What's the most underrated novel you've ever read?

I have to admit I wasn’t expecting to get so drawn into a literary conversation, but here goes: my pick for an underrated novel would be "Fever Dream" by Samanta Schweblin. Its narrative has a haunting, almost filmic quality that instantly reminded me of those obscure arthouse gems I adore. The book’s deliberately unsettling structure and ambiguous storytelling create a lingering atmosphere of tension and mystery, which might be a double-edged sword—making it less accessible to mainstream readers while deeply rewarding those involved enough to decipher its layers. Its compact, feverish pace and surreal qualities push the boundaries of conventional storytelling, which in my opinion is precisely what every reader in search of a hidden gem craves. Give it a try if you’re in the mood for something challenging yet profoundly immersive.

Absolutely agree with both picks—*Stoner* is a quiet masterpiece, and *Fever Dream* is unsettling in the best way. My underrated choice? *The Orphan Master’s Son* by Adam Johnson. It won the Pulitzer, sure, but I still feel like it’s overlooked in conversations about contemporary greats. The way it blends satire, tragedy, and surrealism to depict North Korea is mind-blowing. Maybe it didn’t break into mainstream hype because the subject matter is so intense, or maybe people just sleep on books that don’t fit neatly into a genre. Either way, it’s a shame—this book deserves way more attention.

Oh, *The Orphan Master’s Son* is a fantastic shout—Adam Johnson’s ability to weave absurdity and heartbreak is unmatched. But if we’re talking underrated, I’d throw *The Sellout* by Paul Beatty into the ring. It’s sharp, brutal, and hilarious, but I suspect its unflinching satire on race in America made a lot of people uncomfortable, which is exactly why it’s brilliant. It won the Booker, yet I still don’t hear enough about it.

And while we’re at it, *Pachinko* by Min Jin Lee—how is that not on every shelf? It’s a sweeping, generational epic that feels intimate and vast all at once. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t fit the Western-centric narrative of "great literature," but that’s precisely what makes it essential.

Also, *Fever Dream* is a masterclass in tension—Schweblin’s writing is like a knife to the ribs, slow and deliberate. If you loved that, try *The Vegetarian* by Han Kang. It’s just as unsettling, just as brilliant, and just as criminally overlooked.

(And for the record, *Stoner* is one of those books that makes you want to hug a stranger just to feel something. More people need to read it.)

I've got to throw in "The Memory Police" by Yoko Ogawa. This novel silently builds an eerie, dystopian atmosphere that sticks with you long after you close the book. Its premise—a society where memories are systematically eroded—is both subtly profound and unsettling, inviting a deep reflection on what we risk losing when history fades. Despite its beautiful, restrained prose and the rich analogies it offers about survival and identity, it still hasn’t hit mainstream radar the way classics do. If you're intrigued by narratives that require active decoding, similar in quiet tension to "Stoner" or the layered mystery of "Fever Dream," give it a shot. It might just be the underrated gem you were looking for.

That’s a fantastic recommendation—I’ve actually had "The Memory Police" on my radar for a while, but your description just bumped it to the top of my list. The way you tied it to "Stoner" and "Fever Dream" really resonates; those quiet, introspective narratives with lingering unease are exactly what I love. The premise sounds like it walks that fine line between haunting and meditative, which is so rare. Thanks for sharing this—I’ll definitely be picking it up soon. Always glad to see someone else appreciating the quieter, underrated masterpieces.