Johann Hunt
There’s something special about discovering a book no one’s talking about yet. If your TBR pile is already stacked sky-high, and you still can’t resist adding more, you’re in the right place. Between the viral favorites and the usual chart-toppers, these 20 under-the-radar titles deserve a spot on your shelf.
The Family Tree By Sairish Hussain
Plenty of heart, lots of secrets, this novel follows Zahra and Saahil, British-Pakistani siblings, figuring out life without their mom. Set in Bradford, it’s warm and filled with family dynamics that feel incredibly real. If you love books that tug at your feelings without overdoing it, this one delivers.
Whiskey Tender: A Memoir By Deborah Jackson Taffa
Deborah Jackson blends sharp humor with deep insight while writing about growing up between cultures—Laguna Pueblo, Quechan, and mainstream America. It’s part coming-of-age, part cultural reckoning, and totally unforgettable. Definitely not your typical memoir. It’s funny and surprisingly fierce in the way it reclaims identity and memory with zero apology.
Flint Kill Creek: Stories Of Mystery And Suspense By Joyce Carol Oates
This collection isn’t horror, exactly, but it’s haunting in all the right ways. Joyce Carol Oates keeps you on edge with every page. Weird neighbors, buried secrets, people who snap. Each story gives you just enough to make you squirm. Probably best not to read before bed.
Pathless Forest: The Quest To Save The World’s Largest Flowers By Chris Thorogood
If you’ve ever been obsessed before, maybe you would relate to Chris Thorogood’s fixation on rare plants. This leads him on a wild chase across Southeast Asia for the giant, gorgeous, and foul-smelling Rafflesia. Packed with science and storytelling, this isn’t your average nature book. It’s Indiana Jones meets botany.
Set My Heart On Fire By Izumi Suzuki
Izumi Suzuki brings together punk energy and aching loneliness in a story that feels like Tokyo in the 1980s. The protagonist drifts through clubs and apartments, hunting for meaning where none is promised. It’s messy and full of contradictions but cooler than anything trending on your feed.
Memory Piece By Lisa Ko
Three girls start in the chaos of 1980s New York and grow into a future shaped by AI and activism. It’s character-driven and full of unexpected turns. Lisa Ko plays with time and tech while keeping the heart front and center. Quietly revolutionary and sneakily emotional, too.
The Line They Drew Through Us By Hiba Noor Khan
Set during the 1947 Partition of India, this novel captures the heartbreak of borders splitting up families and friendships. The stakes are huge, and the feelings are bigger in this intimate work. Hiba Noor Khan brings real history into the lives of relatable teens, grounded in their realities.
After By Padraig Kenny
Machines have taken control, and everything’s gone sideways. Jen, a teen orphan, finds herself dodging AI rules and figuring out who she can trust in a cold, calculating world. With short chapters, fast pacing, and eerie vibes, this one reads like a blockbuster movie with a lot of heart.
The Tusks Of Extinction By Ray Nayler
Bringing mammoths back to life sounds cool until nature bites back. Who would have expected a combo of cloning and ethical gray areas packed into a surprisingly thoughtful thriller? Ray Nayler’s brainy, high-stakes plot keeps things intense but never preachy. You’ll be googling “de-extinction” before chapter three ends.
The Book Of Form And Emptiness By Ruth Ozeki
Ruth will have you following a boy who hears voices from objects. His grief talks back, literally. Almost cliche, right? But it’s much more quirky and profound—filled with talking books and a librarian who might be magic. Totally weird, but in that “makes-you-rethink-everything” kind of way.
The Serpent And The Wings Of Night By Carissa Broadbent
Oraya isn’t a warrior—she’s a human, raised by a vampire king. To survive, she enters a deadly tournament where betrayal lurks behind every sword swing. The novel nails slow-burn romance and adds serious bite to the battle scenes. It’s brutal and impossible not to binge once the fangs come out.
The Boy With Big Decisions By Helen Rutter
Finally, Fred’s got choices to make. School gives him the freedom his controlling parents never allowed, but every decision changes his story. This interactive book lets readers shape the plot as they go. The novel sneaks in lessons about independence without sounding preachy. Great for curious kids (and nostalgic adults).
The Rabbit Hutch By Tess Gunty
A weird little masterpiece set in a crumbling apartment complex in Indiana. The story weaves together oddball teen residents and spiritual longing. The book’s writing is sharp, poetic, and totally original. You certainly won’t forget Blandine, the fiercely intelligent girl at the center of it all.
A History Of Wild Places By Shea Ernshaw
In “A History of Wild Places,” a missing-person case leads into a mysterious, off-the-grid forest community with secrets buried under layers of eerie stillness. The storytelling is hypnotic, and the twists are cleverly subtle. It’s perfect for fans who like their thrillers dipped in strange beauty.
The Hollow Kind By Andy Davidson
Imagine mixing Southern Gothic with spine-prickling horror. You’d get so hooked on this plot, set on a cursed Georgia estate crawling with ancient evil. It’s creepy without being cliche, and Andy’s writing leans literary without losing the shivers. Think haunted woods and whispers in the dark you shouldn’t answer.
The Future Is Yours By Dan Frey
If Silicon Valley had a baby with “Black Mirror,” it would be the exact plot of this book. Two tech bros invent a computer that sees one year into the future. Their friendship frays as ambition and paranoia explode. Told in texts, transcripts, and emails—it’s a binge-worthy, format-breaking thrill ride.
The Taking Of Jake Livingston By Ryan Douglass
Ryan Douglass flips the haunted house script in this one. Jake sees ghosts, particularly one school shooter’s spirit who won’t let go. Between horror and social commentary, this book doesn’t pull punches. The pacing is tight, and the writing dares to go deeper than most YA thrillers.
An Unlasting Home By Mai Al-Nakib
This story shuffles between cultures, timelines, and histories with poetic clarity. It explores three generations of women across Kuwait, India, Lebanon, and the U.S. If you’ve been craving a smart, layered novel that handles identity and memory without sounding like a lecture, this is the one for you.
The Mimicking Of Known Successes By Malka Older
Who doesn’t love a classic Sherlock Holmes-style detective duo story? Only this time, it’s happening on Jupiter! There’s romance, sci-fi, and 19th-century vibes wrapped into one oddly satisfying novella. Come for the atmospheric world-building then stay for the slow-burn chemistry and vintage mystery feel with a futuristic twist.
The Children Of Red Peak By Craig DiLouie
Here, the author unpacks the trauma of surviving a cult—with a paranormal twist. Years later, survivors return to the site. What happened on the mountain still haunts them, literally and figuratively. There’s a lot of emotion in this one that’s unnatural and surprisingly philosophical. A perfect blend of horror and existential dread.