Underrated Reads

An Author’s Dozen: Thirteen Short Stories – Christopher Amato

Posted on June 9, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you enjoy literary short story collections that explore the complexities of human nature, then An Author's Dozen is well worth your time. The thirteen stories are remarkably original, taking readers across different locations, time periods, and emotional landscapes. Themes of destiny, regret, resilience, love, and self-discovery run throughout the collection.…

Posted in Fiction, Modern Literary Fiction, Short stories | Tagged short stories | Comments Off

Precious Friends: Murder in Sag Harbor – Frank Spinelli

Posted on June 6, 2026 by J D Jung

(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, Emilio. Mike has philandered throughout their marriage, but once JB is diagnosed and treated for…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance | Tagged LGBTQ, murder, Romance | Comments Off

Goodbye Chinatown – Kit Fan

Posted on June 2, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This emotionally layered novel blends food, family, politics, and identity into a powerful story. Set between London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, it follows Amber Fan, a talented young chef determined to build her dream London restaurant, Luna, while guarding a family secret that she must divulge some day. What I loved…

Posted in Culture, Fiction, Modern Literary Fiction | Tagged food, immigration, multiculture | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited and Tribute to Sonny Rollins

Posted on May 31, 2026 by J D Jung

JD Jung) Last week, tenor saxophonist and jazz great Sonny Rollins passed away at the age of ninety-five. In 1959, twenty-eight-year-old Rollins disappeared for two years with the purpose of practicing and improving his craft. He wrote down his thoughts on technical aspects of the saxophone, “rethinking musical concepts”, as well as those on perseverance,…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged jazz, music | Comments Off

Final Transaction: Murder, Money & Real Estate – Diane Dickinson

Posted on May 29, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This fast-paced real estate murder mystery pulls readers deep into Houston’s world of wealth, ambition, and secrets. When successful realtor Todd Drake — co-owner of Drake Properties and one of Houston’s top boutique real estate agents — is found shot to death before an open house, the story immediately hooks you.…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged murder-mystery | Comments Off

Inspiration Porn: Essays – Ryan O’Connell

Posted on May 26, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Inspirational Porn is one of the most honest, funny, and emotional memoir collections I’ve read in a long time. Known for the Netflix series “Special” and his television writing career, Ryan O'Connell infuses these essays with humor and vulnerability as he examines identity, relationships, addiction, and a career in Hollywood as…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction | Tagged LGBTQ, memoirs | Comments Off

A Timely UnderratedRead Revisited: Shameless – Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy – Brian Tyler Cohen

Posted on May 21, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “You can’t understand the Trump phenomenon unless you understand the role that independent media on the right has played in terms of social media, in terms of amplification of his message, in terms of getting his fake news across.” Democrats have yet to create a strategy to compete with the…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged American politics, democracy | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited : Great Again – Bill Day

Posted on May 18, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Ex-Marine Jack O’Mally is divorced and estranged from his adult daughter. He just can’t accept that she is married to a black musician and living in California. Jack is captain of his New Jersey neighborhood watch, which targets undocumented workers. Of course, they conveniently overlook the fact that neighbors rely on…

Posted in Fiction | Tagged immigration, racism, undocumented | Comments Off

The Royal We – Roddy Bottum

Posted on May 15, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s the early 1980’s and San Francisco is a city of non-conformity, tolerance, and acceptance in contrast to Los Angeles, where most try to conform. That along with the abundance of drugs is part of what attracted film student and musician Roddy Bottum to the city. Bottum captures the chaotic energy…