Although we love discussing those timeless classics and bestsellers that everyone has their hands on, sometimes the best part about being a bookworm is shocking another fellow booklover with a rare, hidden diamond-of-a-book that nobody seems to have heard of. These glorious gems may have been lost to time, but today we’re digging them up, dusting them off, and placing them here on display in all their brilliance.
Bookish Treasure: 9 Hidden Gems We Proudly Display on Our Shelves
The Accidental Beauty Queen
Jessica’s Pick: THE ACCIDENTAL BEAUTY QUEEN by Teri Wilson is a fantastic rom-com of a novel that I happily push on anyone who is looking for book recommendations. It’s the perfect heartwarming escape read, and I best describe it as Miss Congeniality for book nerds by way of The Parent Trap! When Charlotte the librarian’s identical twin sister, Ginny, has a horrible allergic reaction the night before her big pageant, Charlotte has to step in to help her sister. Throw in a little romance, mistaken identities, and Harry Potter quotes and you have an utterly charming novel.
The Accidental Beauty Queen
In this charming romantic comedy perfect for fans of Meg Cabot and Sophie Kinsella, critically acclaimed author Teri Wilson shows us that sometimes being pushed out of your comfort zone leads you to the ultimate prize.
Charlotte Gorman loves her job as an elementary school librarian, and is content to experience life through the pages of her books. Which couldn’t be more opposite from her identical twin sister. Ginny, an Instagram-famous beauty pageant contestant, has been chasing a crown since she was old enough to enunciate the words world peace, and she’s not giving up until she gets the title of Miss American Treasure. And Ginny’s refusing to do it alone this time.
She drags Charlotte to the pageant as a good luck charm, but the winning plan quickly goes awry when Ginny has a terrible, face-altering allergic reaction the night before the pageant, and Charlotte suddenly finds herself in a switcheroo the twins haven’t successfully pulled off in decades.
Woefully unprepared for the glittery world of hair extensions, false eyelashes, and push-up bras, Charlotte is mortified at every unstable step in her sky-high stilettos. But as she discovers there’s more to her fellow contestants than just wanting a sparkly crown, Charlotte realizes she has a whole new motivation for winning.
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Love from A to Z
Sharon’s Pick #1: If you’re looking for an uplifting, inspiring YA romance, this book is it. LOVE FROM A TO Z features two memorable protagonists in Adam, an artist who is hiding his multiple sclerosis diagnosis from his father, and Zayneb, an activist and the only Muslim in her class who gets suspended from school after confronting her Islamophobic teacher. On the way to Doha, Qatar, the two meet on the plane and think they will never see each other again . . . until they are reconnected by chance. I loved witnessing Adam’s and Zayneb’s character arcs, as well as seeing their relationship unfold. Also, both of them kept journals, which, as a regular journal-keeper, I greatly appreciated.
Love from A to Z
“The bighearted, wildly charming, painfully real love story I’ve been waiting for.” —Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
“Heartfelt and powerful.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
From William C. Morris Award Finalist S.K. Ali comes an unforgettable romance that is The Sun Is Also a Star meets Anna and the French Kiss, following two Muslim teens who meet during a spring break trip.
A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together.
An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are.
But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry.
When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.
Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her.
Then her path crosses with Adam’s.
Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister.
Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.
Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals.
Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…
Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting.
Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.
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I Can't Date Jesus
Sharon’s Pick #2: I read this memoir at the beginning of quarantine and it actually made me laugh out loud (which few books succeed in doing!). Arceneaux immediately drew me in with his first essay, where he hilariously discusses his fraught relationship with the Catholic church and his status as a “recovering Catholic.” From there, in essays equally humorous and insightful, Arceneaux discusses growing up black in a working-class neighborhood in Houston, his dating misadventures, and his passion for Beyoncé. I am so excited to read Arceneaux’s second book, I DON’T WANT TO DIE POOR!
I Can't Date Jesus
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Today I Am Carey
Jordyn’s Pick: If you’re looking for a book so heartfelt, achingly beautiful, and a delightful Baymax-like android in the sci-fi space, then this is the book for you. Does anyone else remember the Robin Williams movie Bicentennial Man? With a protagonist on a similar journey of self-discovery, this story is about an android whose purpose is to be a companion for someone with Alzheimer’s by becoming a copy of whoever they need most. But eventually, that job is no longer needed and the android is now part of the family and searching for a new purpose. You will love every minute of watching Carey become their own person and evolve with the family around them
Today I Am Carey
REMARKABLE DEBUT NOVEL FROM CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR MARTIN L. SHOEMAKER. Shoemaker proves why he has consistently been praised as one of the best story writers in SF today with this touching, thoughtful, action-packed debut novel, based on his award-winning short story Today I Am Paul.
TODAY
Mildred has Alzheimer's. As memories fade, she acquires the aid of a full-time android to assist her in everyday life. Carey. Carey takes care of Mildred, but its true mission is to fill in the gaps in Mildred’s past. To bring yesterday into today by becoming a copy. But not merely a copy of a physical person. A copy from the inside out.
I AM
After Mildred passes, Carey must find a new purpose. For a time, that purpose is Mildred’s family. To keep them safe from harm. To be of service. There is Paul Owens, the overworked scientist and business leader. Susan Owens, the dedicated teacher. And Millie, a curious little girl who will grow up alongside her android best friend. And Carey will grow up with her. Carey cannot age. But Carey can change.
CAREY
Carey struggles. Carey seeks to understand life’s challenges. Carey makes its own path. Carey must learn to live. To grow. To care. To survive. To be.
Praise for Today I Am Carey:
"Kindness, love, and compassion make Carey an empathetic character through which to view Shoemaker's complex, beautiful world."—Publishers Weekly
“. . . takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, coming of age, and ultimately life itself. . . . Carey’s development as a character is fascinating. VERDICT This exploration of artificial life in the vein of Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot provides fresh insight into the human experience.”—Library Journal
“Shoemaker's story of an artificial life coming to terms with its own emotional world finds its place among the long and varied tradition of explorations of robot–human relations. . . . Recommended for any reader, genre or otherwise, looking for a pleasant and engaging read.”—Booklist
"Martin Shoemaker proves conclusively that while a science fiction novel must have the trappings of science fiction, it is at its strongest when it is about people, even an artificial (but emotional) person named Carey."—Mike Resnick
“A dazzling ride through the near future. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I’ve never seen anything remotely like it.”—Jack McDevitt
“Martin Shoemaker is a rare writer who can handle the challenges of dealing with future technology while touching the human heart. This is a must-read!"—David Farland, New York Times Best-selling Author
“Carey is one of the most delightful robots to come along in a while, and Today I Am Carey is a fine addition to science fiction’s century-long conversation about our mechanical servants.”—Analog
"Today I Am Carey is a rare thought-provoking novel"—The Daily News of Galveston County
“….this book is like an onion. As time passes, the world expands from the center, the core of the onion, moving from layer to layer, new stratum larger than the last. Each richly detailed…Recommended for fans of Asimov, classic science fiction, and anyone who just enjoys a well-told tale.”—Future Science Fiction Digest (Recommended fot book fo the Month)
Praise for the work of Martin L. Shoemaker:
"Martin Shoemaker’s ‘Black Orbit’ is a more conventional Analog adventure, and a very good example of such . . . a really solid story." — Rich Horton, Locus Online
"['Bookmark'] is an exceptional example of how to discuss deep moral and philosophical issues while maintaining a tight narrative that brings the reader along. This story will be added to the required readings for my SF classes."—Robert L. Turner III, Tangent Online
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The Princess Bride
Emily’s Pick #1: Having watched The Princess Bride, I assumed that the book the movie is based on would be a similar cute, quirky fairy tale. But it blew me away and I actually liked it even more than the movie—inconceivable, as Vizzini might say. The characters had so much more depth and the structure blew me away with its ingenuity. I also loved how the author inserts a fictional version of himself as the narrator with hilarious footnotes and insists on telling the Good Parts version of the classic fairy tale. This feeling of a narrative within a narrative greatly enhanced the story’s core feeling of epicness.
The Princess Bride
If Your Favorite Character is Dustin Henderson
In the mind of “Toothless,” his best friend didn’t almost die. His comrade was captured by a monster, thus his band of merry adventurers went on a quest to rescue him. For more eccentric goofballs in perilous situations, try the book that preceded the classic movie “The Princess Bride.”
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The Power of One
Emily’s Pick #2: I read this in high school and it deeply resonated with me. Since then I’ve been surprised to find that very few people have heard of it. It tells the story of Peekay, growing up in the 1940s during the apartheid in South Africa. Peekay is English, considered wicked by many Dutch Boers, and so is relentlessly bullied by peers at his boarding school, which kicks off the story’s many struggles of identity and power. As Peekay travels across the country, he encounters various dynamic characters for brief periods of time whose mentorships greatly affect him—Hoppie the amateur boxer, Doc the botanist, Giel Piet the criminal. He carries them all with him, building his own identity out of fragments of their own, as he follows his dream of becoming a world welterweight champion. I’ve since forced all of my friends to read this book and not one of them has been as emphatically obsessed as I am, so this is one hidden gem that seems to shine just for me, which makes it feel all the more special
The Power of One
In 1930s South Africa, a young boy experiences firsthand the brutality of racial hatred and comes to learn the hard way how to survive in an unforgiving environment. This fascinating and hopeful novel showcases the power of words to transform lives and the inspiring power of the individual.
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Self-Portrait with Boy
Juliet's Pick #1: SELF-PORTRAIT WITH BOY is a riveting narrative set in early 90s Brooklyn, vividly capturing the struggles of Lu Rile, a young photographer. While caring for her aging father and her precarious financial situation, Lu accidentally captures an unimaginably tragic moment in a photo: a boy's fall to his death. This haunting image brings Lu into an intricate bond with the boy's mother, Kate, weaving a tale of art, morality, and human connection. The novel brilliantly explores the sacrifices for success, the complexities of female friendship, and the defining moments that shape our lives. It’s a compelling read for those intrigued by the blurred lines between ethical dilemmas and the pursuit of one’s passion. This story, praised for its depth and emotional resonance, is an unforgettable journey into the heart of ambition, loss, and love. And, although it’s being made into a movie, it hasn’t yet gotten the widespread acclaim it deserves. Read it now to be ahead of the curve!
Self-Portrait with Boy
Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize
“Fabulously written, this spellbinding debut novel is a real page-turner. A powerful, brilliantly imagined story” (Library Journal, starred review) about an ambitious young artist whose accidental photograph of a boy falling to his death could jumpstart her career, but devastate her most intimate friendship.
Lu Rile is a relentlessly focused young photographer struggling to make ends meet. Working three jobs, responsible for her aging father, and worrying that her crumbling loft apartment is being sold to developers, she is at a point of desperation. One day, in the background of a self-portrait, Lu accidentally captures an image of a boy falling to his death. The photograph turns out to be startlingly gorgeous, the best work of art she’s ever made. It’s an image that could change her life…if she lets it.
But the decision to show the photograph is not easy. The boy is her neighbors’ son, and the tragedy brings all the building’s residents together. It especially unites Lu with the boy’s beautiful grieving mother, Kate. As the two forge an intense bond based on sympathy, loneliness, and budding attraction, Lu feels increasingly unsettled and guilty, torn between equally fierce desires: to advance her career, and to protect a woman she has come to love.
Set in early 90s Brooklyn on the brink of gentrification, Self-Portrait with Boy is a “sparkling debut” (The New York Times Book Review) about the emotional dues that must be paid on the road to success and a powerful exploration of the complex terrain of female friendship. “The conflict is rich and thorny, raising questions about art and morality, love and betrayal, sacrifice and opportunism, and the chance moments that can define a life…It wrestles with the nature of art, but moves with the speed of a page-turner” (Los Angeles Times).
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West
Juliet's Pick #2: WEST is one of those books that I will bring up in just about any conversation in the hopes that I’ll be able to convince someone to read it. It tells the story of widowed mule breeder Cy Bellman who, intrigued by newspaper reports of colossal bones found in Kentucky, leaves his Pennsylvania farm to verify if the giant creatures still exist beyond the Mississippi. Leaving his daughter Bess with his aloof sister, he promises to return in two years. Bess, owning little more than her mother’s gold ring, spends her days tracing her father’s journey and awaiting his letters. As Bellman ventures into unfamiliar territories on a quest for the unknown, Bess faces the challenges of approaching womanhood alone. It’s an enthralling blend of American frontier lore and imaginative storytelling, perfect for the dreamers among us and for those who’ve been left behind.
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Never Change
Juliet's Pick #3: NEVER CHANGE is a touching and introspective novel that offers a deep dive into the complexities of human relationships and self-discovery. The story revolves around Myra Lipinsky, a middle-aged visiting nurse who has lived a life marked by solitude and unfulfilled dreams. But, her routine life takes an unexpected turn when she is tasked with caring for Chip Reardon, a former high school classmate, now terminally ill with a brain tumor.
This novel beautifully captures the profound changes that come with facing mortality, both for the patient and the caregiver. It's a story that is rich with insight, exploring themes of love, regret, and the significance of human connection. NEVER CHANGE is a compelling read for those who appreciate stories that delve into the heart of life's most challenging moments, offering a poignant reminder of the power of compassion and the unexpected pathways to personal transformation. Just be sure to have your tissues handy!
Never Change
In this classic New York Times bestselling novel, “one of the most dramatic and beautiful books of her career” (Midwest Book Review), the author of The Confession Club has written a compassionate and unforgettable celebration of the redemptive power of second chances and love over death.
Myra Lipinsky is living a quiet life as a middle-aged, self-described spinster. She had been a lonely child, and now she is an equally lonely adult though she takes great pride in her career as a visiting nurse. Her patients are her only true emotional attachments, but when they are well, they move on.
When she gets a call about a new assignment, she is shocked to discover that the patient is Chip Reardon, a former high school classmate of Myra’s. He had been the most popular and adored boy in school, but now he is suffering from an incurable brain tumor and plans to die at home. With their roles starkly reversed, Myra and Chip discover that it is often through facing death that we can truly begin to live.
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Photo credit: iStock / DmitriiSimakov