Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by
That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...
Hidden Gems!
You know I love those hidden gems! Those little books, which quietly entered my life, and left a big impression. My list is made up of some of the gems I have uncovered in the past year or so. They have a low number of Goodreads reviews, but lots of love from
The Art of Feeling
Laura Tims
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.09/561
Publisher: HarperTeen
There were so many things I loved about this book. The way Tims contrasted feeling and not feeling, while Sam was working through her grief. And Eliot! I absolutely loved him. I laughed, I cried, but mostly, I enjoyed this book.
Speak Easy, Speak Love
McKelle George
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.18/671
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
This was such a brilliant retelling! The time period George selected was extremely interested, and the story was packed with fantastic characters. I had such a great time reading this one.
A Messy, Beautiful Life
Sara Jade Alan
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.18/173
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Another tissue worthy book, but it wasn't all sadness and tears. The focus on family, friendships, and improv kept this one from getting too heavy, and I was totally in love with Ellie and rooting for her.
Flight Season
Marie Marquardt
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.17/368
Publisher: Wednesday Books
I adore Marquardt's books, and this was another fabulous one by her. The writing was beautiful, the characters were worth caring about, and it was painfully beautiful in the best way.
In Search of Us
Ava Dellaira
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.09/868
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Dellaira had my heart breaking with this book. Marilyn's love story captured my heart, and although it was tragic, it was also terribly beautiful. I had a feelsplosion when I read this book.
Going Places
Kathryn Berla
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.03/177
Publisher: Amberjack Publishing
Berla's books always make me happy. Another book filled with love and loss, but also wonderful characters, who popped off the page. I loved being a part of Hudson's journey as he found his way.
The Secrets We Bury
Stacie Ramey
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 3.9/87
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
More grief and loss here, but also an incredible journey through the Appalachian Trail. This was a physical and emotional journey for Dylan, and I enjoyed seeing him conquer his issues as he conquered the trail.
Sneaking Out
Chuck Vance
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.08/53
Publisher: Dunemere Books
I always love a boarding school book, and this one featured a protagonist with an intriguing backstory and a great mystery. I am keeping my fingers crossed for more of Luke's adventures, because I really enjoyed his first.
The Pros of Cons
Alison Cherry, Lindsay Ribar, Michelle Schusterman
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.17/283
Publisher: Scholastic
What a fun and lovely book about friendship! All the cons featured in the book were awesome, and I loved the way the three stories were woven together.
Love and Other Alien Experiences
Kerry Winfrey
Average Rating/Number of Ratings: 3.91/283
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
I sort of loved everything about this book. Great family interactions, cute romance, and nerd culture contributed greatly to my enjoyment, but this book was also very fun and touching.
What are some of your favorite hidden gems?
Let us know in the comments!
These are definitely hidden gems, Sam, I haven't even heard of a single one. I love these kinds of posts, because those books that don't get all the hype can be the very best!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :)
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
I think they all YA, but really great
Deleteoooh, Sam! Loving the list -- The Pros of Cons tickles my fancy as does Speak Easy Speak Love.
ReplyDeleteBoth were really fun and featured great females and female friendships
DeleteThis is such a great list of hidden gems, Sam. I can't believe I haven't read Speak Easy, Speak Love. Shakespearean retellings always steal my heart.
ReplyDeleteHappy readings! ;)
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
It was done so well too! The 20s was a great time period to utilize
DeleteYeah, I've heard a lot of good things about Flight Season. Really ought to read it myself one of these days. :)
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I really enjoyed all Marquardt's books
DeleteSo of course unsurprisingly I haven't read most of these but I LOVED The Art of Feeling!! Definitely one of my favourites and I 'm annoyed I forgot to put it on my list this week.😂But gah I have the worst memory honestly. I'm off to look up Flight Season now, eep, it sounds so good.
ReplyDeleteThe Art of Feeling remains a stand out for me. it was such a lovely family drama, and like I said, Eliot ❤
DeleteI still have to read Speak Easy, Speak Love. That was one book I was so excited for that I never got around to. Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteIt was really great! I hope you get a chance to read it
DeleteI love hidden gems too. Never find enough of those surprising, I love this, books.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I think, because I read a lot, I take more chances on books, and it has paid off many, many times
DeleteI really need to read Speak Easy, Speak Love. There is something about it that really speaks to me. Thank you for reminding me Flight Season. Still need to pick that one up.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to read Flight Season. It was such a wonderful exploration of grief and connection
DeleteI absolutely love the cover for "Going Places" it really jumps out at me. I haven't read anything else by that author and it's definitely one I want to check out. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI read two books by Berla, and really loved them both.
DeleteI love Marie Marquardt and Stacie Ramey, but I haven't read either of these yet - I'm so behind on books! Definitely have to fix that. Here's my TTT.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Radius if Us and was looking forward to more from Marquardt, but Secrets was my first Ramey book, and I couldn't believe how much I loved it
DeleteOoh nice! Lots of new to me ones there! Pretty much all of them!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Thanks!
DeleteI love these hidden gems posts! So many books to discover. Thanks fro the recs sam! Sophie @bewareofthereader
ReplyDeleteI like having the opportunity to fangirl over those lesser known books
DeleteSo I haven't read any of these! There are a few on my wishlist ( In Search of Us & The Art of Feeling) but I think I need to add some of the others. Thanks for sharing - love hidden gems :)
ReplyDeleteBoth of those were amazing. I hope you get to them!
DeleteFlight Season and Sneaking Out both look like books I might like.
ReplyDeleteBoth were wonderful. I think you would especially like Sneaking Out, because it has that mystery element.
DeleteI need to get back to reading more YA. I feel like I’m missing out on a lot of stuff. The Art Of Feeling is on my TBR list, though. Thanks for sharing these books!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
The whole contrasting of physical and emotional pain was pretty brilliant, and the emotions! Loved that book so much.
DeleteI've only heard of one of these - Speak Easy, Speak Love - and I want to try it. Thanks for visiting my blog earlier.
ReplyDeleteSpeak Easy was fabulous. I loved the characters, the time period, and the way George told the story. No regrets.
DeleteI've been looking at the Pros of Cons at the library... I'll have to pick it up on my next visit.
ReplyDeleteIt was so much fun. At first, the three stories are separate, but they come together in such a hilarious way, and the friendship formed between the three was really special.
DeleteI've never heard of SNEAKING OUT, but it sounds like something I'd like. I also love the boarding school books-- and mysteries are definitely my jam. Nice list!
ReplyDeleteThis one snuck up on me, because though I love boarding schools, I mostly read fluffy contemporaries. I really liked the backstory Vance gave to his MC, and it was just a great read for me.
DeleteI haven't heard of any of these but they sound like great reads! There are so many books that are SO good that deserve a bigger audience :)
ReplyDeleteThey are VERY hidden gems.😂
DeleteI almost put Speak Easy, Speak Love on my list too. That one is definitely a book that needs more love. All the rest of these are on my TBR. :)
ReplyDeleteRight? That book was so great, and I feel like it could appeal to a lot of different readers.
DeleteQuite a few of these are on my TBR, actually! Definitely need to read Speak Easy, Speak Love, The Art of Feeling, and The Pros of Cons! They look so good! And of course, I agree about In Search of Us! Great choices!!
ReplyDeleteSpeak Easy had such a great heroine. In fact, all the females in that book were pretty special. I hope you get to read some of these, because I loved them all so much.
DeleteThis is such a fantastic list - In Search of Us is such a gem, I agree. I fell in love with both stories there, but Marilyn's story just broke my heat and gave me all of the feelings. I loved it so, very very very much <3 Will have to check out some of the other books you mentioned! :D <3
ReplyDeleteHere come the tears, because I am thinking about Marilyn and James. </3
DeleteI haven't heard of any of these...and that's why I love this topic! It's great to hear about all of these new books!
ReplyDeleteI am finding most of my books are super, stealth hidden gems, but at least one of them was featured by another blogger this week.
DeleteSo much yes to The Pros of Cons and Speak Easy! I absolutely loved those books, but they almost never get any sort of traction or hype - and they are totally deserving of it. Wonderful picks, and I think I need to check out more of these! :)
ReplyDeleteI think I saw Speak Easy around more than Pros, but neither got as much love as they deserved.
Delete