18 Underrated Books You Should Read Before 2018 Is Over

“If you're a woman, you need to read this book. It's a story about a sociopath who loses the only person she's ever loved, and the story of how she gets her revenge. This book has suspense, comedy, and a sweet romance element. It's been a week since I read it and I still go back to rereading sections because this story sticks with you in a strange way.” –gumdrops155

Get it on Amazon for $10.99+, Barnes & Noble for $13.19+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“I don't want to give anything away because the kind of twisty way the story develops is part of the beauty of it. It's beautiful, dark, emotional, and at some points, it's just a sucker punch to your gut you feel like you won't recover from. I was so invested in this story and was hanging onto every sentence until the end.” —unconscioussedation

Get it on Amazon for $16.99+, Barnes & Noble for $23.19+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“This is by far the most beautiful book I've ever read but it barely receives enough recognition. Set in late 20th century Japan, it takes place over the course of 20 years. It's a mystery wrapped into a novel that explores the darkest parts of human nature. The protagonists aren't good people, yet you're still drawn to them. It honestly made me sob toward the end.” —vaishnavireddy1809

Get it on Amazon for $11.53+ or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“This book, published in 1878, tells the story of an orphan crossing Europe (mostly France) in search of his family. After being sold to an Italian street performer, he gets attacked by wolves and spends some time among the street rats of France. This classic is an often-forgotten masterpiece that's definitely worth a read and brings tears to my eyes every time.” —helenecms

Get it on Amazon for $11.57+, Barnes & Noble for $13.99+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“This book is technically the fourth in a series, but I read it as a standalone novel and didn't have any problems. It's a thriller where there is a serial killer who murders people and then frames others for his crime, and then goes a step further by making sure he is on the jury for their trial. It definitely requires the reader to suspend some of their beliefs. There are a lot of plot holes but it was a really great read for people who enjoy thrillers!” —vicsta

Get it on Amazon for $11.82+ or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“How often do you read a fantasy book where the mythology that forms the backbone of the world isn't western (ie. Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Percy Jackson series)? This book is very explicitly eastern with an internal system that reads like it's describing Geishas. It's exceedingly difficult to explain the plot concisely, but I'll say what pulled me into the book: the main character is a necromancer and everyone in this universe wears their heart on their sleeve.” —chaseh4d702078b

Get it on Amazon for $7.96+, Barnes & Noble for $9.67+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“It's the second book in the duology and I absolutely adored it! Mary Weber really takes tough topics, like human trafficking, and turns them into an eye-opening sci-fi masterpiece. The characters are so well-rounded and deep that it makes it that much easier to relate to each one of them.” —gilliang42192349f

Get it on Amazon for $13.59+, Barnes & Noble for $16.31+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“I foundNormalwhile scrolling through endless book lists to find something to read. It follows the story of a high school senior who was sexually assaulted and her journey to forget about her past while trying to stop her newfound anxiety disorder. It deals with rape, romance, heartbreak, and much more. I just couldn't put the book down.” —saamaanthaa

Get it on Amazon for $14.99+, Barnes & Noble for $14.99+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“It strives to blur the line between good and evil, right and wrong, and what is worth living and dying for. This book lingered with me for days after I finished it. The writing is poignant and achingly beautiful; the story is powerful and haunting.” —Jennie Whistler, Facebook

Get it on Amazon for $9.48+, Barnes & Noble for $13.59+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“It's a really interesting look at fandom culture and how far the people who claim to love a group are willing to go to interact with them. The book dives into how the people we think we know everything about can turn out to be completely different. It's an interesting combination of an outsider's point of view and an insider's.” —P1nkL3m0n4d3

Get it on Amazon for $9.99+, Barnes & Noble for $9.99+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“It's an amazingly raw story about learning to let go, forgiving yourself, and forgiving others to start anew. If you have the time and aren't judgmental, or even if you've had a rough upbringing, I definitely recommend it! I had a rocky childhood and oftentimes felt lost, so when I read this book in college, it was crazy amazing to see this is a true story.” —alexandriabg

Get it on Amazon for $12.80+, Barnes & Noble for $14.08+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“It's interesting to imagine New York in the '30s and '40s and the main character is absolutely amazing. She's so well-rounded, but fallible and human. The ending is perfect too. It keeps you on your toes and makes you satisfied.” —k48e091f5c

Get it on Amazon for $10.73+, Barnes & Noble for $12.34+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“Her writing style is so amazing and unlike anything I've ever read before. The characters are multidimensional, intriguing, and there is a great plot twist. It's a great read.” —alexaa45095a779

Get it on Amazon for $9.41+, Barnes & Noble for $10.07+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“The premise: An American English teacher moves to Japan and kids keep on dying all over the place. It's a really interesting look into Japanese culture on top of an original murder mystery.Red Teamakes the perfect summer read for any travel bug murderino.” —karah4a7f8de47

Get it on Amazon for $14.99, Barnes & Noble for $14.99, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“It takes you through the story of Ryn, an anxious and uptight girl who has suffered a recent tragedy. When a blizzard forces her to spend the night in the airport, she goes on a journey that forces her to face her biggest fears. Ryn is a very relatable character and I very easily identified with her. I'd love to see a movie adaptation someday!” —zoen4ed3831b9

Get it on Amazon for $9.80+, Barnes & Noble for $14.39+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“It's the third book in theGolden Appletrilogy, which are retellings of the ancient Greek myths from the point of view of the women involved. It's so well-written and gave me a whole new perspective I never learned in school when reading Homer.” —fregillian

Get it on Amazon for $16.89+.

“I was absolutely enraptured by how much it drew me in, left me guessing, and wanting more with each turn of the page. It was probably the first book that actually left me wondering ‘WTF?' in the best possible way. Can't recommend it enough.” —brandonm49aeb8f8b

Get it on Amazon for $9.98+, Barnes & Noble for $12.99+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.

“I think the lack of respect this book receives is because it was kind of censored at the time for being too progressive, considering this book came out in the mid-1800s. It's a story about a woman leaving a toxic relationship to raise her son on her own, making it so ahead of its time. Anne unabashedly calls out double standards and gender inequality as she sees them, making a statement early on about how we try to protect young girls from the world while letting “boys be boys.” She has awokeview on the world that feels fresh and current.” —baileyd4b5aa8108

Get it on Amazon for $3.95+, Barnes & Noble for $13.17+, or a local bookseller through IndieBound here.