hidden #loveozya gems // top ten tuesday

I am so glad to be a part of the book blogging community. I love that it gives me (and everyone else) the freedom to gush about our favourite books without judgement. And that it's full of kind-hearted individuals like yourself who always take the time to read and comment nice things.

A subject that is regularly discussed in the book community is highly-anticipated releases. While I like discussing "popular" books as much as the next book blogger, I also really enjoy promoting less well-known novels as well. Those "hidden gems", if you will. Last year, in particular, I read quite a few lesser-known novels that I absolutely loved!

And that just so happens to be the topic for this week's Top Ten Tuesday! All of the books on my list have fewer than 1000 ratings on Goodreads (which is ridiculous, because they're amazing!) and apart from the very first book, the rest are all by Australian authors (which on one hand is great because it means I'm reading more #LoveOzYA, but on the other hand not so great because it means that Aussie authors aren't necessarily receiving the best exposure...).

So today I'm pleased to be able to share some hidden #LoveOzYA gems that I really enjoyed and I hope that it inspires you to pick some of them up! 

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl, with a new topic to respond to every week.

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1. Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard

(131 ratings)

This is the recently-released companion novel to Barnard's bestseller Beautiful Broken Things and it is absolutely amazing so I don't expect it will remain a hidden gem for long. Check out my review from my stop on the #AusYABloggers blog tour.

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2. Night Swimming by Steph Bowe

(213 ratings)

A quirky YA contemporary set in a quintessential Australian country town, feat. cute friendships, an adorable f/f romance, and a pet goat called Stanley.

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3. Take Three Girls by Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood

(571 ratings)

This is a wonderful story about the importance of female empowerment and supportive friendships and is just brimming with hopefulness and positivity.

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4. Becoming Kirrali Lewis by Jane Harrison

(177 ratings)

A charming yet sometimes uncomfortable exploration of identity, indigenous rights, and racism in 1980s Australia.

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5. City of Lies by Sam Hawke

(870 ratings)

The only non-YA novel on this list, City of Lies is a debut high fantasy full of poison, lies, and political intrigue that keeps you guessing until the very end. I can't wait for the sequel!

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6. The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil

(711 ratings)

A sweet and innocent tale of first love between two highly adorkable, nerdy MCs. It's by no means the best book ever written, but it's about SCIENCE and MAGIC, which are two of my favourite things.

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7. The Art of Taxidermy by Sharon Kernot

(132 ratings)

This is a beautiful middle-grade verse novel about love and grief. Every word projects such stunning and vivid imagery that you truly feel like you're actually there in post-WWII Australia.

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8. Valentine by Jodi McAlister

(579 ratings)

 Featuring a smart and sassy female protagonist and mysterious and murderous supernatural beings, this is an urban fantasy that ticks all the boxes! Also, the third and final book in the series, Misule, just came out so now is the perfect time to binge-read the trilogy!

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9. The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde

(680 ratings)

The Brightsiders is the colourful and diverse queer coming-of-age story that I didn't realise I needed in my life. And therefore you need in your life, too.

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10. After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson

(324 ratings)

A gripping, intense, and suspenseful survivalist story set deep in the Australian outback. The setting and themes reminded me a lot of Tomorrow, When The War Began by John Marsden.

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Have you read any of these books? Or have I encouraged you to give them a chance? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave a link to your TTT so I can find out about YOUR hidden gems! 

Niamh, xo.