Seven great books you probably haven't read (but should)

Featuring the memoir with my favourite last line in literature, and Indonesia's best-selling book of all time...

I should probably preface this by saying that some of you may have read, a few—or all—of the books included in this post. However, these are titles I’ve recommended to countless friends, many of whom have responded with blank stares, admitting they’d never even heard of, let alone read them.

It’s a reminder that no matter how widely read we are, some gems still manage to fly under the radar. I love each of these books for a different reason. They’re not just personal favourites, but are the kind of reads that stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page, and ones that I return to again, and again.

Do let me know in the comments below which—if any—of your favourite books deserve more fanfare—I’d love to add them to my ever-growing reading pile.

Places I Stopped on the Way Home by Meg Fee

Gosh, I love this book. It’s one that I recommend to all of my female friends, especially those whose twenties aren’t too far behind them. Places I Stopped on the Way Home is a memoir by Meg Fee, a Seattle-based essayist whose writing I’m obsessed with. It’s a book that I go back to again, and again, and one I’ve pressed into the hands of many-a-friend. Fee beautifully captures the struggles and small triumphs of self-discovery, heartache, and finding a sense of belonging. Her prose is bone-tingling, and the last line is my favourite of any book I’ve ever read.

The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata

I read The Rainbow Troops after a press trip to Indonesia a few years ago, in which we were given a literary tour of the island. During our week-long stay, we visited the Andrea Hirata’s Museum of Words in East Belitung, a treasure trove that paid homage to all things literary. I started The Rainbow Troops on my flight back to Australia, and by the time we landed I was a pathetic, blubbing mess. A powerful novel set in poverty-stricken Indonesia, it tells the true story of ten children who attend a dilapidated school under the guidance of two inspiring teachers. While it became the best-selling novel of all time in Indonesia, it didn’t didn’t achieve the same level of success internationally. One of my very favourite books, I challenge anyone to read it without being profoundly moved.

Under the Influence by Joyce Maynard

Joyce Maynard is an author who’s widely adored in the US, but none of my friends in the UK or Australia seem to have heard about her, let alone read any of her books. I adore both her memoirs—particularly The Best of Us—which charts her late husband Jim’s battle with cancer, but it’s Under the Influence that I’ve read more times than I can remember. The story follows Helen, a struggling young mother who has lost custody of her son. When she meets the wealthy Havillands, she starts to think her luck has changed. However, their friendship comes with strings attached, leading Helen into a dangerous web of power and greed. With complex characters and a compelling plot, Under the Influence is a story about the true cost of friendship and the lengths we’ll go to, to belong.

A Sunday in Ville D’Avray by Dominique Barbéris

A Sunday in Ville D’Avray is a quiet, introspective novella that explores human emotion and longing. It’s a tale about two sisters who reunite in a quiet Paris suburb. During a single afternoon, they reflect on their past, unfulfilled dreams, and the slow, melancholic rhythms of their lives. One sister shares a mysterious encounter with a stranger, adding a sense of intrigue and poignancy to their exchange. Written in a serene, almost dreamlike quality, with a slow and lingering pace, A Sunday in Ville D’Avray reflects the melancholic atmosphere of suburban life in France. Barbéris masterfully conveys the sense of yearning, the fleeting nature of memories, and the complexity of familial relationships.

Life Drawing by Robin Black

Right at the beginning of Life Drawing, readers are told about a significant event that will occur at the end of the book. However, I was so engrossed in the story that by the time I reached the end, I had completely forgotten I’d been forewarned. Set in a rural home (the type in which I hope one day to live), the story follows Augusta and Owen who’ve escaped the city to focus on their art. Their quiet life shifts when Alison, a vibrant and beautiful painter, moves next door, complicating their relationship. A rich and evocative novel, Life Drawing masterfully navigates the complexities of love and loss. Black does an excellent job of immersing readers in the deep emotional landscape of her characters, delivering a moving exploration of human relationships.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

A book that did make it fairly mainstream after the TV adaptation starring Olivia Coleman hit our screens, The Thirteenth Tale is a gothic, atmospheric, and richly layered novel about a biographer who uncovers family secrets while interviewing a reclusive author, revealing a haunting, mysterious past. Setterfield weaves together a haunting tale of family secrets, identity, and the blurred line between truth and fiction, while the dual narrative structure—combining a reclusive author’s past with a biographer’s present—adds depth and tension. A near perfect book, it’s rich with vivid characters and a beautifully melancholic mood that lingers long after you turn the final page.

I Love You Too Much by Alicia Drake

I Love You Too Much delves deep into the complexities of adolescence and family dynamics in a beautifully evocative way. Set against a quintessentially Parisian backdrop, the novel captures the loneliness and emotional turbulence of Paul, a boy caught between his parents' fractured lives. Drake’s vivid descriptions of Paris and the inner world of her characters create an atmosphere that’s raw, emotional, and completely unforgettable.