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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: Romance
Eden at Dawn – Karim Kattan (Author), Jeffrey Zuckerman (Translator)
(Reviewed by John Heilman) Eden at Dawn is the mesmerizing tale of two Palestinian men, Isaac and Gabriel who meet in Jerusalem and slowly captivate one another, only to back away and later reunite. Their love inspires them to embark … Continue reading
Within the Walls: A Dark Romance – V. S. Maxon
(Reviewed by JD Jung) When I started reading Within the Walls, I expected a story about a kidnapping, but it turned out to be much more psychologically complex. Actress Sophie Hartnet is abducted on her way back to her Paris … Continue reading
Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Romance
Tagged dark fiction
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Precious Friends: Murder in Sag Harbor – Frank Spinelli
(Reviewed by JD Jung) This suspenseful mystery pulls you into the glamorous world of New York’s gay elite. Forty-eight-year-old JB Pulaski, a Columbia professor, has been married to Mike for seventeen years, and together they are raising their adopted son, … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance
Tagged LGBTQ, murder, Romance
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Good News – Alexa Yasemin Brahme
(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you enjoy character-driven fiction about identity, ambition, and messy personal growth, Good News delivers a captivating and relatable story. Maggie, a woman in her late twenties pursuing her MFA, feels caught between her artistic dreams … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, More fiction, Romance
Tagged artists., emotion, immigration
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Best Woman – Rose Dommu
(Reviewed by JD Jung) In times like these, when the world feels heavy and overwhelming, many of us crave a light and fun read. That’s what drew me to Best Woman. Yes, it’s light and humorous on the surface, but … Continue reading
So Happy Together – Olivia Worley
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Twenty-four-year-old aspiring playwright Jane Williams thinks she’s met her soul mate, Colin Hillgrove. The problem is that Colin doesn’t feel the same way. In fact, he broke up with her after six dates in less than … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance
Tagged crime thriller, fatal attraction, New York City
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Marguerite by the Lake – Mary Dixie Carter
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Phoenix Sullivan loves her work as a gardener. She has the experience of a landscape architect, but not the degree. She especially enjoys working on the gorgeous grounds of Rosecliff, the home and property of Marguerite … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance
Tagged gardening, infidelity, love, Psychosis
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You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty-Akwaeke Emezi
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned I must admit that I’m not a romantic, and I very seldom read romance novels. That said, You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Nigerian author Akwaeke Emezi takes this genre to … Continue reading
Posted in Romance
Tagged Contemporary Romance, grief, love, Romance
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Songs by Honeybird – Peter McDade
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) #CommissionsEarned “Find your focus and the story may write itself: music and drugs, race and gender, a tragic barn fire and a missing body. It’s all much more dramatic than one usually sees in a dissertation….” … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks, Romance
Tagged friendship, history, music, philosophy, Romance, sexism
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Dangerous Conjectures – Brian Finney
(reviewed by JD Jung) “She couldn’t decide which was deteriorating faster—her life or the country. They were all in the hands of a president who was spreading misinformation as fast as the virus was spreading infection across the world.” “Even … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Political fiction, Romance
Tagged adultery, COVID-19, disinformation, drug addiction, emotion, facts, family, misinformation, QAnon, San Francisco
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