THE QUEST FOR UNDERRATED BOOKS

Today we're kicking off the quest to find underrated books that deserve more love!

SC // jessethereader

Thanks for all your support!

[jeszjade]

I think this is such a refreshing idea to see someone bring some unpopular books to light and talk about them, even if you didn’t particularly loved them. I’m certanly looking for more of this type of content!

[PokhrajRoy.]

It’s nice to see underrated book recommendations. I feel like a basic b***h sometimes when recommending books.

[LaurenReads]

The way Jessi puts emphasis on the word book every time he says it

[sdg]

I love this concept! Hopefully future quests are more fruitful for you.

[Ariana.]

Jesse I love your clothing style and how you make it match your books also your bookshelf is beautiful!

[struddles]

I totally recommend The Prince's Poisoned Vow by Hailey Turner. It's a fantasy steampunk novel set in a world plagued by zombie-like monsters with some of the most incredible worldbuilding I've seen. It can be a little bit dense to get through the beginning because of the number of characters introduced, but it all pays off so beautifully. It came out last year and somehow only has just over 700 ratings on Goodreads, so I would love for it to get more of the attention it deserves!

[LadyReader]

this is my moment to recommend Where our Closure Begins by Alex M. Nájera, it was self published this year and it's sooo amazing, it brings out the question of if you really need closure after something bad happened in your life and you are fine now, plus the MC is bisexual and it has a family that needs healing and URGH SUCH AN UNDERRATED STORY 😭😭😭😭

[DrRedPanda]

I recommend A Door in the Dark for a future underrated books video. This is my favorite book this year. A YA Fantasy, A Deadly Education meets One of Us is Lying. Absolutely freakin loved it!

[amandareppenhagen]

Shield and the Shadow by A.M. Yates(curently has 60 ratings on goodreads) is an interesting one, I honestly dont remember much of it but i enjoyed it when I first read it years ago.

[meozones]

I'm sorry to see you didn't find an outstanding book this video, but I really liked watching you trying out different underrated books. Hope you find an amazing underrated book in the future! An underrated (?) book I quite enjoyed is The Noh Family by Grace K Shim (it has about 1000 ratings on goodreads currently). that book reminded me a little bit of Tokyo Ever After

[armanbeerdhindsa]

Loved the concept of this video and would want more personally, intriguing when you said a youtube series just on that. These are some of my recommendations:
1. The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Karuna Ezara Parikh
Personally being an Indian I really liked the premise of the book and characters with their individual struggles. A lyrical read if you are in a mood for that.
2. Threads that bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
This is my most recent read and a latest release which has less ratings than 1000 rn but I feel is underrated. It is a fantasy story set in a sinking city within a dystopian world. Absolute fun with mystery elements.
3. Journey through fire by Maya Snow
Oh what an amazing Historical magical story, this book reached me after a long way through multiple hands but it's a page turner. Whole series is though and so much mystery. This is really underrated.

[annikaringbooks]

I highly recommend Stateless by Elizabeth Wein (576 ratings)! I had such a fun time reading it! It’s pretty new, so I guess it’s hard to classify as underrated already but I definitely think more people should read it.

[ifloatupwards]

A good underrated/ not very well known YA Fantasy series that I found back in the day was The Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan. Found her when she was publishing independently.

[rebekahpolanco]

My recommendation would be Empty Places by Kathy Cannon Wiechman (110 ratings on GR). It follows a girl, Adabel and her family in 1932. At the center we're exploring their mother's disappearance and Adabel grappling with why she can't remember things everyone else does. It really dives into the family dynamic, the quest to remember what was forgotten, and how you can love someone but not want to be with them.

[gabriellabatel]

I LOVE seeing you react to books, Jesse! I REALLY hope that you do make this into a series; I could watch this all day!

If you choose to keep doing them, and if you still want recommendations, maybe you could try Don't by Gabriella Batel (Yes, I know that's me XD), The Blood Race by K.A. Emmons, or Chasing Liberty by Theresa Linden?

[mandiconnell]

Love this concept, I think social media has made me desperate for underrated book recs! Also this one is, um, a bit over 1000 reviews but I never hear anyone talk about it and it’s such a unique, fun book. It’s Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones.

[Echo_Of_Artists]

An underrated series that I have been reading and enjoying is the Oracle series by C. W. Trisef. It is a children/YA series and the first one is a little confusing as you’re getting used to the world but the series as a whole is pretty enjoyable. I would explain it as a mix between Avatar the last air bender and a Jules Verne novel, the author has also said he took some inspiration from watching Duck Tales as a kid. So if you like any of those maybe give this series a try?!

[AnaMoShoshin]

This was fun! I would love to see another in this series and a convo about star ratings!

[mintthemuffin]

This is so interesting! I looked at my goodread shelf and realized I barely read books with less than 500 ratings. The only one I read in the past year is The Notorious Pagan Jones by Nina Berry. It's kind of a historical, spy thriller, young adult fiction. Not a favorite by any means, but it's quite fun.

[r_loretta]

Please tell me you know the Holver Alley Crew is one of 4 intertwining series? There is the Maradaine which starts with The Thorn of Dentonhill. Then there is The Maradaine Constabulary starting with A Murder of Mages. Then there is The Streets of Maradaine which starts with The Holver Alley Crew. And lastly, there is The Maradaine Elite starting with The Way of the Shield. The People of the City which is the third book of the Maradaine Elite is a culmination of all the series and books. Kinda like what the first Avengers movie was for the MCU.