your comments on books are always so thoughtful, even if we sometimes have diff taste i enjoy listening to you anyway bc your warmth and enthusiasm is just good vibes
My under-hyped on Booktube book suggestion is Trust by Hernan Diaz. It just won the Pulitzer prize for Fiction so it definitely got hype but I don't understand why I never see anyone talking about it. I'm about 3/4s done with it and it's so amazing and inventive. The themes are what is truth which is definitely on theme for our times.
Never Coming Home was a great homage to Christie. Kate Williams did an excellent job in making the story her own while also acknowledging where the influence came from. I read it after your recommendation and loved it. Speaking of retellings, have you heard of "Liar's Beach" by Katie Cotugno? It's a new book that came out a few days ago and it's supposed to be a retelling of Mysterious Affair at Styles by Christie. For me, the book fell flat as the connection was thin at best but I would be curious to hear your thoughts on it.
Completely agree that Nekesa is severely under hyped. I loved Dead Dead Girls and Harlem Sunset and I cannot wait for A Lethal Lady to come out! Also this video just made me add, like, three books to my TBR. Lol. This is why it never gets shorter.
You totally hit the nail on the head with The Twyford Code - I actually had to switch to the audio because I found it really hard to read, I couldn’t keep up with the transcriptions. Audio really enhanced the reading experience!
I just finished the cutting season, and gave it 4.5 stars. I knocked off a partial star, because I could not figure out what was going on in the first chapter, I downloaded the audio, and continued on, reading and listening. It was great!
Great to hear about Dead Dead Girls as I've had my eye on it! I felt the same about the Conductors/the Undertakers by Nicole Glover in that it had such a great premise and I loved the characters and community it built and I really expected it to be big. Maybe it was the combination of historical and mystery and fantasy elements. I don't know but I loved them.
Yes the Last Cuentista needs more love and only halfway thru realm of the elderlings and I am VERY with you. Some of those low star reviews on goodreads send me into a spiral 😅
I loved The Twyford Code, I grew up reading Enid Blyton and so I knew exactly who this book was referencing. One thing to note I think the Appeal was marketed as somewhat cosy. But neither Twyford nor her new one The Mystery of the Alperton Angels are at all cozy. I've been recommending them to people who enjoy a Da Vinci Code vibe, that won't send you down the conspiracy theory drain. I read The Cutting Season and Like a Sister on your recommendation and really enjoyed both of them.
I agree the Fixer deserves much more hype. Along the same lines ish is Margot Mertz takes it down not so thrillery but I would say both those are perfect for Veronica Mars fans. The bone spindle by Leslie Vedder came out last year and it deserves more hype
Honey Phillips is a good time. I put her in the Dixon and Abel camp-smutty good time that's better written than you'd expect ☑. Never Coming Home and Dead Dead Girs are both on my TBR.
OTOH, I agreed with most of your choices. That said, I do think that some of your bookish circles must have fallen asleep. Mainly because The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy ran on nothing BUT hype for months! What I /did/ noticed was a large part of the folks (who had been anticipating it) being vocal about how disappointed they were after reading it. In any case, it's not a book that needs more hype Empire of Sand did very well with word of mouth. I remember folks talking about it up and down Main Street. Wasn't this Tasha Suri's breakthrough novel? If anything, I'd say that their subsequent works aren't mentioned as often as Empire of Sand was/has been. YMMV.
Added some new recs to my TBR! My underhyped rec would be Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou. It’s an absolutely delightful unhinged satire critiquing academia and cultural appropriation.
I'm scared to read JLB's backlist a la The Naturals cause i find that books published before 2016 tend to be either super problematic or have problematic undertones, but if you vouch for this series then I will pick it up 🤗
Agree with Janice Hallett. I really enjoyed The Appeal and am looking forward to her others! Meg is one of the only other booktubers I have heard talk about her
I keep trying to get past the VERY beginning of Empire of Sand but I’m stressed that the queen is going to do something terrible? I just need a little push lol.
Sistersong is SO GOOD! If you want another underhyped read-alike I would suggest Children of Gods and Fighting Men. It skews much more toward a political historical novel but there is magic involved.
I actually just soft dnf’d empire of sand. Now I’m considering picking it back up. Lol. I think it’s because I’m in the middle of a reread of the daevabad trilogy. So too many djinn in my life. I’ll pick it up again! ❤
Do you have to read anything before Blood of Dragons? I tried Assassins Apprentice and I did not enjoy it 🫢😩 but I loved her writing and want to give her another try
I just realised that you could have random wordplay with the 3 broad categories: OH (Overhyped), AH (Adequately Hyped) and UH (Under-hyped).
your comments on books are always so thoughtful, even if we sometimes have diff taste i enjoy listening to you anyway bc your warmth and enthusiasm is just good vibes
That is so kind, thank you!
My under-hyped on Booktube book suggestion is Trust by Hernan Diaz. It just won the Pulitzer prize for Fiction so it definitely got hype but I don't understand why I never see anyone talking about it. I'm about 3/4s done with it and it's so amazing and inventive. The themes are what is truth which is definitely on theme for our times.
oh ya? I've had some mild intrigue in it, but something keeps preventing me from picking it up.
I agree
Let’s get on the Underhyped Train with Mara! ALL ABOARD! 🔥
Never Coming Home was a great homage to Christie. Kate Williams did an excellent job in making the story her own while also acknowledging where the influence came from. I read it after your recommendation and loved it.
Speaking of retellings, have you heard of "Liar's Beach" by Katie Cotugno? It's a new book that came out a few days ago and it's supposed to be a retelling of Mysterious Affair at Styles by Christie. For me, the book fell flat as the connection was thin at best but I would be curious to hear your thoughts on it.
I haven't but I will for sure check that out!
I love how you recommend books so specificly! This video reminded me I need to pick up Tasha Suri's book soon
Completely agree that Nekesa is severely under hyped. I loved Dead Dead Girls and Harlem Sunset and I cannot wait for A Lethal Lady to come out!
Also this video just made me add, like, three books to my TBR. Lol. This is why it never gets shorter.
Great recommendations all, and I also love your hair! Have a great weekend💕
4:49 Somehow, the books that tell you to take it easy once in a while are not the ones selling like hotcakes.
You totally hit the nail on the head with The Twyford Code - I actually had to switch to the audio because I found it really hard to read, I couldn’t keep up with the transcriptions. Audio really enhanced the reading experience!
I'm glad to hear that! I didn't go that route but I wonder if I should have
I’m hyped for Blood of Dragons now! Live Ship was not for me but Farseer was a favorite, so I am anticipating the rest!
Adding some of these to my list and SCREAMING YESSSSS MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ BAD FAT BLACK GIRL!!!
1000000000%
The Fixer was on my tbr AGES ago (like at least 5+ years) but I took it off as I moved beyond YA. And now it's gotten put right back on.
I just finished the cutting season, and gave it 4.5 stars. I knocked off a partial star, because I could not figure out what was going on in the first chapter, I downloaded the audio, and continued on, reading and listening. It was great!
The couple at no.9 is such a good mystery/thriller but I am yet to see anyone talk about it.
I always love your videos! I get so many recommendations from you, whether you liked the book or not.
Just bought the audio of Undertaking Hart & Mercy on you rec, Mara. How have I not heard of this book before?!
Yay hope you enjoy it!
Great to hear about Dead Dead Girls as I've had my eye on it! I felt the same about the Conductors/the Undertakers by Nicole Glover in that it had such a great premise and I loved the characters and community it built and I really expected it to be big. Maybe it was the combination of historical and mystery and fantasy elements. I don't know but I loved them.
Yes the Last Cuentista needs more love and only halfway thru realm of the elderlings and I am VERY with you. Some of those low star reviews on goodreads send me into a spiral 😅
Omgggggggg sammmmeeee
@@bookslikewhoa like how is commentary on miscarriages melodramatic YA romance??? Make it make sense
I loved The Twyford Code, I grew up reading Enid Blyton and so I knew exactly who this book was referencing. One thing to note I think the Appeal was marketed as somewhat cosy. But neither Twyford nor her new one The Mystery of the Alperton Angels are at all cozy. I've been recommending them to people who enjoy a Da Vinci Code vibe, that won't send you down the conspiracy theory drain.
I read The Cutting Season and Like a Sister on your recommendation and really enjoyed both of them.
Just checked - Never Coming Home is on my TBR, will have to push it up
Yes! Rain Wild Chronicles is so Underhyped. Absolutely agree with you on this!
THE LOVE CON WAS SO GOOOD 😍
It so was and I just found out she has a new one coming out later this year!
I agree the Fixer deserves much more hype. Along the same lines ish is Margot Mertz takes it down not so thrillery but I would say both those are perfect for Veronica Mars fans.
The bone spindle by Leslie Vedder came out last year and it deserves more hype
Definitely agree with you on Dress Code and Never Coming Home.
Going to give Never Coming Home and The Twyford Code a try! Just finishing up The Liveship Traders so I guess Rainwild Chronicles is next?
you can go straight to Rainwild from Liveship or you can pick up with Fitz's story with Fool's Errand
Honey Phillips is a good time. I put her in the Dixon and Abel camp-smutty good time that's better written than you'd expect ☑. Never Coming Home and Dead Dead Girs are both on my TBR.
I absolutely loved The Love Con last year. You are so right! It deserves so much more hype. So great.
Enjoyed The Twyford Code.
I loved The Last Cuentista but wished it had 40-50 more pages since the ending felt rushed. Very dark for middle grade.
I totally agree about Empire of Sand! I was blown away when I read it :)
I got The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy recently on your rec so I hope I can join the hype train.
yay hope you enjoy!!
Yeees The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. Such a great book and definitely nowhere near enough hype. It was my favourite book of last year
Never Coming Home was so good. People To Follow that's coming out October is very similar...
ooo noted!
OTOH, I agreed with most of your choices.
That said, I do think that some of your bookish circles must have fallen asleep. Mainly because The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy ran on nothing BUT hype for months! What I /did/ noticed was a large part of the folks (who had been anticipating it) being vocal about how disappointed they were after reading it. In any case, it's not a book that needs more hype
Empire of Sand did very well with word of mouth. I remember folks talking about it up and down Main Street. Wasn't this Tasha Suri's breakthrough novel? If anything, I'd say that their subsequent works aren't mentioned as often as Empire of Sand was/has been. YMMV.
Added some new recs to my TBR! My underhyped rec would be Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou. It’s an absolutely delightful unhinged satire critiquing academia and cultural appropriation.
I'm scared to read JLB's backlist a la The Naturals cause i find that books published before 2016 tend to be either super problematic or have problematic undertones, but if you vouch for this series then I will pick it up 🤗
I don't remember any huge red flags but cavaet is that it's been a few years since I read so... I may just be forgetting!
Agree with Janice Hallett. I really enjoyed The Appeal and am looking forward to her others! Meg is one of the only other booktubers I have heard talk about her
Honey Phillips is going on my list!!!
I keep trying to get past the VERY beginning of Empire of Sand but I’m stressed that the queen is going to do something terrible? I just need a little push lol.
Keep pushing! It gets so so good!
Wow I’ve been out of touch and just discovered the new music!
Sistersong is SO GOOD! If you want another underhyped read-alike I would suggest Children of Gods and Fighting Men. It skews much more toward a political historical novel but there is magic involved.
Hard agree with the undertaking, my fav as well
I actually just soft dnf’d empire of sand. Now I’m considering picking it back up. Lol. I think it’s because I’m in the middle of a reread of the daevabad trilogy. So too many djinn in my life. I’ll pick it up again! ❤
I've had that problem before with books that are too samey
Another great video, thank you Mara.
You are so welcome!
100% agree, The Fixer is so much better than The Inheritance Games trilogy which I DNF'd the third book of
Yes, The Love Con!!!
yes, justice for the rain wild chronicles!
Love Never Coming Home!!!
The last cuentista gutted me it was so good
📚📚
Do you have to read anything before Blood of Dragons? I tried Assassins Apprentice and I did not enjoy it 🫢😩 but I loved her writing and want to give her another try
I think you do need to read the Liveship series before the Rainwild Chronicles so I'd recommend picking up Ship of Magic and go from there
@@bookslikewhoa will do thank you!