15 of the Most Underrated Books on Goodreads

This is one of the best books I have ever read, and it deserves much more than the 209 reviews and 3.40 average rating that it has on Goodreads. I have recommended it to a lot of my friends and family, and most have loved it as much as I did. It is a funny romp that does not hold back in its relentless ridicule of the casteism and sexism in a university campus in Chennai, and the social life of the city in general. The biting satire seems to have been too much for some readers to stomach, and it stands in uncomfortable contrast to the homogenous, Brahminical representation of Indian culture that Western readers may have come to expect. But this book is a must read, an entertaining but incisive lens to modern Indian society still grappling with caste-based discrimination.

This book is a brilliant literary noir set in the red-light district of Shonagachhi in Kolkata. It is a sensitive, nuanced portrayal of the lives of the women who live there, a narrative that allows them agency, and celebrates their courage and resilience, without glossing over or romanticizing the complicated and difficult realities of their lives. There is a mystery woven through the book, but the focus is on the various convoluted structures involved, instead of a satisfying resolution a la murder mysteries. The writing is incredibly atmospheric — this book has one of the most exquisite depictions of the grime and splendor of Kolkata in contemporary English writing. The underwhelming 3.43 average rating on Goodreads probably is mostly because readers judge the book by its title, and go into it expecting a neat little murder mystery.

The grandeur of the setting of this book — the world of courtesans, poets, and performers in 18th century Lucknow — sits in beautiful contrast with the quietness of the central love story between Nafis Bai and Chapla Bai. A queer slice of life story that embraces both the happy and the melancholy, in a setting that is not common in anglophone fiction, this book deserves more readers and an average rating higher than the 3.47 it currently has on Goodreads.

This Book Riot favorite has only a 3.06 average rating on Goodreads. Inspired by the gingerbread house of the witch in “Hansel and Gretel,” Oyeyemi spins a tale about a family from a far-off land with a mysterious gingerbread recipe that is passed on from one generation to the next. The language in this book is beautiful, and it effectively evokes the deliciously dark undercurrent of fairy tales while exploring themes like family and class.

The early medical history of malaria, a cult, science fictional elements, and a dash of (possibly) supernatural horror come together in this book to make a gripping, fast -paced read. The writing is so skillful that I felt genuinely unsettled at all the creepy bits. The book doesn’t provide unambiguous resolutions for all the questions that it raises in the mind of its reader — something that a lot of reviewers were unhappy with. But this, in my opinion, contributes to the delightfully atmospheric, slightly claustrophobic reading experience, which is why it deserves higher than its 3.48 average rating on Goodreads.

I went into this book knowing that it was a near future dystopia set in Delhi, but I was still surprised by how close to home it hit. The book perfectly articulates the foreboding in the current political and social climate of India specifically, and yet also highlights the importance of resistance. I have loved Basu’s earlier works, and though this one is a few shades bleaker than the GameWorld trilogy or Resistance and its sequel, the world building is as fascinating — and the 3.30 average Goodreads rating does not do it justice.

This is a novel that features a family that runs an alligator wrestling theme park in the swamps off the coast of Florida, a character who has fallen in love with a ghost, and high-stakes inter-amusement park rivalry. It is also a coming-of-age novel, and the contrast between the pensive or melancholy turns that the mood of the story takes makes for interesting contrast with the wackiness of the setting. The writing is beautiful as well — no wonder a lot of readers, me included, do not agree with its 3.27 average rating on Goodreads.

The first book in the Dark Star trilogy by Marlon James is rated a very average 3.44 on Goodreads. While definitely not an easy read, it makes for an exquisite, unique reading experience if you stay with it. The fantasy world in this book is rooted in African history and mythology. The narrative does not unfold in a linear fashion like traditional fantasy, but is a serpentine epic inspired by oral storytelling traditions. The book takes some really dark turns though — trigger warnings for violence, including violence against women and children, and sexual assault.

I do not know why this entertaining romp of a book only has an average rating of 3.43 on Goodreads. It takes all the tropes of epic fantasy and gives them hilarious twists. We have a chosen one who is a farm boy, a bard who is part bunny, a warrior uninterested in violence, and a talking goat. With puns aplenty, this is a fun ride that deserves more appreciation.