10 Lesser Known Books I Love

A collection of lesser known books you may not have heard of before!

I first saw the topic of picking lesser known books as part of a book blogging challenge. The official criteria was anything with fewer then 2000 ratings on Goodreads. I had no idea how difficult it would be to find these lesser known books that were actually worth reading!

Since I’m all about giving helpful book recommendations, I didn’t want to include lesser known books that simply met the criteria. I wanted to include ones that were great reads too.

So, I bumped the number up to 5,000 ratings. Thankfully Goodreads keeps track of these things! I originally published this list back in 2019, so I’m hoping these books’ ratings will increase as time goes on. However, they still most likely haven’t been on your radar!

When I examined my list of books that had less than 5,000 ratings, I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent number that now met the criteria. Thankfully there were enough books I truly enjoyed reading that I still had to narrow it down to only my top ten. These lesser known books I love range from chick lit to literary fiction to nonfiction to young adult. And if you end up reading any, do the author a favor and go leave a review on Goodreads : )

 

*Disclosure – I earn a small commission for any items purchased through the links above at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this blog!

 

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay

Madeline’s life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly inherits a small town bookstore after the death of a family member. Over time, as she prepares the store for sale, she gets to know the two women who work there and looks at her own stressful, high-power lawyer life with a new perspective.

I enjoyed this for the glimpses behind the scenes of running a bookshop and the themes of faith, hope, and forgiveness weaved throughout. | Amazon

 

 

 

 

A Storied Life by Leigh Kramer

I discovered Leigh’s book blog a few years ago and I’ve been a devoted follower ever since. When she announced she was writing a novel, I was thrilled to be selected as part of her launch team!

A Storied Life is about Olivia, an art gallery owner who’s been tasked with managing her beloved grandmother’s end of life care. She deals with navigating family drama, a new relationship, and her own emotional response to these last moments with her grandmother. | Amazon

 

 

 

 

Where Hope Begins by Catherine West

I signed up for this book tour and was pleasantly surprised when I couldn’t stop reading! It’s a Christian fiction story about a wife on the precipice of divorce who’s trying to rebuild her life.

Savannah is a truly authentic character and I empathized with her actions, emotions, and faith in a way I never expected. | Amazon | BookOutlet

 

 

 

 

 

Nabakov’s Favorite Word is Mauve by Ben Blatt

This nonfiction analysis of books and reading is undeniably fascinating. Blatt presents interesting conclusions in an easy to understand narrative about our favorite classic and modern books and authors. Some of the highlights were discussions about authors’ use of adverbs, cliches, and unique words. | Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

I’m a sucker for Sophie Kinsella and her latest met all my expectations. Fixie can’t help attempting to solve everyone else’s problems, but she’s constantly struggling to stand up to her own family. When a childhood crush comes back into her life, she’s left wondering why she keeps thinking about a chance encounter with a stranger who now owes her a favor. | Amazon

 

 

 

 

If you’re looking for the opposite situation, check out my list of popular books that live up to the hype!!

 

Snapdragon by Kilby Blades

This was a rare foray into romance for me, but I actually thoroughly enjoyed the story! Darby and Michael are workaholics who set simple ground rules for their physical relationship. Of course, these things never go to plan and it slowly turns in to a real connection. | Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

Love? Maybe by Heather Hepler

I stumbled on Heather Hepler while browsing the Young Adult section at my library. I devoured this one in just two days. It’s the perfect YA read with teenage drama and a sweet love story. I also included Heather’s other cute YA novel in my list of fiction books for foodies! | Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy

I honestly was nervous before reading this because I thought it would be an impossible task to live up to the Anne of Green Gables series. Thankfully Sarah McCoy is an incredible writer and captures the spirit of Green Gables completely.

I loved reading about Marilla’s history and how she became the woman we know when she adopts Anne. This is a must-read for fans of the series. | Amazon | BookOutlet

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan

Return to the remote Scottish island we first visited in The Cafe by the Sea for an enchanting Christmas season. Of course, life on the island for Flora gets a lot more complicated when she finds out she’s pregnant!

Meanwhile her best friend continues to pine over the refugee doctor who’s focused on making the best decisions for his kids. I loved getting back into the setting and characters! | Amazon | BookOutlet

 

 

 

 

The Problem of God by Mark Clark

My pastor challenged us recently to become more informed about our faith and able to intelligently answer the tough questions. Mark does a terrific job approaching Christianity from a logical, factual perspective and breaks down his arguments into popular topics such as religion and science, the historical accuracy of the Bible, and proving the existence of God. | Amazon

 

 

 

 

What are some of your favorite lesser known books?