One of the worst, most dreaded feelings in a book lover’s life is when the book they picked up because everyone and their mother raved about it on their FYPs ends up not being an instant favorite. Or worse: it lands in your Did Not Finish pile, and gets shelved on your Goodreads. I get it, we’ve all been there. If you’re considering looking beyond the usual Bookstagram and BookTok picks, then look no further. I’ve compiled a list of five of my favorite, underrated books that I haven’t seen very much buzz (or any buzz at all) about on social media.
If historical fiction novels about rock ‘n’ roll bands that don’t exist, doomed socialites, bohemians in ‘50s Greenwich Village, and coming-of-age in ‘70s suburbia, and a touch of Old Hollywood-infused children’s literature are up your alley, then read on. Your next best read awaits!
Teddy by Emily Dunlay
Described as “Mad Men meets White Lotus,” Emily Dunlay’s Teddy does not disappoint and it certainly lives up to that showstopping description. This historical fictional novel expertly transports readers to 1969 Rome, Italy, which is not only one of my favorite time periods and countries, but it also has all of the espionage, glitz, and glamor anyone could ever ask for. In Rome, we meet Teddy Huntley Carlyle, a 30something socialite who has left her native Dallas, Texas to marry an American diplomat assigned to work at the American embassy in Italy and start anew. In Rome, Teddy hopes to shed her past and become the most enlightened, shiny, and bright version of herself. That is, until a fateful Fourth of July bash at the embassy threatens to unravel and reveal just about everything she’s tried so hard to outrun.
Filled with vibrant imagery of late ‘60s Italy, a complex and flawed female heroine you have no choice but to root for, and political figures on their worst behavior, Teddy is the quintessential read for anyone who craves a book about beautiful people behaving badly (and a plane ticket to Roma).
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau is one of the most charming books I have ever read. I devoured it in a day — and then cried when it was over (because it was simply that good). This historical fiction novel is set in 1970s Baltimore and follows 14-year-old Mary Jane on a life-changing, unforgettable summer. When Mary Jane lands a respectable summer job working as a nanny for the neighborhood doctor, Dr. Cone, she is overjoyed — and so are her conservative, uptight parents. However, a week after her stint as a nanny begins, Mary Jane’s ‘respectable’ job soon turns anything but as a highly famous rockstar and his equally famous actress/singer wife move in so that Dr. Cone can treat his substance abuse issues, move in. From that moment on, everything changes for Mary Jane, and she is introduced to a vibrant, chaotic yet beautiful and liberal world that is the ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll scene that turns her conservative upbringing on its head.
This coming-of-age story is perfect for anyone who lists Almost Famous as one of their comfort movies, had a “I was born in the wrong generation” phase, or anyone who adores historical fiction. Mary Jane is full of heart, humor, and will become an instant reread for anyone who has the pleasure of picking it up.
Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo, Illustrated by Julia Denos
Growing up, my parents as well as my grandparents always had the TV constantly turned to the Turner Classic Movies channel, and so my education in Old Hollywood movies began very early — and it has stuck with me. Like many other young girls and women, one of my favorite classic Hollywood stars is — and always will be — the impeccable, intelligent, and beautiful Audrey Hepburn. This is why Margaret Cardillo’s picture book, Just Being Audrey, earns a spot on this list and a special place in my heart.
This children’s book is a touching and moving tribute to Audrey Hepburn’s life and legacy. It introduces young readers to not only Audrey Hepburn’s luminous filmography and stage career, but more importantly, it introduces them to her humble beginnings as a little girl in Nazi-occupied Europe, who overcame the odds stacked against her and used her own stardom to help other children in need. Complete with beautiful and soft illustrations, children and Old Hollywood fans alike will be absolutely delighted by this underrated picture book — and it’ll leave you craving an Audrey Hepburn movie marathon.
Three-Martini Lunch by Suzanne Rindell
Think of Mad Men but swap out the advertising world for the publishing world, and change the decade from the 1960s to the 1950s, and you’ve got Suzanne Rindell’s Three-Martini Lunch. This historical fiction novel is nothing short of thrilling, page-turning, and evocative. I could not put it down! Set in 1958 New York City, we follow three very ambitious yet very different young people on their journeys to succeed in the cutthroat world of book publishing. There’s Cliff Nelson, the son of an acclaimed book editor, who is convinced he’s the next great member of the Beat Generation. Then, you have Eden Katz, who has ambitions of becoming a book editor, but is often hit with patriarchal roadblocks while trying to make that dream a reality. And, finally, we meet Miles Tillman, a gifted black writer from Harlem, who desires to uncover the family secrets and falls in love with someone he least expected to.
Three-Martini Lunch will transport readers directly into 1950s New York, but it also refuses to give them any false nostalgia as Rindell does not shy away from exposing the era’s sexism, racism, and homophobia. It is rich with twists, turns, and conflicts that will have you turning these 517 pages in no time.
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
How The Final Revival of Opal & Nev did not get the same acclaim or develop the same fandom that Daisy Jones & the Six did is and always will be beyond me. This chilling, provocative, and absolutely electrifying novel takes us on a journey through the 1970s rock ‘n’ roll scene, and exposes all of the severe misogyny and racism that existed (and still does) within it. This novel follows music journalist, S. Sunny Shelton, as she curates an oral history about Opal and Nev, an iconic rock ‘n’ roll duo consisting of afro-punk rocker Opal and British singer/songwriter Neville Charles. However, when she uncovers a glaringly dark, new allegation behind the real reason why the duo went their separate ways, and what really happened at that promotional concert in the early seventies, Sunny’s oral history project and the duo’s 2016 reunion tour could be torn apart.
Filled with vibrant characters, voices, and daring storytelling, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is incredibly layered and one book you cannot miss.
From narratives about an unorthodox socialite in 1960s Rome to a journalistic, fictional account about the real reason why the rock ‘n’ roll duo went their separate ways, these five books are sure to transport, intrigue, and delight readers. I do hope you adore these (or, at least one) books as much as I do. Happy reading and get those pages turning!
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