-
-
About
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
Effed Up!: Story of a Family – Russ Woody
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Mom is proud of her forty-six year old son, Lenny. After all, the music community pays tribute to his band, Pink Lloyd. As you can tell, she doesn’t realize what a tribute band actually is. She … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Humor & Satire
Comments Off on Effed Up!: Story of a Family – Russ Woody
Return of the Heroine—Kaye Michelle
(Reviewed by Melanie Hamilton) In Kaye Michelle’s provocative and inspiring novel, Return of the Heroine, West Point Cadet Jane Archer has a problem: Should she do what’s right or save her career? The daughter of senior counsel to Providence Rhode … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Modern Literary Fiction
Comments Off on Return of the Heroine—Kaye Michelle
Together Tea – Marjan Kamali
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Darya loved to calculate the statistic of available Persian bachelors, factoring in their attributes, family histories, education, the probability for divorce. She had her very own system of assigning numbers to certain qualities… Darya was so … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Modern Literary Fiction, Travel
2 Comments
Defection Games – Haggai Carmon
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned The CIA and Mossad (Israel’s intelligence agency) engage in a constant battle to thwart Iran’s nuclear capabilities. This is how we meet up again with former Mossad agent, Dan Gordon, as he continues his dangerous … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Modern Literary Fiction, World Issues
Comments Off on Defection Games – Haggai Carmon
Jacob’s Folly
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Something amazing had happened to my sight: it was as if the top of my head had been removed and replaced with an enormous eye. I could see jagged purple clouds drifting above me, the streets … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Comments Off on Jacob’s Folly
Rose of Málaga – Bobbi Verdugo
(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) “… the greatest thing about Malagueños is that they will never ask you about your past or ask you to divulge.” That’s why Rose felt so comfortable here. People came to Málaga to go unnoticed. That … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Travel
Comments Off on Rose of Málaga – Bobbi Verdugo
Tides Ebb as Islands Dream – Brian J. English, Ph.D
(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) #CommissionsEarned Rule #1: Don’t try to understand anything. This was Sean’s primary rule as he began his assignment at the village of Gilutongan in the Olango Islands in the Philippines. Like so many Peace Corps volunteers, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Environmental, Modern Literary Fiction, Travel, World Issues
Comments Off on Tides Ebb as Islands Dream – Brian J. English, Ph.D
A Child Out of Alcatraz -Tara Ison
(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) When I visit San Francisco, I often gaze over the bay to that small island that radiates so much history. This island housed some of America’s most infamous criminals: Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the Birdman … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged book reviews, Historical fiction, San Francisco
Comments Off on A Child Out of Alcatraz -Tara Ison
Admission – Jean Hanff Korelitz
(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) I don’t know anything about the upcoming release of the film, Admission, starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, but I fondly remember reviewing the book right before is was released in 2009. It was college decision time, and students constantly … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Comments Off on Admission – Jean Hanff Korelitz
Stone the Devil – Jac Simensen
(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) They say that money is power, so what would happen if an American billionaire decided to take international affairs into his own hands? Specifically, what if he could change the balance of power in the Middle … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Comments Off on Stone the Devil – Jac Simensen