Okay, so let’s talk about the books that aren’t on the BookTok homepage or those mainstream must-read lists.
These are the kind of stories you stumble upon and suddenly wonder how your bookshelf ever felt full without them.
They’re a little weird, a lot emotional, and honestly? They’ll probably wreck you in the best way possible. If you’re a woman who reads not just for the plot, but for the feels, the vibe, the characters you want to psychoanalyze, then babe — you’re in the right corner of the internet.
1. “The Power” by Naomi Alderman
This one gave me actual goosebumps. Imagine: girls and women all over the world suddenly develop the ability to generate electric shocks with their hands. Yup, like real, zappy power. It flips the whole “who holds control” narrative right on its head — and it’s sharp, chilling, and lowkey genius.
💡 Perfect if you love: dystopian thrillers, feminist fiction, or yelling “WHAT IS HAPPENING” mid-chapter in the best way.
👉 “The Power” – Add it to your cart. Trust your future empowered self.
2. “The Book of Form and Emptiness” by Ruth Ozeki
Weird. Beautiful. Like walking through a museum of emotions where everything is softly glowing. It’s about a teen boy who starts hearing objects speak to him after his dad dies. Yes, objects. It’s poetic, meditative, and feels like a long, dreamy sigh.
📚 Perfect if you love: magical realism, grief explored gently, and books that feel like an existential hug.
👉 “The Book Of Form And Emptiness“– Buy it, read slowly, then stare into the void in the best way.
3. “Yolk” by Mary H.K. Choi
This one hit so close to home. It’s messy, it’s loud, it’s painfully real. Two sisters, NYC chaos, health scares, body image, identity — all tangled together with sarcasm and heart. The main character feels like your problematic bestie you’d fight for.
🎧 Perfect if you love: sister drama, millennial confusion, and the feeling of trying to adult but accidentally spiraling.
👉 “Yolk” – You’ll laugh, cry, then DM your sister “read this now.”
4. “Bunny” by Mona Awad
Okay so, this book is unhinged. In the best way. Think: dark academia with glitter and gore. A lonely girl gets pulled into a clique of hyper-feminine, culty creative writers called the Bunnies… and things go wild. Like, experimental horror levels of weird.
💀 Perfect if you love: satire, weird girl energy, “what did I just read?” books, and pink chaos.
👉 “Bunny” – Read this with a glass of wine and your weirdest friend on speed dial.
5. “The Pisces” by Melissa Broder
Yes, it’s about a merman. No, it’s not just about a merman. It’s sad, sexy, strange, and so honest about how heartbreak turns us a little feral. It’s about needing love so badly it borders on self-destruction — and yeah, the prose is chef’s kiss.
🌊 Perfect if you love: messy girls, poetic fiction, and love stories that are not getting turned into a Hallmark movie.
👉 “The Pisces” – Read it alone, late at night. Then text someone “you up?” (jk… unless?)
Final Thoughts
We’ve all read the trending books that everyone says are amazing. But these? These are the sleeper hits. The ones that whisper to you long after you’ve closed the back cover. They’re not just reads — they’re experiences.
So go ahead, romanticize your reading life. Get weird with your fiction. Cry over fictional people. It’s what we’re here for.
Keep checking in on wiggle nest — I’ve got plenty more offbeat, emotional, beautifully broken books to throw at you 💖
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