Every year I read books I loved, but that seemed to go under-the-radar for most people. Yes, reading is a very personal endeavor and what is 5 stars for me may not be 5 stars for you, but I’ve got 7 underrated gems I read this year that I’m almost evangelical about—I loved them that much. So, I’m spreading that love in the hopes that you might discover your next great read today. Also, if you have a book nerd in your life (lucky you!), one of these could be the perfect gift.
To those of you who have been here awhile it won’t come as any surprise that all of these novels are about women—from raucous girls to wise crones. I only realized there was a progression as I started compiling this list, but all of these females brought me insight, pain, awe, laughter, and hope.
(Titles link to my full review)
The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam
Published by Scribner
Publication date: July 13, 2021
Bookshop
A script flipping tech novel, The Startup Wife by Tamima Anam explores a husband-wife duo who create a new app to help people personalize traditional rituals (marriage, bar mitzvah, new baby, graduation). She’s the coder and designer, he’s the reluctant face of the brand. Until he’s not. Wonderful exploration of modern technology, marriage, and gender roles.
Voices from the Pandemic: Americans Tell Their Stories of Crisis, Courage and Resilience by Eli Saslow
Published by Doubleday Books
Publication date: September 28, 2021
Bookshop
For some, it may be too soon to read this book, but I say not soon enough. This oral history of COVID in America was shocking, heartbreaking, and infuriating. Written by a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Voices from the Pandemic presents the many sides to people’s responses across the country.
Songbirds by Christy Lefteri
Published by Ballantine Books
Publication date: August 3, 2021
Bookshop
Songbirds was my first foray into fiction about Cyprus. When a woman’s Sri Lankan housekeeper goes missing it forces her to face truths about aspects of life on the island she’d never considered. Haunting, thought-provoking, timely.
Fight Night by Miriam Toews
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: October 5, 2021
Bookshop
Setting aside one of my most disliked covers in years, I loved everything else about Fight Night. The story of a scrappy 9-year-old Swiv and her ebullient grandmother it plays the difficult issues of school suspension, a long-gone father, and health issues off against determination, humor, and a gruff tenderness. Easily one of my favorite novels of the year.
The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
Published by Gallery Books
Publication date: August 3, 2021
Bookshop
If Swiv hadn’t had such strong women in her life she might have ended up like April, the 16-year-old school dropout in The People We Keep. Her life was a map to nowhere so she runs away. A piercing novel of one young woman’s search for the home she never had.
Zorrie by Laird Hunt
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: February 9, 2021
Bookshop
Zorrie is 21 and homeless. Unlike The People We Keep, which is set in the present day this is the Depression and millions face the same fate. Zorrie is not a dark novel, but a brief (176 pages), beautiful, quiet story of the life one young woman carves out for herself. If you love Kent Haruf’s writing (as I do) then this is a must read.
Margreete's Harbor by Eleanor Morse
Published by St. Martin's Press
Publication date: April 20, 2021
Bookshop
Rounding out my women’s journeys novels is Margreete’s Harbor. When the fiercely independent Margreete accidentally sets her kitchen on fire her daughter realizes she needs help. She and her family move in, bringing 3 generations together under one roof. That alone, plus the times (1970s), make for a poignant saga.
That’s it for me. How about you? Any books you loved this year that you felt were underrated?
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*I received free copies of these books from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.*
Here are a few books that I read this year that I think deserve more attention and are all solid 4 star books for me: “Fresh Water for Flowers” by Valerie Perrin, “The Night Always Comes” by Willy Vlautin, “Moringside Heights” by Joshua Henkin, and “At the Edge of the Haight” by Katherine Seligman.
I thought Fresh Water was interesting as well. I haven’t heard of the Seligman novel but just looked it up on Goodreads and am adding it to my TBR. Thank you!
Hi Catherine! What informative and beautifully written reviews. Some of these books weren’t on my TBR, until now. You’ve especially made me reconsider Fight Night, and I agree about the US cover; the UK/Canadian cover is much more enticing and palatable.
Thank you so much! I completely agree- the UK and Canadian covers are often better than the U.S. I wonder why?
Essentially all of my 5* books this year are definitely on everyone’s radar, apparently for good reason:
Braiding Sweetgrass
Girl, Woman, Other
The One Hundred Years of Leni and Margot
Homegoing
The Nickel Boys
Zikora
Some older ones that I read this year are also 5*:
The Year of Magical Thinking
Watership Down
Being Mortal
I had Braiding from the library but it was a 2 week checkout and I couldn’t get to it in time. I’ve heard it’s marvelous.
I tried Homegoing but gave up. I feel as if I need to give it another go. Concentration is a real issue these days.
I have not read these though I started Fight Night on audio … and put it down. I think I’d like to re-try it in print. I’m still interested to read the Startup Wife. I guess I thought Who is Maud Dixon … was good crazy fun this year … and a Canadian novel called Petra should have had more readers …. as well as A Calling for Charlie Barnes ….
I could see it being tough on audio, but let me know what you think if you try the print.
I need to read Maud Dixon- adding to TBR now.
What a good list! Songbirds is on my TBR for next year.
I really enjoyed Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland. The story revolves around two multi-generation families who have a reunion to decide the plight of The Golden Hotel in the Catskills Mountains. The hotel is like the one featured in Dirty Dancing, but has lost its popularity through the years. They need to decide whether to spend money for renovations or sell. Lots of humor and family drama in this one. It really was a great summer read. I don’t know why it didn’t get more attention.
That sounds so good! We went to a place like that in Canada when we were really little. More rustic- cabins etc. But it was so much fun.