Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Hidden Gems

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week there is a new topic for bloggers to choose and list their top ten. This week’s theme is Top Ten Hidden Gems.

As someone who all too often gets swept away by the hype when it comes to popular and highly anticipated releases this isn’t the best topic for me, but looking through my Goodreads read list I discovered I have read a few books which I’m surprised aren’t more popular than they are. In my opinion these are all amazing books, books I’d eagerly recommend (and in some cases have recommended to so many people already).

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Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

I’m really surprised I’m able to feature this one on my list (although maybe the fact that it hasn’t been released that long is counting against it). Sea Witch seemed really hyped up in the run up to its release but since then I’ve heard nothing about it, which is a shame because it’s a brilliant fairytale retelling with an incredible female friendship. What more could you want from a book?

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A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland

Magical realism does seem to be a hidden gem of a genre, but A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares deserves so much more attention than it has at the moment. This was such a beautiful read; I fell in love with the story and Krystal Sutherland’s writing, with the characters and their relationships with one another, especially the family relationships.

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The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

Although Half Lost emotionally destroyed me I loved Sally Green’s debut series so I was really excited for the release of The Smoke Thieves. Granted it wasn’t perfect, but it was an enjoyable read which set up a solid world with solid characters and a solid plot I’m sure will be built on in book two.

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Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

I discovered this book thanks to Marie’s review and I’m glad I decided to add it to my TBR list. Always Never Yours is a typical YA contemporary story, but it’s perfect when you want something sweet and fluffy to waste an afternoon with. Also an added bonus is that Megan is one of the best YA main characters I’ve read in a while.

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The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Steven

Why isn’t this book more popular? The Exact Opposite of Okay is a powerful story with an important message about slut shaming and revenge porn within its pages. Izzy is an incredible main character as well; the growth she goes through and she everything she faces in this book is inspiring to read.

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Moonrise by Sarah Crossan

I don’t normally read books told solely in prose, so the fact that Moonrise made my list this week speaks volumes. For a book told in poems it packs a very strong emotional punch, and even though it was a quick read it ended up being a story that stayed with me for a long time after I’d finished it.

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The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

The blurb for The Loneliest Girl in the Universe is very misleading. I went into it expecting one thing only for Lauren James to completely pull the rug out from under my feet about halfway through. I was on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded, and this is a book I’d definitely recommend, even if the blurb doesn’t make it sound like your kind of book.

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The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

The Last Magician pretty much has everything I love in books; epic heists, time travel, plot twists. It’s an engaging story which I couldn’t put down and after the way it ended I can’t wait to get my hands on book two. Basically if you like heist books like Six of Crows give this one a read as well.

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Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Another time travel book which made it on my list this week. I am a huge fan of Ryan Graudin, I loved her Wolf by Wolf series and when I read the blurb for Invictus I knew it was a book I needed in my life. It’s amazing, the concept is well thought out and executed and I was hooked from beginning to end.

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The Mermaid by Christina Henry

The Mermaid is the only book on this list I haven’t read yet, but it’s one I know I’m going to love so it gets an honorary place. Christina Henry is an amazing author, all of her fairytale retellings have been favourites of mine, dark and gruesome favourites, and I know The Mermaid is going to be more of the same.

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So what do you think? Did you take part in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, if so let me know what hidden gems you’ve read and loved? Would any of the books I featured make your list, or if this post was the first time you heard of some of them have you now decided to add any to your TBR list?