I’ve read quite a few books recently that I really, really enjoyed, and I was shocked to have not heard much about them. There are a bunch of books that I think deserve more hype in this community, so I thought I’d showcase a few of my more recent reads in an attempt to entice you.
A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
I absolutely adored A Girl Like That. It’s my favourite book of the year so far, and I honestly cannot recommend it enough or rate it more highly. It’s a contemporary about a Muslim girl who lives in Saudi Arabia. There are a lot of rumours and gossip surrounding her, because she’s unconventional. This book shines a light on what it’s like to grow up in the Middle East, and particularly what teenage girls have to deal with.
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
I read this one more recently even though it had been on my TBR ever since it was announced. There was a bit of hype surrounding it back in 2016 when it was released, but I think The Girl From Everywhere kind of overshadowed it. This is a Blackbeard origin story, and while none of it is set on a pirate ship, it gives a good background on Blackbeard and what led him to the sea. I’m really looking forward to seeing where the second book takes these characters, particularly Anne, who I loved.
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
This is a non-fiction book about the girls who worked in the factories that painted dials using radium paint. Their employers told them that the radium was safe, but then they all started getting ill. The book follows what happened to the girls after they left the factories, and their lawsuits against these companies. It’s a fantastic book, and it gave me a lot of information on a topic that I didn’t know anything about, while also keeping it very personal.
Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
Rachel Caine is a very well known author at this point, but I haven’t seen this book brought up much among the current wave of adult thrillers. Stillhouse Lake is one of the best and the most original thrillers I’ve read, which was refreshing in a post-Gone Girl world. It’s about a woman whose husband murdered a bunch of young women, and who is currently on the run from his fans and other angry internet people who want to see her and her family suffer. There are twists and turns, and the entire thing is very dark and gruesome. I loved it.
The Last to Let Go by Amber Smith
I picked this book up because it’s about domestic abuse, so trigger warning if you can’t handle that very well. The Last to Let Go is a well written novel about a girl whose mother kills her abusive husband. The kids have to deal in their own separate ways while their mother is in prison awaiting trial. The portrayal of abuse and the effects it had on the children was so well done, and I can’t remember the last time a book did it this well. The main character is also gay, and is handling those feelings along with everything else.
And that’s all for now! Which books do you think deserve more love in the book community?
I loved The Radium Girls when I read it last year. I cried multiple times because of everything those poor women went through, and the way they were treated after the fact.
It was definitely the best book I read in the whole of 2017.
Agreed! It was incredible.
I’ve seen Blackhearts about but wasn’t really sure what it was about. I wanted to read it but completely forgot about it. I’ll have to make sure it’s on the TBR and get to it soon. And Stillhouse Lake is actually sat unread on my Kindle, I want to read it soon. A couple of people have said it as a good read so I had to buy it. now I just need to get to reading it.
Stillhouse Lake is, like I said, fantastic. It’s super dark and gritty, but I loved it.