Like the average bookworm, I enjoy making my reading life much more complicated and stressful than it is.
I mean, you’re sitting there whispering, “If you like books, read books, the end” and thinking that’s the crux of the bookworm life. Well, true. But what if you did that PLUS had at least 50 x life crisis about every single aspect of reading???!
I KNOW. It’s fun.
Also welcome to my blog, this is how I live and we love it here.
Today I want to talk about the interesting phenomenon that is The Underrated Book™. I also want to confess I cannot freaking spell “phenomenon” unless I start by going “phenonononom” until autocorrect helps me out. Just in case you wanted to know my weaknesses. * But back to UNDERRATED BOOKS.**
Being a book blogger generally equals a lot of reading popular books. Certain books seem to get a lot of hype. We talk about them all the time. So basically hundreds of books, every year, get to sit on the Underhyped Train. IT CAN BE SAD. It’s like knowing half the world has not had a Lamington. Cities and moons cry over this.
But the real question is:
IS READING UNDERRATED BOOKS ACTUALLY WORTH IT?
Like technically, if the book is good, then it’s worth it. The end.
But like I said: let’s complicate life!
Yes! I hate me too!
If you’re a book blogger, you probably have (a) minimal time, (b) a gazillion books to read, (c) you’re trying to grow your blog, (d) and you have cupcakes in the oven — THEN CHANCES ARE you don’t have as much time to dig up hidden gems. So obviously it’s appropriate to have a crisis about this. Are we doing the book world a disservice? Does it matter what we read? Are we mindless sheep *** if we read what everyone else is reading? Is it okay, as a blogger, to think about your audience before a book’s feelings?
This calls for a pros vs. cons list.
* Other weaknesses of mine include grammar (where do you even put commas and can you pile them at the end for readers to pick and choose as they like?) and also small chocolates. Because if chocolates are small you can eat DOZENS and it doesn’t count.
** Is this post being particularly random? Yes. Yes it is. Why? Because I’M REWRITING A BOOK AND STRESSED OUT OF MY BRAIN ERGO DON’T. EXPECT. SENSE. FROM. ME.
*** I prefer to think of myself as a mindless Southern Rockhopper Penguin.
Oh and yes HELLO I’m linking up with Top Ten Tuesday for their prompt “Ten Hidden Gem Books in X Genre” and I’m actually writing a discussion instead of a list but I WILL have a list of my favourite hidden gem books at the bottom of this post! And I wanted to do a pros vs cons list because I listed some Underrated YA Books earlier this year, so like = been there; done that.
Also I feel these prompts are more like guidelines than actual rules.
Also I’m going to steal a pirate ship and sail the seven seas very very soon because I think it’s the only career left for me in life.
I’m a mess. Help me.
FOR READING UNDERRATED BOOKS
- IF IT’S A GOOD BOOK, THEN IT’S A FREAKING GOOD BOOK, MATE. Nothing takes away the glory that is reading an absolutely delicious novel. That’s why we read right?! That’s why we’ve fallen in love with our little tomes of paperback torture!! So if a book is excellent, then it literally doesn’t matter if you are the only one reading it, or if you are reading it with + 62 million people + your dog + that tree you were dating + local poisonous reptiles + your family because you’ve forced them to read it too on pain of you singing off-key for the next millennium.
- IT IS FUN TO FEEL LIKE YOU’VE “DISCOVERED” SOMETHING. Everyone likes treasure hunting! That’s why pirates exist, aka me, and Indiana Jones does his thing even though he should be in JAIL for destroying cultures and precious artefacts. Excuse me. I like his hat, but those movies stress me out. Moving forward. Even though you are NOT the “only one reading this book” because haha books are never quite as undiscovered as we feel…It still can feel like a DISCOVERY. Which is exciting.
- YOU CAN BLOG ABOUT SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. When a super hyped book comes out basically allllll I see for WEEKS in my feed is that. book. everywhere. These can get tiring. So when someone shouts “I’VE FOUND A BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE NEVER HEARD ABOUT!!!” then my ears perk up and I whisper thank goodness and go read a blog post about something different.
- A LOT OF THE TIME BOOKS BECOME HIDDEN GEMS BECAUSE THEY DON’T FIT IN. They’re Not Like The Others™ and while that’s a super irritating trope in stories — it’s exciting when it comes to an actual physical copy of a book. Do you know how many books I’ve read this year? 170 OKAY, SO THAT’S A LOT. As much as I love love love looooooove popular books, a lot of times they have similar themes and thoughts. I get it! I have NO malice about this. Writing and publishing is a career and you do what you gotta to make it work. But often times hidden gem books are so flippin’ fantastic because they’ll contain a premise I’ve never heard of. Nice.
- YOU CAN FORCE OTHER PEOPLE TO JOIN YOU. I generally force people to pick up my favourite hidden gem books by asking politely while holding a very large bloody axe. 10/10 recommend this always works. And it’s fun! You end up with a little cult you grew out of the dusty back corners of the library!
WHY ARE THEY ARRANGED BACKWARDS? IDK. I’M CONFUSED AND SPECIAL.
FOR READING UNDERRATED BOOKS
- IT’S REALLY LONELY, OKAY? I’m just calling it as it is! There’s no one to discuss this book with and no one reads your review because they don’t RECOGNISE THIS ODD LITTLE BOOK YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT. And if you’re running a blog, conversation is key, yes? I’m not saying you “should only blog about popular books!” Loooool @ you. I would never say that. But I’m also just being honest: It’s easier and WAY MORE FUN to actually have people to talk to when blogging. So yes. I talk about popular books because (a) I genuinely truly like them, and (b) I get more interaction from internet robots. And possibly one or two people too, IDK. I’m not judging. AND YES I LIKE STATS. I’M HONEST. THIS IS WHY YOU LOVE ME FOR MY HONESTY.
- THEY’RE OFTEN HARDER TO FIND OR MORE EXPENSIVE. I’m still kind of steaming about the fact I paid $25 for a 250-page hidden gem book recently. Was it worth it? UM, YES. IT WAS A GOOD BOOK. But c’mon!! I’m not made of money!! I have a smol budget and tend to rely on libraries and publishers to send me things.
- SOMETIMES THEY’RE HIDDEN BECAUSE THEY’RE BAD. Like when you try and hide all the dirty mugs you’ve been keeping in your room for 9 years because you’re too lazy to take them to the kitchen and now it’s gotten so bad YOU CAN’T LET YOUR MOTHER SEE. So you hide them. This happens to books. Sometimes books are forgotten because they SUCK.
We get all romantically starry-eyed about “how wonderful hidden gem books are” cue exclamation marks!! And heart-eye emojis!! But sometimes they’re badly edited or the story doesn’t flow well or the concept is SO FRIKKIN’ WEIRD you think someone had a little too much red bull in their cornflakes that morning. And you can be elitist that “popular books are often bad” and tHEY CAN BE but they can also be amazing. Hence they’re popular. Because humans see a good thing and want to eat it. #Good #Job #There #Friend Two of my favourite series in the UNIVERSE are The Raven Cycle and Shades of Magic. Both are extremely popular. They 5000% deserve it.
- WHO HAS GOT TIME FOR ALL OF THIS. Okay so you like the sound of a popular book? You read it! Enjoy it! You look at your TBR which has 398938 other books on it! You CRY. ← Does this all sound familiar???? Look some of us don’t have TIME to go digging for underrated books when we barely have time for the well-known ones. A cold harsh truth upon the cold harsh shores of Mars. Where I assume we all live.
- YOU WILL NEVER CONVERT THE WHOLE WORLD TO READING IT. So like sometimes my brain hisses “What’s the pointttttt” like the irritating and disturbingly opinionated organ it is. And I’m kind of an overachiever so like sure I can get 3 people reading a book. AND IT’S GREAT. But I tend to think in BIG or NOTHING. So if the 3 of us read a hidden gem, like, did we make a difference??? Is there a point??
SO AFTER THESE ENLIGHTENING LISTS, WHAT’S MY CONCLUSION?
Be a dragon.
Also read whatever you actually darn well please.
The thing about book bloggers, I think, is that we feel pressured a LOT. We feel pressured to read hyped books and join the discussion. We feel pressured to promote under-hyped books because it’s not fair they’re missing out. We feel pressured to be hipster OR popular OR an individual OR a mixture of both.
And you know whaaaaaat? Just read what you want.
I personally prefer to read like 70% popular books so I can join discussions and grow my blog! I’m not ashamed! But do I go after hidden gem books because I secretly like Indian Jones’ hat and want to be a great discoverer? Yes. Yes I do.
AND AS PROMISED!! Here are 10 hidden gem books I LOVE.
And you can actually flip the covers over on these to get a little summary on the back! Or click on the covers and it’ll take you to my review.
I read what I want to read. …And what I’m told to read by my lecturers. Sometimes that means I’m reading and reviewing books that nobody else cares about. So long as I enjoy them, I don’t really care what anybody else thinks.
That’s the way! I think it’s important to just do what we want as bookworms. Less pressure! 😜
I definitely wish I read more! Some of my favourite books have been those randoms finds that I actually managed to find time to read. I love finding something new and different. But that being said I recently just read a book, like yesterday, that was abysmal and now I’m sad. It had such a nice cover and only 200 ratings so I was so ready to beef it up. BUT NOPE.
Alas poor Yorrick. I feel like sometimes I need more time to read the popular books anyway. Send help.
I think finding like…hidden coals (instead of gems!??) is the worst too.😭😂 WE JUST WANT BOOKS TO BE GOOD IS THAT SO HARD TO ASK.
I really love hidden gems, and I have found some AMAZING books that way, but now that my tbr is so big I really don’t have the time. And considering I know I will enjoy the books on my tbr it seems like a better use of my time to read them than dipping my foot into the pool of unknown books.
ALSO – Cait I know you love The Raven Cycle and I just finished the series last night and I got like 3 hours sleep because I was up all night SCREAMING to myself. And then I spent the whole day at school screaming to all my friends about how amazing it was and I just wanted to let you know because AHHHH it was so good!!!!!
Time is such a problem!! My TBR is a mountainous terror at the moment AND I JUST NEED MORE TIME TO READ ALL THE THINGS.😂
FJDSAKLFDAFSKDL I’M SO PLEASE AND I SHALL SCREAM WITH YOU. ISN’T IT JUST THE BEST??????? IT IS SO SO SO SO PERFECT. 😍😍😍😍😍
YESS!! It was so perfect and I couldn’t have imagined it ending any other way. And the best part is that Maggie Stiefvater inspires me to write like no one else ever has because her writing is just so perfect and meaningful.
Your posts make me smile every time I read them 🙂
(Who is the person in the ‘we are going to die’ gif?)
I feel I read a mix of popular and hidden gem books. I have a tendency to migrate towards things that do not seem to be getting a lot of attention.
OMG THIS IS SUCH A RELIEF. THANK YOU. 😂 (And that we-are-going-to-die gif is Indiana Jones! haha.😂 Since I was talking about him I figured a gif was applicable. :’)
I love Hidden Gem books! But then you get the con of no one wants to read it because popular book hype. I love popular books too, they tend to be popular for a reason. But hidden gem books can be amazing too but then you get no one to talk to about it and that makes one sad. I read what I want to read but I won’t lie, discussing books with others is awesome! A hidden gem book I read this year was Mean Little People by Paige Dearth, mind you it’s very very VERY heart-breaking and hard to read, i’d call it realistic horror. For an easier read another hidden gem i’d recommend is Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver. Both have less than 220 ratings on goodreads and I don’t understand whyyyyyy. Heh 🙂 And i’m glad your book is going well 🙂
It is really sad! It can get frustrating, right?! Because like some books DESERVE ALL THE HYPE and yet they miss out and it’s impossible to convince the world to love them like they deserve.😭
To be fair I have found DNFing-worthy books among popular and underrated ones equally, so I think that the best answer is indeed to read whatever you feel like reading. The chance that you will find overhyped bad books and badly written obscure books is equal wherever you go, but sometimes you may find an underrated gem as well and that will give an original touch to your post. (Even if most have never heard about that book, I personally am happy when I see a new book being featured. I must confess that I’m tired of people who just talk about the same ten best sellers that all the others have already talked about.
Exactly! We should honestly read what piques our interest and what we think we’ll enjoy. :’) And I DO love reading everyone’s opinions on one book…but I also agree sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming and sameish.😂
I love reading underrated books! In fact, I mostly read underrated books. My favorite trilogy is so underrated. It’s called the Out of Time Series by Nadine Brandes about a world where everyone has clocks that count down to their deaths. A++ writing and lots of feels. My favorite underrated book this year has to be Unsanctioned Eyes by Brianna Merritt. I’m currently going through my second read. 😀
I FOLLOW NADINE ON TWITTER! *flails because is successful on life* She’s so hilarious so I do want to pick up some of her books someday!
I generally tend to prefer the hidden gems of books, but I like some popular ones too. When it comes to blogging, I tend to post more about the obscure books than the popular ones. Part of my reasoning is to promote obscure books and indie authors, and part of it is to not be repetitive in the blogging sphere. Best hidden gem I’ve read this year: Where the Woods Grow Wild by Nate Philbrick. It’s a wonderful, humorous fantasy by an indie author.
That’s an awesome vision and goal for your blog! I shall totally need to look up this Where The Woods Grow Wild now. 😉
I think that probably much MORE than half the world has never eaten a lamington, And the worst part is, they don’t know they should be crying! It’s abominably sad.
And I always wish I could read more – but sadly a combination of a sad TBR + a library that needs to get with the program + yes, no money + study commitments?? + life??? = what is time. So until I can figure out how to become a dragon so I can live alone in a secret library with my book hoard, my life will forever be incomplete.
I just used ‘sad’ (or a derivative thereof) three times in fifteen words. *slaps self* That’s why I have to proofread before I hit publish.
Probably like 2% of the world has eaten lamingtons and the rest are probably experiencing a death like state because THERE’S NO LAMINGTONS IN THEIR LIVES. *cries*
And I totally understand all of that though. 😭 I mean, I read a wild amount and STILL feel thoroughly like I’m never going to catch up with everything I want to read. Let’s juts become dragons. It will solve everything.
This post was great! I try to read a mix of popular and less popular books. The Ruby Redfort series is one of my faves but like no one knows what it is and it’s so hard to find.
I have heard of that one but not read it yet! I NEED TO. It’s always sad when books are hard to find though, right?! GAH.
I am now going to refer to all my books as little tomes of paperback torture :’) I haven’t read many hidden gems because like you said, hyped books are everywhere on all my timelines of ever so if I see them enough I’m bound to want to read them. But that doesn’t mean I’m not there for hidden gems. I 100% am, I just need to start looking harder 🙂 All of the (small amount) of books I’ve read this year have been hyped at one point or another, which is kind of disappointing when I think of it in that way. (But in other news, I’ve finished reading A Conjuring of Light and I don’t know what to think or what to do with myself now!!)
Honestly we should get that on a mug or something: TORTURED BY LITTLE PAPERBACK TOMES. The bookworm life is so NORMAL and SANE. :’)
And I don’t think it’s disappointing to read a lot of hyped books though! I mean, we do what we can right?! And like, for instance, ACOL IS = 100000% WORTH THE HYPE. 😍😍😍😍 I’m still trying to recover from it.
OMG YES I SO AGREE. I read these unhyped books sometimes and I feel like a lost puppy. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FANGIRL? If i tweet about it, no one will UNDERSTAND MY STRUGGLES. I am alone and lonely and while I found a precious gem, I haven’t found people who will rant about it with me.
hyped books make it easier to take books home from the library, inspire discussions on my blog and find some great books! I definitely think that we need to give more attention smol underrated books that are ALSO AMAZING. And sometimes hyped books are hyped for no reason and i’m just like???
P.S I haven’t got an email notification for comments in like a month now. NOT onCe??
It’s so saaaaad being alone with a GLORIOUS BOOK and having no one to scream at. Or like find fanart or funny text posts or anything?! Like where be the creative fandom. We need help here.
(Omg I’m sorry about the email notifications. 😳😳 I seriously don’t know what’s going on. Some people get them?)
I KNOW. IT IS TRULY SAD.
(Well. after a month of not getting them I got one for this one??)
WAIT WAIT IT’S WORKING NOW?!? Omg relief. *collapses in a puddle* I swear the widget has a bad attitude and as soon as I figure out a replacement I will banish it. 😂😂
HOPEFULLY, IT CONTINUES TO WORK. OTHERWISE I WILL HAVE TO SUMMON MY WIZARD POWERS AND BANISH YOUR WIDGET
“Be a dragon. Also read whatever you actually darn well please.”
I’m sorry but this post is EXCELLENT and I want a poster saying ^ now.
so how do YOU feel about “hidden gems”??
THEY’RE GLORIOUS
do you wish you read more?
pffft heck yeah
would you prefer to read books you can actually DISCUSS with others?
wellllll yeah…. ugh such difficult decisions…
and tell meeeee 1 x underrated book you’ve read this year?
UNSANCTIONED EYES BY THE LOVELY BRIANNA MERRITT. NO REALLY. BRITISH ASSASSIN GIRLS IN HEELS AND MEN WITH COFFEE ADDICTIONS YAS.
I’M SO PLEASED, DAISY. THANK YOU. Also can we all be dragons now, yes please and thank you. It seems like a good life career decision.
Omg I need this Unsanctioned Eyes immediately then. BRITISH ASSASSIN THOUGH.
100% being a dragon is a good career. Especially if you’re immortal and get to devour cities and rule darkly with an iron fist.
YES. actually whenever someone says “assassin” I’m like OKAY SO THERE. you know it’s good if there’s murder.
What I always find odd is when you find a ‘hidden gem’ and then find a secret large fan group for the said book. It’s like a game of sardines, when you find it, and then stay hidden and quiet, talking to each other and waiting for someone else to discover it all by themselves. it’s very odd. 😛
Most crazily, ~Olive
Omg that’s also true!😂 Like I’ll be “NO ONE HAS READ THIS BOOK” and then a dozen people appear to say they love it.😂
I was kinda sure that The Female of the Species was kinda famous. I saw a lot of publicity on bookstagram and I never felt it as underrated. But maybe I’m wrong. In fatc, everytime I say: “hey, I love this book!” everyone else is: “oh, I never read it.”
WHAT?
Like, I love The Vagrant, a adult fantasy with dystopia and sci-fi touches. For me it’s amazing and no one know it 🙁
Oops to the Female of the Species then! I’ve literally only met ONE other blogger who’s read it so I felt it was really underrated. 😂
Well, just remember that a lot took pictures but so far really few people seem to have touched to book. Suspicious.
I must know – what is this mysterious Lamington? Is it edible?
Also great post – sometimes it seems like I spend half my time searching for people to shove underrated books on, and my other half isn’t very co-operative…
OMG GO GOOGLE LAMINGTONS. THEY ARE AUSTRALIA’S GLORY AND PRIDE.
I totally think we need more failsafe methods to convince people to read our favourite hidden gem books. Like maybe locking them in the basement will help too??
Ahhh yes. There are so many books that I’ve read and THEY HONESTLY DESERVE SUCH A HUGE FANDOM but apparently the world barely knows the exist. So sad. *hugs books sadly all alone in a corner*
We have to be there for these smol under-appreciated books. THEY NEED OUR LOVE.
I am going to check these gems out but I have read The End Games and oh. My. GoD. It was an amazing brother story that just, hit the heart strings man <3
So so many punched heartstrings and feels for that book.❤️💔
EVERYONE SHOULD DO THIS.
This summer, I finally got through my reading list… AND NOW IT HAS 10457246875 BOOKS ON IT AND I’M CRYING TO THE WORLD WHYYYYYYYY
So maybe they shouldn’t?
I don’t know anymore.
THERE IS NO FINDING THE END OF THE TBR. THERE IS JUST ADDING MORE BOOKS. #truth
Firstly, I want to appreciate the fact that you’re editing a book. I know you dislike editing, like every sane human, so, go, Cait.
Anyways, I recently reviewed The Color Project by Sierra Abrams, which I suppose can be called an underrated book. There wasn’t much hype to the best of my knowledge and yes, my review got relatively less response than, say, my review of Monsters of Verity. I’ve been mildly freaking out over this.
And if we go the popular book route, suppose we end up disliking it and giving it a negative review, let’s just say I’ve seen the internet be really cruel to many bloggers.
Reviewing books is just hard in general and I’m just so glad that you came to this particular conclusion. What I’m saying is that I’m a relatively new hatchling in the book blogging world (not even 4 months, Cait) and just being reassured that READING is the most important thing is great. Also, I’ve taken your advice many times. Just thought you should know your world domination plans are working.
Some underrated books that I’ve “discovered”: The Names They Gave Us (Emery Lord) Not to sound stalkerish, but I read your review on When We Collided and I know you didn’t like it, but perhaps you’ll have a better time with this Lord book.
But considering your one true love is fantasy (mine, too), I’d like to suggest Poison Study (Maria V. Snyder). It’s part of a series. I didn’t 100% like the entire series but I have a feeling you’ll love the setting throughout. Besides, Poison Study was GREAT. Alos, try HUNTED. I loved it, It’s a fairy tale retelling (Beauty and the Beast) and, should you read it, I hope you like it, too.
Might not be the best recs because I’m new to the book word in general and I’m just starting to catch up with popular books. Like The Raven Cycle, which I love larger than life.
Omg thank you.😂 It’s HARD WORK. I’ve finished up now and like it wasn’t TOO bad but it was super stressful trying to fix so much stuff haha.
I feel like The Color Project got a TON of hype pre-release but I haven’t actually seen many reviews now that it’s out? I just bought it though soooo excited. And omg I totally get you with the scared-of-the-rabid-fans-of-hyped-books. It’s like genuinely bad for your health to hate, say, Sarah J Maas books. Which is so so wrong argh. We should just be able to read or not read WHATEVER WE WANT.
Hey I have Hunted to read!! I need to get to it!😂 I read something by Maria V Snyder (about a healer?) and I didn’t like it though.😭
And it’s funny because when I first got obsessed with the Raven Cycle it was COMPLETELY underrated!! And now it’s mega famous.😂
I try to review underhyped books on my blog. Pretty much everything I read is backlist. Actually, according to my spreadsheet, I’ve read 75 books this year, and only 5 of them were new releases. You’re right about nobody reading reviews for unknown books, but I’m trying!
I totally think it’s important just to read what makes us happy!
I guess because I’m an old crone (27) I don’t buy in to the pressure from the online community to only blog about currently hyped books. I honestly started blogging because I couldn’t remember books that I had already read, so I wanted to discuss them in a way that would jog my memory either for sequels or just because I wanted to look back on it. I am a firm believer in reading what you want to read. Life is too short to only read books that have a lot of hype and everyone is telling you to read them.
I started reviewing for that exact reason.😂 I remember NOTHING but reviewing it helps a little haha.
But life is too short to not read what you don’t want to!! READ WHAT WE WANT <— quality life advice
You’re definitely on to something. It’s hard to even FIND hidden gems as a book blogger because I read most books based on what other people say. I’d literally have to go to an indie book store (which there are none around here because #smalltownproblems) with my eyes closed to even find something that isn’t super popular online. But why pick up something that I know nothing about when there are 10 books next to it that I know everyone loves?
That said, every now and then I’ll read something that almost no one has heard of and end up loving it. And that just feels really special! But also lonely.
Also Cait, yesterday I was reading Lumberjanes Vol. 3 and a character was literally making a cake with a dragon on it and I was all, is this an offering for Paper Fury?
Okay wow I need this Lumberjanes right now because that book is CALLING TO ME.
And I totallllly get you there. Like it’s a lot more of a risk to pick up a book no one is talking about, because you’ve got nothing to gauge it off, right? And like sometimes hyped books suck, but they’re often good, I find! And at least you know what to expect with them after 39898 reviews.😂
I want to read hidden gems so darn bad, BUT AS YOU SAID, I already feel so much pressure to read the hyped books (while reading whatever the hack I want from that selection) and blog, etc, and I LITERALLY HAVE NO SPARE TIME, bc everything ever *cries* and hidden gems can either be great, bad or weird mermeerrhhh that no one understands.
I read what I want but still #PRESSURE!! And then people are receding books and my TBR grows by about 54675239852 and then there’s the endless hunt for LAMINGTONS IIN THE UK *cries* and then I have to find hidden gems, and well . . . I get pretty distraught when tying to find lamingtons and failing. . . and then I just DONT END UP FINDING ANY HIDDEN GEMS. (But like,,,,, one hidden gem that I want to read is THE PEARL THIEF).
#I’mScaredI’mMad ha. no. I’ve been mad for 57465758 years. Its fineeeeeeee.
Mahhhh where was I going with this.
I shall now curl back up into my corner of the internet.
THERE ARE SO MANY BOOKS HOW DO WE EVEN SURVIVE. *howls into the void* (But omg reeeead the Pearl Thief!! It calls to you and I promise it’s so so worth it.) 😭😂
Kaaaaaaaate, I have one of my favorite books for you to read, it’s a children’s book but it’s a little less known and soooooo heartwarming, it’s also somewhat short but that’s beside the point. It’s called “The Magical Mrs. Iptweet and Me” by Barbara Mayfeild. I know you’re very busy but if you have the time, I suggest you read it (pleeeeeeeeeeeease?) and maybe write a blog on it. Thank you, I love your blog 🙂
I’m so glad you like my blog, thanks!! I shall try to look that one up. 😉
This is indeed a double-edged sword when it comes to blogging vs. just reading what you want to. Personally, I’m tired of overhyped books, so I’m trying to read more indie authors. But does this mean a lot of people may just breeze right by those posts because, as you said, they’ve never heard of the novel in question?? Yeah, it’s a tough one.
Especially when your own work is among the underrated! lol! As a self-published author who can’t yet afford advertising, I’m not a fan of the “endlessly spamming your social media contacts with bribery to read your own publication” syndrome that so many of us unfortunately fall prey to. 😛 I am so very grateful to the bloggers/reviewers who have helped push my work, and simply am not able to buy a magazine page or something (like some “traditional” authors/publishers). So you want readers to know your stuff is out there, but not become annoying about it. :/
Agh I totally get that! I find the more “hidden gem” a book is, the less interaction I get on the reviews. Which I don’t blame people! It’s hard to discuss a book you’ve never heard about. But it’s also haaaard, because I’d prefer to have the discussions?? But I also like to read smaller books sometimes too. BOOKBLOGGER PROBLEMS.
I have no idea what’s a hidden gem and what isn’t because we don’t have a lot of books where I live and nobody I know reads the same things I do. I did find these two graphic novels, one of which I’d never heard of and was great (Anya’s Ghost), the other that was originally a webcomic that I started reading and was also amazing (Nimona). And there’s an illustrated fairytale retelling called Tinder which was also really good??? But if I leave my country these are all probably books that people read and raved over like years ago…
Oh I have heard of Nimona and I really want to read that one!!
Loving all your Game of Thrones memes. Argh, the withdrawal has already started. You made some excellent points and I completely agree with not having enough time to read everything. Though I`ve been pleasantly surprised by some non-hyped books, the fact that they don`t have that many reviews can be daunting. You want to know if it`s good or not. Although in all fairness, some hyped books have been complete s*it.
Also, I have not clue what “How to Live a Life of Crime” is about, but that title is very appealing.
This is the part where I confess I’m not caught up with the show.😭😂 BUT SOON I SHALL BE. Hhehe.
And of course! Some hidden gems AND hyped books are absolute rubbish. haha. No book is going to be perfect. (And How To Lead a Life Of Crime is very very very fantastic.)
I LOVE hidden gems! Sometimes I feel like they’re all I read.😂I completely get what you’re saying when say book bloggers feel a tiny bit pressured to read all the popular books so we can join in on the discussions- my feelings exactly. Thanks for the great post!💕
That’s totally cool though!! You are A TRUE TREASURE HUNTER!!
I love finding lessor known books and giving them a shot! I’m 100% open to reading indies and smaller books but it’s true that they usually end in being a part of a lonely fandom.. It’s like you are just screaming feels into the void with no one to talk about things with 🙁
It’s always frustrating when people don’t realise they’re missing out ON THE GREATEST THINGS. 😭
hmm some of my favorite underrated books are mechanica (betsy cornwell) and future perfect (jen Larsen) if they’re considered underrated because the first is like a super awesome Cinderella retelling and the second is a really poignant novel on body size!
Ooh I should look these up for sure!!
For me, the big appeal of hidden gems is that nobody else knows about them so I can make them into a little pile and sit atop them like a dragon while going “MINE ALL MINEY MINE MINE”
I mean, eventually I’ll get off my pile and start recommending the books to other people but it’s fun to be able to hoard great stories for yourself.
I TOTALLY GET THAT.😂They totally become like really special right?! Sometimes some of my favourite “hidden gems” have gotten popular later and I’m like ‘WAIT IT WAS MINE FIRST”.😂
I don’t actively go out looking for hidden gems ( I should more often), but every now and again, I stumble across a couple and some of the have been amazing whilst others are a bit iffy. When I started out blogging, I definitely feel like I had to go with the flow and read popular books etc. But now I’m more of a read what you want kind of person – and if I didn’t like a popular book, I have no issues posting an unpopular opinion review about it 😛
I’m totally glad you focus on reading more of just what you want! I think that’s the recipe to have a good bookworm life. :’)
I usually love hidden gems!!! but I don’t read them as much as I should. Yes, I am ashamed of myself.
I way prefer being able to chat about a book with other people. Sometimes, after I’ve read an under hyped book, I go on Pinterest hoping for some cool fanart. And….NOTHING. I AM THE FANDOM FOR THIS BOOK. and that makes me super sad. One of my favorite books isn’t even being printed any more. 🙁
I don’t really think the Inkheart series is praised enough even though it’s soooo good. The goose girl series by Shannon Hale isn’t either and that’s like…EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD PUT TOGETHER INTO AN AMAZING 300 SOMETHING PAGES. Sorry about that. I got worked up.
Your post was great, I’m so glad that some people are showing love to hidden gems!!!! I almost picked up Bone Gap the other day and them I realised that I have no money.
THANK YOU!!!!!
No shame! 😂 We bookworms do what we can and honestly should just enjoy books, right?! I think I’ll pick up a hyped/popular book over a hidden gem usually just because I want to have the blogging discussions with others!
yes!!!! exactly that’s completly how I feel. Why is life so hard????
I looooooved Bone Gap. Ugh. Love love.
The nice thing about underrated books to me is that I can go in with absolutely zero expectations. I know however i feel about it is 100% genuine and not swayed by the thousands of reviews I’ve read, which is kind of nice. Back in the pre-blogging days, every book you pulled from the library was kind of an unknown book to you. I kind of miss that feeling.
IT’S SO GOOD AFJDAKSLD I CAN ONLY SHOUT. BECAUSE SO SO GOOD. *feels like rereading it yet again* 😍
and I agree the zero expectations is nice!! It’s less stressful almost, right?!
I love reading underrated books because I genuinely keep my expectations low and that means the experience will be so great in the end. But yeah I hate how hard it can be to get a physical copy. It took me ages to get a physical copy of Pyramids of London at a reasonable price.
The lower-expectations is DEFINITELY a bonus that I enjoy.😂😂
All of these sound so good! I’m adding to my TBR as we speak. Your blog is just so beautiful!! You can tell you really put a lot of time and effort into it. I’m just in awe!! So beautiful!! Also love your instagram pictures 🙂 You found a new follower <3
My TTT:Hidden Gems in YA
Aww thank you so so much, Jessica!! *gives you all the cake*
Your reviews are hilarious so I usually read them even if I’ve never heard of the book 🙂
Aww, that makes my DAY. Thank you!!
Ultimately I really don’t care all that much if a book is popular or not. I just want to like what I read! But I totally agree with all of your points. Sometimes reading a book that’s popular is fun because if I love it, I have an instant community of people to fangirl with. But if I hate it, well . . . let’s just say rabid fans can tend toward the “WHAT OMG HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE THIS BOOK HERE SIT DOWN AND READ IT AGAIN” side of things.
But underrated books are so much fun to find because I took a risk and it paid off! And now I have a new book to shove into people’s hands!!! It’s so hard to recommend books to people since chances are, if it’s popular, they’ve already read it, but not with underrated books!
The rabid fans are definitely scar at times though.😂 And it’s frustrating sometimes when people get so rude if you don’t like a super hyped book. *BURIES SELF* And I do like underrated books for the 0% expectations. It’s less stress to start them, basically.😂
How to live a life of Grime looks incredible! I mean can I have it now?? First of all I love a good story that has an academy full of supernaturals or ninja-freaks or basically anything where people know how to kick some butt (yet they do it at school, so it kind of makes it relatable- you know if school was really that awesome) Plus I find any story about a broken boy totally endearing! Also it sounds like theres some romance….. So in other words I’m SOLD! 🙂
Cant wait to read this! So glad u introduced it to me. I totally agree with the needed to read more under read books. A good book’s a good book you know! (BTW have you ever read the book Rook by Sharon Cameron? It’s my underead fav!)
IT IS SO GOOD. YOU DEFINITELY NEED IT. Like it’s fully about sociopaths and pscyopaths and I loooved it.😂
Interesting discussion! I feel like I used to read more hidden books before I started blogging? Now I know about basically everything that’s coming out in YA so nothing is really hidden anymore? I do miss going into books with no expectations but it is nice to know that other people liked a book too before going into it. I do like reading books I can discuss with others, but I also like finding books that other people haven’t read so I can push them onto them (I tried to push Unwind onto my friend so I’d have someone to talk to about it, she read it, liked it but was so creeped out she never read the rest of the series. #bookwormfail). This year, I guess the most underrated book I’ve read is Every Breath, it never really made it over here, so not many UK bookworms have read it (at least not ones that blog!).
I used to read WAY more hidden books before book blogging too.😂 Mostly because I didn’t even know what was popular or not haha. (Omg I LOVE Unwind and also it destroyed me, so I hear you there.😂)
Every Breath is so so good!!
I have such conflicting feelings about underrated books. It’s feels amazing when you find a hidden gem, but they can be such hits or misses. Honestly I don’t have that much time to read, so it gets harder to branch out and pick up an underrated book. With my limited time, I’d prefer to pick up a book that I know a ton of people are loving and interests me because hopefully I’ll end up loving it too!
It’s so true! Like do you risk a book NO ONE is talking about so how do we know if it’s good or not?! Especially with limited time. It’s haaard.
So, I have no idea if this is weird, but I actually seem to prefer hidden gems? Here’s why: There is no pressure, and lower expectations. Like, I feel a certain sense of dread when I don’t like a book that the whole world likes. But in the case of the hidden gem, the opposite is true- I like it, and no one else even knows it exists! No judgment from literally anyone.
THEN, I rarely go into them thinking I am going to love them- because they’re unknown, I have no expectations at all, good OR bad, so I can go in with a blank slate.
That all said.. you’re right about people reading posts more when they’re about books people have heard of. It’s just the facts. So I figure, if I have a platform to try to push the hidden gems, that’s probably better than ONLY reading/reviewing underrated books and having no one pay attention? I used to read a lot more under the radar books before blogging, but only because I was poor and had to read free/cheap books- though I WILL say, that is how I found a lot of my hidden gems/authors 😀
I do prefer the lower expectations!😂 Although like sometimes I’ll read a book BEFORE it’s hyped and then it gets really hyped soooo…I try not to say that hype will dictate whether a book is good or not. BUT EXPECTATIONS ARE HARD. *cries*
This is a great post. I totally agree – we shouldn’t forget the not-so-current or not-so-popular books. There are some amazing ones out there; it would be a shame to miss them!
A total shame to miss them! I just want to read everything.😂
I love hidden gems. Because I love gems. Hidden or popular.
I used to always buy a book at the airport before getting on a plane. Was convinced the plane would crash if I didn’t. My city has a small airport with a very small book selection so I would rarely find a book I had heard tell of, I’d have to go with nicest cover or most interesting blurb and have ended up with some books I have *adored* that I would say for sure count as hidden gems. (Serafim and Claire by Mark Lavorato being one… pretty sure like half the reviews on goodreads are from people I basically forced this book upon…)
I do love to be able to discuss book with people, but I can’t regret having read a book no one has heard of if I loved it (I am floored no one at least here in Newfoundland knows what I am on about when I speak of Cold Pastoral by Margaret Duley because TURNS OUT this was a big deal back in the 1930s when it was published and she is considered the first novelist from Newfoundland… also it is fantastic. It is like a Dark Anne of Green Gables. )
I’m not sure if I have read a hidden gem this year…. my book club has been on hiatus and I have gotten over my weird airport superstition (was forced to for financial reasons last year…)… and I discovered bookstagram so I’ve been going after books that are heavily discussed there because I am very open to suggestion….
That being said, I got The Hush by Skye Melki-Wegner through a subscription box that I don’t see a lot of people talk about (Once Upon a Book Club), and but has basically no hype on the go and I thought it was delightful. Very interesting world building, super interesting magic, sassy theives… I would probably pick that for my hidden gem of the year.
GEMS ARE NICE TOO THOUGH. *steals all the treasure and runs away to sail the high seas*
And like it’s GOOD that you always bought a book and didn’t risk the plane like that. You’re a fantastic human.😂
I’ve only read one book by Skye Melki-Wegner but I really liked it! I should rea dmore. She’s definitely underhyped hehe.
I feel like hidden gems is ALL I read, though that’s not necessarily true. I read some popular books…but like THREE years after they’ve been published :O because I can’t keep up with my TBR and NO ONE talks about them anymore. 🙁 So I kind of would LIKE to read books that are popular now so I can feel included, but UGH WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE OTHER BOOKS I NEED TO READ???? D: D: D: Thanks Cait for reminding me of my ongoing crisis.
And an underrated book I read this year was The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. It’s a middle grade steampunk fantasy and the characters are adorable and the world building is really interesting and I LOVED it! This is my review if you want to read it: 🙂
https://frozenbooksblog.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-mark-of-dragonfly-by-jaleigh.html#more
IT’S SO HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THE TBR. HOW EVEN ARE WE EVER SUPPOSED TO. *shouts loudly*
Ahhh, that’s kind of funny because I’m just trying so hard to get my library to get ALL OF THESE POPULAR BOOKS FASTER so that my ittle blog doesn’t go and … well, die in the corner over there. So I keep reading wonderful hideyhole treasure books and then wondering if I should blog about them or not. Then I decide not to because a) wix’s comment box SUCKS and b) I figure I just can’t do it justice by reviewing it. XP
I think it’s totally cool if you want to read more popular books! I confess I prefer to blog about them so more people will be able to discuss with me. 😂
I wish I could read more hidden gem books and I really want to try to! My library had a sale the other day (lol bye book buying ban) and I bought three books I’d never heard of before but they sounded so good and I’m excited to read them, I definitely feel that since starting my book blog I’ve focused primarily on the popular books and I miss featuring books on my blog that I hadn’t seen on other blogs because a) I was introducing people to what could potentially be a new favourite book and b) it made my content different to other blogs. I just want to read all the books but I need more time. *cries*
AND OH MY GOSH YES TO WHITE CAT AND BONE GAP. SO INCREDIBLE. I finally bought my own copy of White Cat (I LOVE LIBRARY SALES) and I have a feeling I’m going to reread it soon because SO GOOD.
I reeeally love library sales omg they are just things of such specialness and the deals!! And plus you can can more risks on books you’re not sure you’ll like if they’re only a few dollars.😜
WHY DOESN’T THE ENTIRE WORLD LOVE BONE GAP THOUGH AFJDKSALFD. IT IS TRULY THE BEST.
I love discovering hidden gems b/c…you’ve discovered a hidden gem and get to be the one to shout from the rooftops about it! But, it’s definitely a lot of wading through crap to get there…esp since bloggers are often reading ARCs, so don’t have as much of the benefit of word of mouth as regular readers do.
But, agree with your bottom line, a good book is a good book!
Hidden gems can be SUCH FUN. 😍 And it is exciting to convince other people to try it too. 😜
I LOVE Bone Gap! I read it a few years ago after finding it tucked away at a bookshop, and I was hooked. It is honestly one of my favorite hidden gems!
IT’S SO SO SO GOOD I CAN’T LOVE IT ENOUGH.😍😍😍
books are books to me, underrated/ overrated/ perfectly done. I would read them alllll
but i won’t review them all
That’s fair! It’s definitely important just to enjoy what we read!
My usual experience with underrated books is as follows.
*finds a wonderful book that is underrated*
*reads it and gushes to everyone I see*
*finds out that no, in fact, it is not underrated. Everyone knows about said book*
*has to return all of my explorer’s gear because I have failed*
Bahha I TOTALLY GET THAT TOO.😂 I have a few people telling me that right now with my list!😂 Or when a series starts off underrated and then gets super famous. I swear no one had read The Raven Cycle when I was into it and now it’s famous.😂
Call me a weird turnip but I hardly ever read popular books😜 I’m just not here for that lol, my love is underrated books or less known ones💙
The best book this year I read was The Magnolia Arms Chronicles by Holly Bebernitz ( it’s three books , the first being Trevorode the Defender). They were so good and refreshing. So if you like a good hidden gem check them out 😊
That’s cool! It’s important to read what we WANT and what makes us happy I say!
Oh yes!!! The best part of reading an underrated gem is that you can start converting an army!
Also a really big one is putting your name on the cover. Which I will not brag that happened to me. I am so totally not bragging here right now. NOPE.
In the end, I don’t feel it’s too much choice whether you should read more popular books or not, because I feel like underrated gems ARE underrated because it’s hard to find out about them! A lot of times you just don’t know about one. So you’d end up reading better known books anyway.
Although I end up reading a lot of obscure stuff on my blog, as I now mostly read ARCs, and not all of them are hyped (I can’t read too much YA xD)… so I read a lot of weird stuff too. I don’t know if that contributes much to my blog’s popularity, but in the end, it would beat the purpose of having a blog if I had to read stuff I don’t care about, right? 😀
I’ll have to check out some of the ones you mentioned 🙂 and actually, The Female of the Species has been recommended to me by Dragonfly from Our Familiarium! She was positively exploding about it xD haha.
My underrated gem would be Senlin Ascends. I’ve already told you about that one millions of times though xD (and it’s totally the one I’m not bragging about, with the name being on the cover, lol)
By the way, I’ve finally launched that meme I talked about! For killing all those old ARCs. Still not sure I know what it’s gonna be about, I feel like it’s missing something..? I guess I’ll figure it out with time 🙂
We should absolutely read stuff we care about! Although I confess I tend to blog the more popular books than the underrated ones.😂 I’m terrible haha. And omg The Female of the Species is just AMAZING THOUGH. It’s really twisty and brutal as well and just aughagioagh I hate the cover but LOVE the book.
So I’m curious, what do you mean your name is on the book?😂
Whoops, just found this reply in my inbox 😀 crazy month.
My name is on the book means it’s literally on the book 😀 Senlin Ascends was self-pubbed when I read it. It was so good that Orbit Books picked it up. Then they contacted a bunch of reviewers for a quote from their review. I thought they were going to put mine in the praise section or something… turns out! They just put our quotes and names on the background of the cover! Like slightly blurred out, but totally there. Mine’s on the spine, right next to the writer’s name 😀 #lifegoals?
I totally agree with all your pros and cons. Often I feel out of place because I never seem to be reading what others are reading. A friend had a fit when she discovered I’d never read any George R. R. Martin (I have since, but not at that time). On the flip side, she’s a huge fan of fantasy and hadn’t ever read Terry Brooks or R. A. Salvatore, either. So, we were even in our oddity. 😀
http://www.amysbookishlife.co.uk/2017/08/top-ten-tuesday-hidden-gems-in-ya.html?showComment=1504116504009#c5097522342515659879
I have lost my mind today and keep posting the wrong link, sorry!
Here is our TTT
Ahhhh, it’s so hard to read everything right?! Like I think 90% of the bookworm life is saying “GASP YOU HAVEN’T READ THAT YET????” 😂😂
You are so right about that! Hahaha…
I really like to read underrated books because I feel I can base my opinion solely on the book and it’s content, where I feel that I have to like really hyped books, even if I think they are kind of terrible. I love the feeling of “discovering” a book that few people have read! It’s like a mysterious power that only I can wield! I feel that discussions/reviews of underrated books are sooo much easier because there are less people to judge you for loving/hating a book that they loved or hated. I personally love reading reviews of lesser known books because it’s something NEW! And different! And it adds a little variety to my life (and usually a book to my TBR…)
Some underrated books I’ve read recently (ish) include: Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Undertow by Michael Buckley, and anything by Antony John!
I totally get what you mean! *nods* Sometimes I do find my thoughts being seriously influenced by others and it feels sad?! BUT then I do miss the discussion aferwads gah.
I’ve read Zeroes!
I love underrated books and discovering them, but you’re so right on how lonely it can be when no one else is talking about them when all you want to do is scream about it from the rooftops. And I always feel so bad for the book/author because they deserve so much more love. And the pressure to read popular books that everyone is always talking about is INSANE. Some underrated books I like are: The Queen of Blood, all Neil Gaiman, and the Chronicles of Prydain series.
It’s so so frustrating when good books go unloved. WHAT IS THIS LIFE. WHAT IS THIS LEVEL OF UNFAIR. I want to read The Queen of Blood!! I have it on my wishlist.
I relate to this soooo much lol!!!!!! And not just with books, but shows/dramas/movies, and well everything! I can’t do all the stuff I seemingly want to do… but I don’t seem to know how to let go either hahahha oh my that is sad.
Seriously though your posts are the best thing ever. You make us smile, laugh and realize we’re not the only ones freakin out over this kind of stuff. All your points were dead on (and also hilarious).
I HEAR YOUR PAIN.😫 I want to do everything but can we like get a time machine or something???
(Awww, THANK YOU. ❤️ At least we know we’re all relatable weird bookworms together.😂)
White Cat and The Female of the Species are both excellent! I also just read my what could be my favorite read of the year – An Alchemy of Masques and Magic by Curtis Craddock which was just released but it hasn’t been hyped up nearly enough for just how awesome it is! 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
I’m SO glad you’ve read both of those two as well!! *flails* Honestly so many books don’t get the hype they deserve.😫
I’ve actually gone into “popular” books more recently, so I think most of the books I read are “hidden gems” and I love them to pieces. Except you finish a horrible heart wrenching story in which everyone dies and you just want a shoulder to cry on and no one even knows what you’re talking about or cares. They leave you sobbing in the corner by yourself because you’re the only one in the world to have read that book. 🙁
It’s very frustrating when you can’t rant/cry/howl at anyone that’s for sure. WE’RE ALONE WITH OUR PAIN AND A GOOD BOOK.
Hi! I’m currently reading The Female of the Species. Just started, but it’s good so far! 🙂 My undiscovered YA just released with a smaller press, so it’s been tough to get a lot of bloggers onboard. I totally get all the thoughts behind your list! 🙂
My TTT
Leslie
Ahhhh I’m so glad someone else is reading the Female of the Species! The ending tho!!! ENJOY. And also best of luck with your book too!
I LITERALLY BOUGHT HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE OF YOU! I def plan on getting to it before the end of the year.
DUDE. MY WORK HERE IS DONE. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ACHIEVED IN LIFE.
HOW CAN YOU READ 170 BOOKS? I’M JEALOUS! Also, hidden gems are great, but lonely. I do a lot of those that indie writers send to me to review and like I JUST WANNA TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT BUT THEY DON’T KNOW IT EXISTS! It’s a very frustrating life I lead, this is why I need internet friends. I’ll force THEM to read books I love. Because my real life friends are all too busy and don’t understand the joy that can come from reading. Like I said, frustrating (and kind of depressing) life I lead.
IT’S BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERAL HEADS LIKE THAT DOG HADES KEEPS IN THE UNDERWORLD. THAT’S MY COUSIN.
This is definitely why internet friends are good! It’s at least a little more possible to find people who know what we’re flailing about.😂
I love reading underrated books!! In fact, a bunch of my favorite YA books are very underrated. The only problem is they’re harder to find! My library doesn’t always have them, and I can’t buy a lot of books, so usually I just read the hyped books. Plus, some of the Indie books look good, but there’s no way to know for sure and I’m not dropping $18 on a paperback that I may end up despising… sadness.
Also I agree it’s lonely! My favorite author in the whole wide world has a combined total of like 20,000 ratings on goodreads and she’s written seven books. They’re FREAKING GOOD BOOKS but no one knows about them :'(. But this does mean that I get to make it my mission to force everyone to read her.
Awesome post!!
The hard-to-find aspect is SO annoying. Like getting a copy of Truth Witch was SO hard and it took me forever to find Finnikin of the Rock. *cries* And half the time when I rec underrated Aussie books no one can find them anyway. OH THE TRIALS.
I feel like I don’t really read underrated books UNLESS they some how get send to me for reviews because I am interested more in books from what I hear from other bloggers. But I do admit there is something super special about discovering a book for the first time and feeling the thrill of getting to rave to everyone else about how amazing it is! Lovely discussion Cait <3
I totally end up reading books because of bloggers ALL the time.😂 It’s great! We’re an honest community with good taste. :’)
Yeah… I think I’ll stick with being a dragon.
First, for me, I don’t read a lot for a self proclaimed bookworm. I read for MAYBE an hour a day and some days I don’t even read anything (it’s a hard life, trust me) THAT BEING SAID. I am stuck on (and laughing madly at) SOMETIMES THEY ARE HIDDEN BECAUSE THEY ARE BAD. If I have never heard of a book, or it has 3 or less stars on goodreads, I’m usually terrified it’s going to disappoint me AND LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND I DON’T READ ENOUGH to read disappointing books. Soooo I tend to go with the books that my trusted bookish friends like, which JUST HAPPEN to be less hidden ones.
AND ALSO IT IS REALLY LONELY TO LOVE A BOOK NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ABOUT.
LIKE ROSEBLOOD.
Which is why I’m so grateful that I have YOU because you get me :,)
Hey I don’t read everyday either!😂 Squeezing in all the books of ever can be SO HARD. And unfortunately life is too short to read disappointing books aghhhhhgh. Like I burn through TONS of low-starred books and it’s so annoying. I can’t imagine having less time to read and risking the duds!
I’M EHRE FOR ALL OUR ROSEBLOOD FLAILING. AND OMG DID YOU KNOW SHE’S GOT A NEW BOOK COMING???! It’s a Princess in the Pea retelling called Stain.😍😍😍
I think the conclusion to everything in life is to be a dragon. It’s my default for sure, we should start a flock xD.
I love reading hidden gems and popular books but the TBR is constantly crushing me and every other bookworm out here. Even if they aren’t a blogger haha.
Great post, as always <3
That’s absolutely TRUE. When in doubt: be a dragon. Basically the goal is just to survive the TBR pile, right?! 😂😂
Definitely. I think being a dragon solves everything haha <3
~Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Oh, Teeth. I love that book so much, even though it was so painful to get through. People are awful! 🙁 But I cared about Teeth and Rudy and appreciated their flaws.
One of Hannah Moskowitz’s other books, in my opinion, is really underrated: A History of Glitter and Blood. That book is weird and the narration is not for everyone, but it’s so emotional and worth the ride.
I haven’t read A History Of Glitter And Blood yet BUT I WANT TO. I want to read all her books.❤️💔
Though I often read popular books because those are usually recommended, I really like having underrated gems though people barely know anything about them and it gets sad 🙁
It’s hard to hear about the underrated ones sometimes! Although finding them can be kind of a fun treasure hunt. 😜
I think I stick to stuff I am interested in, but after joining a book club I have found it a really interesting experience to be reading books chosen by someone else. Much to my surprise it is really quite fun, as it exposes me to things I might not have exactly chosen for myself and then they turn out to be really good!
So basically, I am quite a picky reader, and as I am not a book blogger, it probably gives me a bit of freedom to choose what I enjoy to read or the stories that interest me, which are usually both the very popular and also the less popular books.
Also, I think I get confused on what is popular or not! As I thought Bone Gap was a really popular book, but maybe it is fact a hidden book. I probably read a review somewhere on one person’s blog and then decided it was super popular because it was on the internet….. my bad.
I really enjoy reading your posts 🙂
Oh! And I forgot to say that Only Ever Always by Penni Russon is probably my favourite underrated gem book.
It is a truly strange little fairytale and I found it to be quite beautiful. An Aussie YA as well 🙂 I thought it was lovely.
And very strange.
oh oh I should look that up because AUSSIE BOOKS ARE GRAND!!😍
Hype actually puts me off books a lot of the time, since they rarely live up to it. I tend to try and wait until the hype has died down a bit, so that I can give them a fair chance!
I honestly get more disappointed by hype than not too! GAH. It’s annoying! Although it is fun to be on the in-love side of the hype because being excited about books is A+.😍😍
I try and do a mixture too! I definitely have the fear of missing out when everyone is talking about a book and I haven’t read it yet, so I hop right on that bandwagon and read them so I can join in on the conversations and hype, but I often find amazing books from some smaller publishers that are less well known. There are two small publishers who publish primarily thrillers, and most of them are excellent, so I regularly request from them on Netgalley or read the ARCs they send me, even though the books are mostly not at all popular! It does make me happy to rave about those books though and then have people tell me they are going to read the book based off of my review. It adds to my dream that I’ll make an unknown author really popular one day if I can get everyone who follows me to read their book! 😛
It is ALWAYS super cool to convince someone to read a book!! omg I love that feeling. I recently reviewed a book (Learning To Swear in America actually haha) and had like FOUR people afterwards tell me they were reading it?! And like that’s probably a teeny tiny pathetic number but it made my day.😂
I’m totally someone who reviews small time hidden gem books. Which is both wonderful and horrible. Horrible, because it was really hard to get my blog going because of it, and it’s always a struggle to keep growing it. Wonderful because now those who do read my blog are reading it to discover small gems without having to try them and find them themselves and that is totally what I was aiming for.
Also horrible because it’s hard to grow audience.
BUT IN TERMS OF ENJOYMENT I’M ALL GOOD (although more ppl to fangirl with occasionally would be nice.)