It probably comes as no surprise to you, but there are SO. MANY. BOOKS.
Probably too many to get through in a lifetime (or so I’ve been told). Which means, regrettably, there are good books out there that don’t get as much attention, through no fault of their own.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is hidden gems—good books that deserve more attention than they got.
Because sometimes, you just really want another soul to fangirl with, and you look around and you’re alone in this fandom, curled up in the corner with all your spare feels.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon
by Sarah Addison Allen
Now, maybe there was buzz around this when it came out, considering it was in 2010? But in 2010, I was still busy trying to figure out this whole adulting/parenting thing? So I totally missed it. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is a predictable story, but it was very heart-warming and sweet. The magical realism was so sweet and lent the story a sort of charm, and the characters were endearing.
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer
by Fredrik Backman
Fredrik Backman, in general, is an underrated author, and all of his stuff is hidden gems, as far as I’m concerned. A Man Called Ove seems popular, but I haven’t heard much about his other work until I went searching for it. This novella, though? Oh. My. Gosh, my heart was not prepared. If anyone you love has ever had dementia, this book will destroy small parts of you … but in a good way?
The Deal of a Lifetime
by Fredrik Backman
Yes, I’m including two by Fredrik Backman. Because really, you should read all his work. Is this cheating? Maybe. I’m okay with that. The Deal of a Lifetime is a novella told in small vignettes, and you have to suss the story out, piece by piece, like a puzzle going together. At some point, you start to get a sense of the big picture, even if it takes a little while. The novella takes place at Christmas, but it’s not really a Christmas story; it’s a human story. It explores what it means to be human and what the value of a life is.
Just One Damned Thing After Another
by Jodi Taylor
Look, I’m just here for the laughs, okay? Don’t judge me. This series is my guilty pleasure read. A friend recommended this because it was hilarious … and it is. Unfortunately, it’s also all over the board in terms of plot (when there even is one), has super flimsy antagonists that are recycled even though they weren’t good the first time, and is sometimes so ludicrous that I have to put it aside because I can’t even. I’ve read almost the whole series now, though, and I keep coming back despite all this because it’s really freaking funny, okay? I really like dark books, but sometimes, you just need a break before the void swallows your soul.
Song of Blood and Stone
by L. Penelope
This one’s also kind of cheating, because there was some buzz around it? First, there’s a POC on the cover, so yay. That’s becoming a thing, which is refreshing. Second, I felt that, for me, Children of Blood and Bone fell flat in terms of what it was trying to say about race relations. But Song of Blood and Stone? This was more spot on. The conflict between the light-skinned people of Elsira and the dark-skinned people of Lagrimari went back so far that neither side remembered how it began. No one was altogether innocent, and the relations between them were … complicated. Then, throw magic and impending war into the mix. This book also had insta-love, which I’m really not a fan of, and more sex scenes than I expected (also, attempted rape), so there’s that. You’ve been warned.
How To Stop Time
by Matt Haig
I feel like everyone talks about Matt Haig because of Notes on a Nervous Planet, which I’ve never read but I’ve been told is great and will probably have to remedy that at some point. However, How To Stop Time was my introduction to the author, and it was a good one. If there were ever a book that might make me question my desperate bid for immortality so that I can read all the books, it’d be this one. Haig takes a stark look at what it really means to live for centuries and watch the ones you love die and the world around you change. Also, lies, betrayal, attempted homicide, and all the things that make books fun.
Why Kill The Innocent
by C.S. Harris
Not going to lie: this series was hard for me to get into. I came to it late in the game, since this is book 13, but I did go back and start from book one. It was … okay. The books progressively got better as they went, which makes sense, as the author gained experience and comfort in her world and with her characters. Sebastian St. Cyr is a character who quickly grew on me. I don’t always read a lot of historical mysteries, but every now and then the mood strikes me, and I love returning to Sebastian. I haven’t finished the series (even though I’ve read book 13 … I cheated. There seems to be a theme here), but I’ve been enjoying them so far.
Oracle of Doom
by D.J. MacHale
This one is actually really disappointing to me? I’ve loved D.J. MacHale since I was a wee little, innocent (ish?) version of myself and picked up the Pendragon books. So when I saw that he had a new Library series, it sounded right up my alley. The books are quick and easy, but enjoyable (even if they’re mid-grade). Even though it’s mid-grade, the stakes are pretty high, and I love the introduction to magic and the supernatural. This book, though, apparently comes out next month? Aaaand, I haven’t heard of it. At all. I only found it when writing this post, and only because I thought of the first two and wondered if there would be another installment. So this one’s reeeeally well hidden.
Grey Stone
by Jean Knight Pace and Jacob Kennedy
I’ve said this before, but I will forever tout these books, and I’m still disappointed that it doesn’t seem like there will be more. The world is so easy to fall into, the characters loveable and witty and relatable, the folklore fascinating, and it just has a really cozy fairy tale vibe. I was hesitant going in, because I’m not a big fan of switching points of view (and this book does it A LOT), but I actually thought it worked well for the story. I read them backwards and picked up Grey Lore first, and it didn’t really matter too much in the grand scheme, but it does read better if you do it in order just because you get to meet characters in the intended order.
The Wolf
by Leo Carew
Ahhhh, The Wolf. At the risk of being filleted, I’m not a big fan of Game of Thrones and a lot of epic fantasy like it. But I AM a fan of political games, and this book is rife with it. If Roper wants to keep his claim to the throne, he has to not only outwit Uvoren, a threat from within his own people, but also overcome the opposing army, led by Bellamus. I’m not just adding this book because I’m in love with Pryce … although, I am. Missing ear and all. The sequel comes out next year, and I’m more excited than I thought I’d be for it, so that’s always a win.
I love Sarah Addison Allen! Have you read anything by Menna Van Praag? Her books are somewhat similar with the magical realism.
I’ll confess: that’s the only Sarah Addison Allen book I’ve read. I went looking hoping there was a sequel, but no such luck. =/ I hadn’t even heard of Menna Van Praag, but I looked her up, and I think I’m going to give The Lost Art of Letter Writing a try! The beginning is great, and it sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the recommendation! 😀
Fantastic list 🙂
I think the only one I’ve seen hype for is Matt Haig – he even came to my local Waterstones for a sell out talk!
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk
Did he? Oh my gosh, that’s so cool! I’d love to meet him, because he seems like such a chill, down-to-earth guy. XD I really do need to read Notes on a Nervous Planet, though lol.
Great list! My sister recently read The Girl Who Chased the Moon so I’ll have to ask her to lend me her copy because I really enjoy magical realism but I just don’t own any new books that have it!
Beartown is on my September TBR and I’m so excited to finally read a Fredrik Backman book! If I end up enjoying Beartown (which I’m sure I will), I’ll have to check out his novellas you listed, they sound really touching! 😀
I read The Girl Who Chased the Moon in a book club, and I don’t think I would’ve picked it up otherwise, so I was pleasantly surprised. But if you like magical realism, I’d definitely recommend it!
Also, Beartown, from what I’ve read (which is only about 5 – 10% of it) is a different tone from the book/novella listed here. The book is comedy, and the novella is … emotional abuse to the readers? I don’t know. xD I admit that I haven’t finished Beartown, but I’ve heard such good things about it and I do own it. So maybe you’ll finish first, and you’ll have to tell me how it is. 😉
I haven’t read any of these, but I DO want to read Song of Blood and Stone and How to Stop Time. The premises for both sound fabulous, so I am glad to hear that you enjoyed them. Great choices!!
Thank you! Definitely recommend them. How to Stop Time was harder to get into, but the main character was so adorable. I just wanted to hug the poor guy. xD
Both of those Fredrik Backman books are on my TBR list. I’ve read 3 of his books and loved them.
I’d also highly recommend Deal of a Lifetime by him if you haven’t read it already, even though I didn’t add it to this list. 🙂 It was the first thing I ever read by him, and I loved it.
I’ve seen a lot of Fredrik Backman mentioned lately (like by two people haha) since a new one came out recently I think. I have a different Matt Haig book on my tbr for December and I can’t wait to try a book by him.
Yeah, Us Against You just came out in English by Fredrik Backman (it’s the sequel to Beartown), so that’s pretty big this year. 🙂 I haven’t read it yet, though.
Oh, which Matt Haig book are you planning on reading?
A Boy named Christmas (I think that’s the title, I have the Dutch edition).
Oooh I hadn’t heard of that one! I’ll have to buy it at the end of November. Sounds like it’ll be a fun Christmas read to do with my daughter. 😀
Great list Hun! I love finding new hidden gems to add to my (already very long) TBR List! x
Grace Louise || http://www.gracelouiseofficial.blogspot.co.uk/
Ha, I don’t trust anyone whose TBR isn’t very long. 😉 I’m definitely the same, though. Hope you enjoy!
Thanks to my father who stated to me concerning this blog, this blog is actually
awesome.