Books, books and more books! Have you noticed how even our most offline habits today are heavily influenced by digital media? Between clicks and screens, since the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in literary content on social media.
However, from viral recommendations on booktok, “must-read” lists on Instagram to algorithm-driven trends flooding our timelines, our bookshelves are often filled with the “same old thing.” The same authors, the same themes, and even the same “lack of personality” hide behind the most hyped books.
So, if it has so many likes and views, it must be good, right? Then off we go — like little ducklings in a pond, “going with the flow.” I don’t know about you, but I love discovering something new and unknown, the kind of thing no one ever talks about. And honestly, when was the last time we walked into a bookstore and actually had the true experience of exploring the literary world offline?
We’ve become blinded by all these trends and the belief that if something goes viral, it must be good, so I want it. But, what if we tried to go beyond the obvious?
It’s in this spirit that we’ve put together a list of five titles to take you past the hype — and perhaps remind you of the magic in exploring stories no one else talks about.
1. MISFIT (2022) – Elle Kennedy
From the same author as the hit Off Campus series, we have MISFIT! A teen romance that goes beyond a simple cliché, offering different points of view and an unanswered mystery that lingers in the minds of the Trescott sisters.
In Sandover Prep, we meet RJ Shaw, a suburban boy who ends up at an elite school for troubled boys. A classic rebellious lone wolf, with no intention of forming bonds or friendships, he never expected to immediately cross paths with one of the campus’s “forbidden fruits”, Sloane Trescott, the headmaster’s daughter.
Filled with secrets, dramas, and layers beyond the surface, in MISFIT, romance isn’t the only thing that captivates and engages, but a traumatic accident has haunted the Trescotts’ dreams since the previous year. Without answers, they try everything to return to their normal lives, but the event keeps resurfacing in relentless flashbacks. And now, will RJ Shaw, in addition to winning the girl’s heart, be able to get the answers Sloane so desperately wants?
With different and engaging POVs, Elle Kennedy delivers a story where love and trust aren’t the only things at stake, but how real connections can change people and transform the way they see life.
“‘— Are these feelings more important than people?’ That simple question feels like a punch in the gut. She’s right. Are anger, jealousy, and shame more important to me than Sloane? These emotions will fade, and I’ll feel relieved to let go of them. But people…” (Misfit, p. 320)
2. What You Are Looking for is in the Library (2023) – Michiko Aoyama
Hidden within a simple library in the heart of Tokyo, secrets lie quietly among the shelves — holding far more than just books. Perhaps they even carry answers to the questions we ask about our own lives.
A sweet and comforting read, this story surprises with the number of intertwined lives woven through its pages. Encouraging us to look at the world differently, it reminds us that the people around us are also protagonists of their own stories and maybe, from time to time, they’re more connected to our lives than we think.
Real problems, real people, and within a seemingly ordinary book, the answers you’d never expect might find you just when you need them most. With delicacy and a gentle touch of everyday magic, Aoyama leaves between the pages the potential for new beginnings and for discovering, in the most unexpected places, revelations that change the way we see the world.
Reading this book feels like spending a cold day, wrapped in warm blankets, a cup of tea in hand. If you’re looking for your next comfort read, your search might end here. Maybe you’re ready to look at the people who cross your path on any given day with a bit more care and reflection.
3. O Diário Internacional de Babi (2016) – Chris Salles
With so much chaos out there, sometimes all we really want is a cute love story to take us away from the mess and transport us to a calmer world. Hidden among Brazilian authors, O Diário Internacional de Babi is the perfect choice for that moment.
If Jenny Han is on your list of favorites, you’ll love Chris Salles’s teen romance. With a light and fun story, we follow Babi, who is forced to move with her family to the United States and start her life all over again. But really, who hasn’t dreamed of the chance to start over in another country and live new experiences? Babi certainly hadn’t, and she was far from ready, especially considering her shaky English.
But… could a random boy she meets at the airport completely change her mind? And could starting over really be that bad, or might it be a chance to rediscover herself and find her place in the world?
Far from all the viral clichés of recent times, with heavy stories, triggers, or too much information to process, DIB is the perfect book if you’re looking to step out of the bubble and simply relax with a sweet, silly, butterfly-filled teenage story. Perfect if you’re recovering from one of those heavy reading slumps, I guarantee Chris Salles will make you fall in love within just a few pages and smile at such an innocent, heartwarming romance.
“[…] Some scientists say that stars are like time machines. […] If you think about it, songs do almost the same thing. Just a few notes, a handful of words, and your body beats to the rhythm of the past, bringing back a place, a person, a memory.” (O Diário Internacional de Babi, p. 18)
4. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022) – Charlie Mackesy
Seemingly simple and made for children, colorful drawings often hide deep messages that are truly worth reading. In a light and charming way, Mackesy’s fable brings precious lessons learned from an unlikely group of friends.
A lost boy, a dreamy mole, a thoughtful fox, and a wise horse can pull you out of your comfort zone and make you see the simple things of everyday life in a different light. As we walk along the paths of our own lives, we begin to notice the subtle little details that truly make a difference.
Sometimes, unexpected friends are the ones who help us the most. Every now and then, unpredictability can hold wonderful surprises, ones we may overlook simply because we don’t stop to pay genuine attention. Blending courage and kindness, this book becomes the perfect refuge on a rainy morning, when what we most need is to understand the meanings hidden between the lines.
5. What Happens After Midnight (2023) – K. L. Walther
And last but not least, my favorite of recent times: What Happens After Midnight. Once again, skipping the overly spotlighted bookstore shelves, this one, though fairly new, still doesn’t get half the visibility it deserves.
Light, fun, and absolutely charming, Walther delivers a friends-to-lovers story unlike any I’ve read before. The classic best-friends-to-lovers trope is easy to find, but what about strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, and-back-again story?
In her senior year, Lily Hopper can hardly imagine life beyond the boarding school where she’s lived since childhood with her mother. And everything would be so much easier if, in this last year… Well, damn, the class prank is always the responsibility of an anonymous student known as the Joker. But who could imagine Hopper, the sweet, perfect campus darling, getting dragged into a midnight adventure and breaking so many rules?
Taggart Swell, the only thing standing between Lily and complete happiness. How can a boy, who was once her best friend, her safe haven, now barely say hello in the hallways? Is there still time to fix her biggest regret before graduation? Are two weeks enough? Or could one night be all it takes for everything to change completely?
Beyond the usual romances, this is a story about friendship, self-discovery, sensitivity, and love, the kind that can warm your heart in the most genuine way. With a sweet aftertaste that leaves you wanting more, W.H.A.M. will bring smiles and the magic of first love and lifelong friendship. This one, I’m sure you’ll be enchanted to meet.
“Aut viam inveniam aut faciam — I will find a way, or make one.”
(What Hpapens After Midnight, p. 149)
Remember that there’s nothing wrong with looking for recommendations online, and everyone enjoys sharing opinions and literary experiences. But what if, instead of being so blindly guided by trends, you went to a bookstore and searched the back shelves for a book your heart chooses? You might be surprised by the treasures hidden within the pages not everyone reads!
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The article above was edited by Maryanna Arison.
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