Reading Glasses – Ep 426: The Most Underrated Books of the Year

August 28, 2025 – Hosts: Brea Grant & Mallory O’Meara

Overview

In this episode, Brea and Mallory spotlight the most underrated books of 2025—and a few favorite backlist gems—lurking beneath the radar. They also answer listener questions about recovering when you don’t like an audiobook narrator and recommend reluctant love stories for romance-wary readers. Alongside friendly banter and signature humor, the pair share their latest reads and shout out listener feedback, highlighting the vibrant Reading Glasses community.

Recent Reads

(00:30–03:59)

Brea is Reading:

• Sweet Berries by C.M. Nacosta
  • A cozy fantasy romance set in Cambric Creek, this installment follows a Mothman character—“He’s covered in dust, in fluff. He only comes out at night.” (Mallory, 01:12)
  • The duo reminisces about their live event for Morning Glory Milking Farm and tease an upcoming bonus episode with Becky Feldman from Too Stupid to Live.

Mallory is Reading:

• Predatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith
  • YA speculative thriller featuring a mysterious luxury train and an enigmatic pair of twins hauling a suspicious greenhouse aboard. “I love a train book.” (Mallory, 03:31)

Listener Feedback

(03:59–07:29)

• Sarah: Uses her Last Word bookmark on a Kindle to mark the exact spot when interrupted: “I just leave it on my Kindle forever… when I do need to stop and respond to my husband in the middle of a paragraph, I Move the arrow down and I know right where to hop back in.” (Sarah via Mallory, 04:22)
• Dan: Gets complimented for his taste in books, credits Reading Glasses and other bookish podcasts.
• Amanda: Shares her “Crystal”—an ultra-reader friend who preview-reads and matches books to Amanda’s taste. “My wish for all glassers is that they may one day find a friend as cool as Crystal.” (Amanda via Mallory, 07:00)

Mallory and Brea’s Take: Everyone gets book recommendations from quirky sources, and every bookworm deserves a friend like Crystal (or, potentially, a co-host like each other).

Upcoming Event: Reading Glasses Readathon

(07:29–08:24)

• Next Readathon: Saturday, September 13th, 10 AM – 5 PM Pacific
• “This is a choose your own adventure Readathon.” (Mallory)

Main Topic: The Most Underrated Books of 2025 (and Backlist Gems)

(08:58–20:43) Get ready for titles you may not have heard of—books that deserve more buzz according to two professional book podcasters.

Underrated 2025 Releases

Brea’s Picks:

• It Rises Decay by George Takei, illustrated by Harmony Becker

  • A graphic memoir about coming out later in life, activism, and identity. “A really beautiful graphic novel. And I would encourage you, if you don’t pick up graphic novels very often, but this sounds like something you would like, pick up this graphic novel.” (Brea, 09:52)

• Harriet Tubman Live in Concert by Bob the Drag Queen

  • Literary novel where “Harriet Tubman comes back and wants to put out an album and she hires this hip-hop producer…” (Brea, 12:05)
  • Both educational and creative, but overlooked likely because the title sounds comedic.

Mallory’s Picks:

• Old Soul by Susan Barker

  • “Right now my tippity top of the whole year… If I had to pick one book for 2025, it’s Old Soul.” (Mallory, 10:42)
  • Described as literary horror with thriller and western notes, its genre-straddling nature perhaps leads to less attention.

• Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

  • Fast-paced YA sci-fi thriller about a family who wakes up in a dome, isolated with their belongings and farm animals: “I have been begging with bloody tears in my eyes… people in my life to read this book.” (Mallory, 12:41)

Underappreciated Backlist Books

Brea’s Picks:

• Shark Heart (2023)
  • Magical realism—people begin turning into animals, including a man into a great white shark. “It REALLY broke my heart in a way that I didn’t expect.” (Brea, 14:46)
• The Extinction of Experience by Christine Rosen
  • Nonfiction on the consequences of losing tactile, real-life experience in the digital era. “This one really hit home for me… I feel like it’s even more relevant today.” (Brea, 16:38)

Mallory’s Picks:

• Hazardous Spirits
  • Post-WWII Scotland. A woman’s husband claims he can speak to ghosts, upending her world. “I think this should have made a huge splash.” (Mallory, 15:05)
• This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staples
  • Short queer horror about an Ojibwe man, a supernatural ghost dog, and a small-town mystery: "I don’t know anyone else who has read this book ... but it’s great." (Mallory, 19:28)

Listener Question: Difficult Audiobook Narrators

(21:38–25:05) Lauren asks: Is it worth revisiting a book in a different format if the audiobook narration didn’t work for you?

Brea’s Advice

• “I would say 90% of the time it is the narrator, unfortunately.” (22:27)
• Try alternate audiobook versions (sometimes dramatizations exist).
• Some books, especially with large casts or heavy worldbuilding, are simply easier to read in print.

Mallory’s Perspective

• “Sometimes the book is just not for you. Regardless, my suggestion for this is to always check the sample... Because sometimes right away you know that the narrator is just not for you or you know, other way.” (Mallory, 23:30)
• Sampling is key before purchase or borrowing.

Bottom Line: It's normal to struggle with one format and love another—or just to DNF if it’s not clicking.

Rec: Reluctant Love Stories for Romance-Skeptical Listeners

(25:05–30:08) TK asks: Are there romance/love stories where the protagonist is distrustful of love or closed off, and the love interest wins them over? Bonus for male/male romances.

Brea’s Recs:

• The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
  • "This is often a trope... It's a huge trope that, like, these people are not looking for love." (Brea, 27:03)
• The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
  • Enemies-to-lovers, two guys stranded in space.
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
  • Male protagonist absolutely not seeking love, finds gentle romance.

Mallory’s Tips & Recs:

• “What you need to look for is the word reluctant.” (Mallory, 27:13)
• Evie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
  • Widow not interested in romance takes in a baseball player; both are reluctant, both are changed.
• Flying Solo by Linda Holmes
  • Woman returns to her hometown after a breakup, intent on being alone, but romance finds her.

Memorable Moment:
“I have been begging with bloody tears in my eyes... people in my life to read this book.” (Mallory, 12:51)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Everyone deserves a friend like Crystal.” (Mallory, 07:27)
• “So folks, we have literally edited my opinions out of the show because I am so—I do not want to receive really angry emails anymore...” (Mallory, 19:10)
• “I think the problem is the cover doesn’t say horror. The cover says, like, literary spec fic for some reason. And it just—I think horror people are missing it.” (Mallory, 10:42)

Episode Structure & Timestamps

• 00:30 — What are you reading?
• 03:59 — Listener feedback
• 07:29 — Next Readathon announced
• 08:58 — Main topic: Underrated books
• 14:18 — Backlist favorites
• 21:38 — Bookish problem: Audiobook narration
• 25:05 — Recommendation request: Reluctant love stories

Tone & Closing

Friendly, humorous, and practical as always: Brea and Mallory deliver recommendations with plenty of laughter, book nerd wit, and relatable honesty.

How to Find Discussed Books

Every title mentioned can be found in the show notes on the Maximum Fun website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your app’s episode description.

Keep sending your bookish queries and feedback to readingglassespodcast@gmail.com, and join the next Readathon for cozy communal reading!