It can be kind of hard to wade through all of the popular and over-hyped books on the internet, so here are 14 books that have around 10,000 or less reviews on Goodreads that you might not have heard of!
Wylding Hall – Elizabeth Hand
The young members of a folk band decide to spend a few months in an old mansion, Wylding Hall, where they record an album that will come to make their reputation, but at a terrifying cost: the group’s lead singer disappears within the mansion and is never heard from again.
Years later, the group meets with a documentary filmmaker to discuss what actually happened all those years ago.
GENRE: Adult, Historical, Paranormal
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
Stay Another Day – Juno Dawson
In this young adult novel from Juno Dawson, we follow 3 siblings as they all head home for Christmas. It’s not long before secrets threaten to ruin their family Christmas.
Fern is bringing home her boyfriend.
Rowan would rather go out than spend time with his family.
And Willow is terrified of Christmas Day.
GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
The Empress – Gigi Griffiths
In the year 1853, 16-year-old Sisi of Bavaria’s sister, Helene, is preparing to marry Emperor Franz of Austria. Sisi believes she could never subject herself to a passionless arranged marriage. Until she meets Emperor Franz and he decides he’d rather marry her than her sister.
GENRE: Young Adult, Romance, Historical
BUY THE BOOK: bookshop.org
Uncoupling – Lorraine Brown
Hannah is travelling to Amsterdam with her boyfriend, but she accidentally ends up on the wrong carriage of her train which lands her stranded in Paris.
She meets Leo on the station platform and ends up spending the day with him exploring the city. He is everything her boyfriend isn’t and she soon finds herself questioning everything she knows about herself and her relationship.
GENRE: Adult, Romance
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
Welcome to Camp Killer – Cynthia Murphy
sAn American-style residential summer camp is set up in the grounds of an English stately home, and the teenage camp counselors can’t wait for a summer full of fun activities.
But as soon as the kids arrive, rumours begin to circulate of a tragedy that happened on the grounds and there are sightings of a ghostly presence.
And then the incidents begin. Someone almost drowns in the lake… and someone falls from a cliff and dies…
GENRE: Young Adult, Horror, Thriller
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
Make A Scene – Mimi Grace
Retta Majors has told her entire family that she has a handsome boyfriend that she’ll be taking to the wedding of her cousin and her ex. But he doesn’t exist.
Duncan has just opened up a boxing gym next to Retta’s bakery and she convinces him to be her fake date for the wedding. However, some flirting and shared kisses soon start to blur the lines in the relationship.
GENRE: Adult, Romance
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
Arch-conspirator – Veronica Roth
The Archive is where the genes of the dead are stored, and without the Archive humanity will end. Passing into the Archive is supposed to be a cause of celebration, but Antigone’s parents were killed, leaving her father’s throne vacant. Her militant uncle Kreon is attempting to take the throne, and when he invites Antigone and her siblings into his mansion, she soon realises that she is nothing more than a captive.
GENRE: Adult, Science Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
Ride With Me – Simone Soltani
Stella Baldwin is a famous baker that was just left at the altar and then went viral with a drunken rant.
Thomas Maxwell-Brown is one of the most-hated Formula 1 drivers.
They both end up at the same joint bachelor/bachelorette party in Las Vegas where they are extremely drunk and end up married. When the news comes out, they both agree it would be best for both of their reputations if they stay married and pretend they’re in love.
GENRE: Adult, Romance
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
Bite Risk – S.J. Wills
13-year-old Sel lives in the remote, isolated town of Tremorglade where once a month on the full moon kids lock up their parents while they transform into werewolves. Ever since the Disruption way before Sel was born, this has been the norm. But strange things start happening in Tremorglade – people are acting weird, there are mysterious drones emitting sickening sounds, and the werewolves have started escaping.
GENRE: Middle Grade, Paranormal, Mystery
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
The Odyssey – Lara Williams
Ingrid works in a gift shop on a luxury cruise ship and spends her days off aimlessly wandering around unfamiliar places and trying to distract herself from the life she left behind.
Until one day she’s chosen by the ship’s captain to be part of his mysterious mentorship program. She’s encouraged to reflect on past mistakes and then begins to be asked to do increasingly stranger things…
GENRE: Adult, Literary
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
Close Quarters – Kandi Steiner
Aspen is invited to be a photographer for the summer on the yacht her boyfriend works on. Their new boss is a billionaire and used to getting what he wants – and what he wants is Aspen.
GENRE: Adult, Romance
BUY THE BOOK: amazon
Dead Lake – Darcy Coates
Sam is suffering from a horrible artist’s block ahead of a major gallery exhibition, so she decides to spend a week at a remote cabin on a lake in a desperate attempt to force herself into painting a collection that could save her career.
But then she sees a strange man standing on the edge of her dock, staring into the water. Her car is disabled, her only communication with the outside world destroyed, and she’s just learned about a string of mysterious disappearances on a nearby hiking trail.
GENRE: Adult, Horror
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
Hex and the City – Kate Johnson
Poppy is a witch with magical hair that lives next to Highgate cemetery and works at a magic shop in Covent Garden. One day she accidentally (and drunkenly) curses a pendant at the shop and sells it to gorgeous celebrity magician, Axl Storm. Poppy needs to find Axl and stop the curse before all hell breaks loose.
GENRE: Adult, Romance, Paranormal
BUY THE BOOK: amazon | bookshop.org
The Upper World – Femi Faduga
During the worst week of Esso’s life, an accident knocks him into a place beyond space and time where he can see glimpses of the future. But if what he saw was right, he must change the course of history if he wants to live.
15 years later, Rhia’s past is filled with questions, and she’s just been assigned a new tutor. Turns out Dr. Esso isn’t here randomly and he needs her help.
GENRE: Young Adult, Science Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: amazon
