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UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Category Archives: Fiction
The Presence of Men – Francesca Marciano
(Reviewed by JD Jung) This novella immediately drew me in with its quiet emotional depth and evocative Italian setting. Starting over after divorce captures what it really means to rebuild a life. —messy, uncertain, and deeply personal. . Lara used … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Italian Literature, World Literature
Tagged emotional, short books
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Dear Monica Lewinsky – Julia Langbein
(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’ll admit—long before the MeToo movement reframed sexual injustice, I had a soft spot for Monica Lewinsky. I empathized with the twenty-four-year-old intern who was attracted to the most powerful man in the world, and then … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Humor & Satire
Tagged humor, sexism, Social satire
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An UnderratedRead Revisited – Job 2.0: God and Lucifer battle again for a single soul – Del Staecker
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “God really liked Lucifer, despite the bad jokes, the rancorous departure, all the efforts to misdirect humankind, and even his plan to take over Heaven. But God did not want to encourage Lucifer’s bad … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Humor & Satire, Revisited
Tagged humor, inspirational, short books
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The Other Auntie (The Auntie Diaries) – Valencia G Wallace
(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you’re searching for a fast-paced psychological thriller about addiction, manipulation, family secrets, and trauma, this short but powerful novel completely delivers. Initially I didn’t know what to expect with The Other Auntie but ended up finishing … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged dark fiction, family dysfunction, short books
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Cleaner – Jess Shannon
(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you enjoy dark humor and offbeat protagonists, Cleaner delivers a bizarre ride. The unnamed narrator—a master’s in fine arts graduate who drops out of her PhD program due to financial strain—returns home unable to find … Continue reading
Sign of the Cross: A Religious Conspiracy Thriller – Glenn Cooper
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Sign of the Cross is a gripping religious thriller that blends suspense, historical conspiracy, and theological intrigue. (more…)Read More →
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged book reviews, Nazism, religious thriller, Vatican
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Dollartorium – Ron Pullins
(Reviewed by JD Jung) What begins as a humble, self-sufficient life running a Kansas corn dog stand turns into a sharp, darkly comic satire of greed, hustle culture, and America’s obsession with easy wealth. (more…)Read More →
Posted in More fiction
Tagged greed, philosophy, satire, wealth
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The Copywriter – Daniel Poppick
(Reviewed by JD Jung) A witty, morally bracing portrait of an artist adrift in Trump-era America, where poetry, precarity, and conscience collide. (more…)Read More →
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Poetry
Tagged poetry, political fiction, Social satire
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Room 23: A Secret Service Agent’s Story of Espionage and Intrigue -Sean Quarmby
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) If you like thrillers written by those who have ‘walked the talk,’ then ROOM 23 by ex-Secret Service Agent, Sean Quarmby, may be for you. (more…)Read More →
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged Action thriller
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