Hello and good morning, readers!
We are told that ‘a well-educated and well-read’ person as one reads every great book ranging from philosophy books to self-help books from around the world. However, not every book out in the world is worth or should be considered great. As I have created a video below where I have briefly talked about this topic.
In this post, I want to talk more in-depth about books that are overrated (highly praised/ too much attention) and underrated books from my own point of view.
*Please note that these are all my own opinions and I do not force them on anyone to like or dislike any of the books I will talk about.
Firstly, discussing the overrated books as these books got more attention than they should have over the years. After strenuous reading through them - I came to realize that those books are not as great as I was told to be.
Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Paranormal Romance.
‘Bella, an average 17-year-old girl who moves to Forks, WA to live with her father after her mother remarries a traveling minor league baseball player. In Forks, she meets Edward, a mysterious, gorgeous, private student, who tends to travel in a pack with his family.’
This book series has many holes that the film series adaptation did not do them justice such as how the basic plot did not develop into something more than THAT?! how Bella can’t live without Edward as she is the typical weak girl who doesn’t make an effort to fight and just waits for Edward to the rescue. And as we go on - Bella’s friends just stop being around, like they just disappeared! And Bella’s and Edward’s relationship is so unhealthy as Edward tends to be the toxic type of a ‘boyfriend’ and he falls for her because he cannot read her mind and how her blood smells good??? and since Edward can not use his abilities on Bella, similarly everyone else could not expect for one person who can manipulate Bella’s emotions - but why only that one person can and no one else? And how could no one be able to? And the villains? Were there any? They are so unmemorable and the ending? Was so bad. Lastly, the book series has many sensitive topics that I do not wish to discuss further.
I have watched the movie adaptations and survived but the book series was unbearable; Thus I do not recommend Twilight.
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The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Dystopia.
‘Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.’
I do love dystopian fiction, however, this series did not fulfill my love fully. The plot was basic as it would’ve been a greater battle royale video game than a book series. The story is based on survival of the fittest (winning food) but how do all the main characters from the starving districts look like they are eating normally and regularly? With all the world-building and almost zero character development.
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Divergent Series by Veronica Roth
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Dystopia.
‘During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves … or it might destroy her.’
Similar to the Hunger Games theme but reversed ?? like instead of fighting and dying to win food - this series fights and dies for humanity… I did not vibe with it.
I do not recommend the books nor the adoption film series.
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Fifty Shades Series by E.L. James
Categories: Fiction, Adult, and Contemporary.
‘When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.’
This book has the most twisted retelling of Cinderella but… but almost kinda dark and not suitable beauty and beast theme. And this is like an edition of the Twilight Saga from a toxic relationship and the characters are a bit too much over the top than needed to be.
Just a big fat NO!
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Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Magic.
‘Harry Potter’s life is miserable. His parents are dead and he’s stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.’
The plot and the world are very imaginative that readers can be absorbed in! However, I just did not enjoy it. This series has characters development and that’s it, but somehow this still got more attention while the story had concluded such as a console video game is currently under development. Even years later, I still can not get nor understand how this is still relevant while there are so many new great books up-to-date that need the same recognition this received.
⭐️2/4; it is not a bad book series but I personally did not enjoy it as much as everyone did - so I still would recommend this series but not on my top 10 highly recommended reads.
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Dare Me by Megan Abbott
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Contemporary.
‘Addy Hanlon has always been Beth Cassidy’s best friend and trusted lieutenant. Beth calls the shots and Addy carries them out, a long-established order of things that has brought them to the pinnacle of their high-school careers. Now they’re seniors who rule the intensely competitive cheer squad, feared and followed by the other girls—until the young new coach arrives.’
I am so disappointed with this book. The ending and plot twist are not so epic as they gave off Mean Girls blended with How to Get Away with Murder vibes; ⭐️1/5 as one star only for the start tease of excitement.
Next, discussing the underrated books that need the same or more attention! As I honestly, did not see as much hype or fans talking and bragging about these books.
Caraval Trilogy by Stephanie Garber
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Magic.
‘Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless, she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.’
This trilogy is my one number top recommended read; I have previously reviewed this trilogy here! That is why I would really be happy if this trilogy does get a film series adaptation with it more hype than the Harry Potter series.
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The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Magic.
“Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl…. Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.
She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.’
My second top-recommended read; I have also previously reviewed this series here!
and this series has less attention than the Caraval trilogy while the Fifty Shades trilogy has more than both Lunar Chronicles and Caraval combined! why??
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Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Supernatural.
‘It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.’
My third top recommended read; this trilogy got me into reading and joining the bookish community. and I am surprised and sad at the time same that I had not seen even one blog/Instagram post about it! and I do wish that this trilogy gets more recognition it deserves.
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Categories: Fiction, Young Adult, and Supernatural.
'Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she’s too busy trying to actually survive. Her town’s population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money is all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.
When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she’ll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie’s sin has put her in serious trouble. To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?’
Fourth Top recommended read; this duology got me binge-reading it! it was good that I could not put it down for a second. the story and plot were top-notch paranormal supernatural fiction that deserves more hype and attention than the bookish community gave Twilight.
These underrated books that I believe and want to get more attention and recognition the same way they gave Twilight and Harry Potter - and adapt them into movies or series! It needs to get recommended to everyone who loved those overly basic-rated books!
This is all my sole opinion - no one else and I do not enforce them on anyone else, however, I am simply sharing my thoughts, my insights, and my experience reading them.
Thank you for reading this far <3
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