lou's library

Sometimes it can feel like the same five books keep being recommended over and over again on booktok, bookstagram and booktube. Sure, The Secret History is a great book (actually, I have mixed feelings about it but that’s a blog post for another day…) and so is The Song Of Achilles (that book does have my heart <3333) but there are plenty of books that I hardly ever see being mentioned online that I would very much like to shove into everyone and their Granny’s hands. So here are my favourite underrated books!

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Am I on a secret mission to sneak a Maggie O’Farrell book into every single blog post? Possible. BUT FOR GOOD REASON!! Her writing is immersive and devastating in a way I find to be unique. And while Hamnet was all the rage a few years ago (rightly so, that book is amazing and the adaptation starring Paul Mescal as Shakespeare will be the death of me), I didn’t see The Marriage Portrait get nearly as much praise when it was released last year. And I don’t understand why, as I liked it even more than Hamnet. It’s a historical novel set in 16th century Italy and centres on a young woman trying to keep her husband from murdering her (not a spoiler, that’s literally how the book starts). I’m a bit of a sucker for historical books set in Italy, but even if I wasn’t, this would still have been an outstanding read. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and my god, was I rooting for the protagonist. It’s gripping and emotional and beautifully written. Maggie O’Farrell, I’ll gladly let you rip my heart out anytime.

A Good Neigbourhood by Therese Anne Fowler

Leena Norms recommended this book on her Youtube channel a few years ago and it’s literally the only time I’ve ever come across this novel. Set in contemporary North Carolina, it focuses on two families and how their lives intertwine. In a way, it’s a story of young love, but it’s also so much more than that. Do look up the trigger warnings before diving into this, as the themes in this book are quite heavy. What I liked most about this novel is how it explores themes prevalent in 21st century America with such nuance. It shone a light on the complexities of modern life, and I found myself unable to stop reading. It’s not an easy read due to its emotional depth and topic matter, but it’s worth it and I don’t understand why this book hasn’t blown up on social media yet.

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

Can a classic really be underrated? Maybe not, but considering the amount of hype the shitshow of a novel that is Wuthering Heights is getting, I do think Agnes Grey (and Anne Brontë, for that matter), is being criminally ignored by the contemporary reading community. It might not have a toxic relationship with two lovers hell-bent on destroying each other (looking at you, Heathcliff and Cathy), but I dare say that’s not exactly an argument against its high quality. It revolves around the kind of topics that books by women written in the 19th century revolved around – their social position, marriage prospects and future. But Anne is a kind, passionate and engaging protagonist and we get to watch her grow up into her own person in a way I found to be incredibly moving. So, if you wanna jump on the band wagon and become a Brontë obsessed girlie, I suggest you turn towards the much-overlook Anne.

Arcadia by Iain Pears

If you’re after an adventure story spanning multiple characters and timelines that will leave your head spinning and your heart wanting more, then look no further than Arcadia by Iain Pears. I had a whole uni seminar on this book and honestly think we could’ve continued on with it for another semester, there’s so much to unpack in this one. Going into it knowing nothing is best, so I won’t get into its plot too much. But think of Tolkienesque English countryside, multiple worlds to get lost in and incredible storytelling. There’s even an app that lets you experience the story in different ways. The ambitious nature of the novel and complex storytelling mean that not everything can be explored or explained, which sometimes left me frustrated as I wanted to know more about the worlds the author created. But maybe that simply means it’s time for a sequel???

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

I’ve recommended this book a few times in different blog posts and will continue to do so until the world finally stops sleeping on this masterpiece. It retells the story of Romeo and Juliet from Rosaline’s perspective (the poor soul Romeo dumped the second he saw Juliet, in case you forgot. Which could easily happen, as she’s hardly mentioned atfer that in the original. RUDE.) Do you absolutely have to have read Romeo and Juliet to be able to read Fair Rosaline? Nope. I think it’s more fun if you have, but as long as you know the basics of the story (and who doesn’t?), you’ll be fine. You’ll see it all unfold in the novel, anyway. I loved this for its passionate and dedicated retelling of what is probably the best known story in the world. Every page shines with love for the original, and yet the author was brave enough to change aspects when it suited their own story. It made me ask questions that never occured to me when reading Shakespeare’s play. And it made me realise what a useless fool Romeo is (sorry dude, but Juliet deserved so much better). Reading this was simply so much fun. Read this, especially if you’re intimated by Shakespeare or feel like you can’t get into his writing. This is a wonderful entry point that will hopefully make you realise there’s nothing to fear and a lot to gain from engaging with his texts.

Okay, over to you! Which books are we all totally sleeping on that we should get around to reading immediately??