5 Underrated Books of 2025 That You Definitely Missed (But Shouldn’t)
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Okay, can we be honest for a second? If I see one more “Best of 2025” list that features the exact same five celebrity memoirs and that one Romantasy book everyone is fighting about on TikTok, I might scream.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a bestseller. But the real magic happens in the mid-list—the weird, wonderful, quiet books that didn’t get the million-dollar marketing budget but are actually better than the stuff on the front table at Barnes & Noble.
I’ve done the digging so you don’t have to. I pulled these five absolute gems out of the noise. They are weird, they are specific, and I guarantee your book club hasn’t read them yet. Here are the five most underrated books of 2025 you need to grab immediately.
1. The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie
The Vibe: Breaking Bad meets a small-town family reunion.
What’s the deal: We are in Maine, and Babs Dionne is the matriarch. She also happens to be running the local drug trade. But this isn’t some high-octane action flick; it’s a deeply human story about what we leave behind for our kids.
Why you need it: You know that feeling when a book is so tense you forget to drink your coffee? That is this book. It’s funny, tragic, and nobody is talking about it enough. Be the friend who recommends this one first.
2. Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton
The Vibe: A chaotic Italian vacation with a dash of magical realism.
What’s the deal: Buxton wrote Hollow Kingdom (the one with the zombie apocalypse crow), so you know she’s weird in the best way. This time, we’re in Tuscany dealing with a giant truffle. Yes, a truffle. Just go with it.
Why you need it: It is pure sunshine in book form. If you are feeling burned out by all the “sad girl” literary fiction that came out this year, this is the palate cleanser you are looking for. It’s hilarious and lush.
3. The Slip by Lucas Schaefer
The Vibe: Friday Night Lights but darker and punchier.
What’s the deal: A teenage boxer vanishes in Texas. The mystery is solid, but the real hook is how Schaefer writes about the people left behind. It’s a debut, which is probably why it flew under the radar, but the writing is veteran-level good.
Why you need it: This is one of those books that hurts your feelings in the best possible way. It’s short, punchy, and absolutely devastating. You’ll race through it in a weekend.
4. Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
The Vibe: Black Mirror episodes written by someone who spends too much time on the internet.
What’s the deal: Kate Folk is the queen of “wait, what?” fiction. This collection of short stories is bizarre, modern, and slightly unhinged. There is literally a story about a woman obsessed with airplanes (hence the title).
Why you need it: It’s audacious. It’s weird. It’s perfect for when you have a short attention span but want to read something that makes you question reality.
5. The Captive by Kit Burgoyne
The Vibe: A hostage thriller for people who overthink everything.
What’s the deal: A wealthy heiress gets kidnapped by an anti-capitalist group. Sounds cliché? It’s not. It’s actually a satire that flips the script on power dynamics constantly. Fun fact: “Kit Burgoyne” is a pseudonym for Ned Beauman, so you know the prose is sharp.
Why you need it: It’s smart without being boring. It’s a thriller that treats you like an intelligent adult, and it manages to be funny while keeping the stakes high.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, 5 seriously underrated books of 2025.
Seriously, skip the bestseller list this month. Pick up The Slip or Tartufo instead. You get to support incredible authors who deserve the hype, and you get the satisfaction of saying, “Oh, that old thing? Yeah, I read it months ago,” when they finally blow up.
Want to track these recommendations? Download my new Reading Journal by joining the club.
Have you read any of these books? I’d be genuinely surprised if you did. Let me know in the comments below!
Bye!
