this a try. I too read this back when I didn't read anything other than bl and I was SOBBING at the end. It's just so devastating.
BLs that are sad but not bc of relationship stuff:
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/cocoon_of_the_heart/ (the uke has severe depression and deals with suicidal thoughts)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/hitori_to_hitori_no_3650nichi/ (the uke struggles with self harm)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/don_t_call_me_daddy/ (the uke deals with internalised homophobia)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/smells_like_green_spirit/ (one of the main characters story is sad af but I don't want to spoil u)
Non romance:
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/goodbye_mom/ (a realistic story about a girl who never had a good relationship with her mom grieving the death of her)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/sea_foam/ (a oneshot about two siblings that live during the world war)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/bebe_san_no_koibito/ (a cat's pov of his owner falling in love with his bsf. The bl story isn't sad at all but if u love cats this might make u sad bc the story of the owner and the cat is so sweet)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/shinrei_shashinshi_kouno_saburou/ (a oneshot about a boy and the ghost that haunts his neighbourhood. Has a plot twist)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/iguana_no_musume/ (I read this yesterday it didn't make me cry but it was definitely sad af. It's about a girl whose mom thinks she's ugly and calls her an iguana. Due to years of mental abuse from her mother, she starts to develop severe body dismorphia and fully believes that she's an iguana)
Try this and finish reading it for me because I dropped it because I can't take the angst (▰˘◡˘▰)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/muse_on_fame/
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/can_t_see_can_t_hear_but_love/ One of the most heartbreaking beautifully realistic stories ever
Looking for stories that are sad, as in makes you sob from what’s happening. I’d rather it not be due to romance if possible, but losing a loved one can be sad regardless of connection. I was trying to look using the tragedy tag, but I can’t tell just from a summary how sad it will be, so recommendations would be better. Please and thank you