If you liked this popular book, read this unpopular book

Hi guys! Today I’ll be taking (what I think are) popular books and giving recommendations for amazing books that are unpopular/underrated.

Match up #1:

Popular book:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Unpopular book:

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys

While Between Shades of Grey doesn’t have all of the elements of The Book Thief, it’s a really good book in and of itself.

Lina, her mom, and her younger brother are taken by the Soviets to a work camp in Siberia. On her journey, she draws pictures of things they pass, documenting their story- however risky that may be, hoping that one day, they might reach her father. The main themes focus on love, loss and survival, much like The Book Thief.

Match up #2:

Popular book:

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Unpopular book:

The Sky Above Us by Natalie Lund

The Sky Above Us is a mystery about three girls trying to figure out what happened before their brother, best friend, and boyfriend died in a plane crash- of the plane they were flying themselves. It delves into the personal elements of their relationships, which is why it has a lot of similarities to One of Us is Lying.

Match up #3:

Popular book:

Lovely War by Julie Berry (I know it’s not super popular, but it has gotten several awards, so)

Unpopular book:

In Another Time by Caroline Leech

Maisie ran away from her father to help out in the war effort. Now she’s a lumberjill. As she works, she slowly learns and grows and makes new friendships. When her friend John gets injured in a logging incident he opens up about his past and she discovers there might be a reason behind his actions.

I read this book twice, back to back, which is something I usually never do, if that tells you anything.

Match up #4:

Popular book:

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Unpopular book:

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

Kazi, a former street thief and pickpocket is sent by the queen to investigate one of the empire’s settlements. Soon, she learns there is more to the settlement’s leader than it appears. As the world as Kazi knows it is spiraling out of control, she is tossed into a hard to escape game of cat and mouse.

Match up #5:

Popular book:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Unpopular book:

The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey

Darcy is a obsessed with books- and has been since she was little. They provide a welcome escape from her mother’s hoarding. When she meets Asher, a former pilot with an uncertain future, she wants to come out of her hole and start living a real life again.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Did you agree with some of my matchups? Will you check out some of these books? Let me know in the comments!