Looking for your next great read? 7 books that you may have missed out on.

While the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" is often used metaphorically, today, I am using it quite literally. Following are 5 books (plus 2), which when I judged their covers (or more often, the back-cover blurb) I could not imagine wading into, let alone enjoying, but which are now among my favorites.

I love to read, but up until more recently, my tastes kept to a fairly narrow, commercially successful group of authors - Stephen King, John Grisham, Tom Clancy, and a few others. That is to say, the books listed below, although commercially successful in their own right, were well out of my comfort and interest zones. But each of them ended up being more than a "good read" and have joined my list of favorites. Most are at least a couple of years old, so if you are a heavy reader, you may have already read them all. If not, do yourself a favor, skip past the cover(s) and dive in!.

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel by Amor Towles | September 6, 2016

My wife's family exchanges books at Christmas. My "misguided" brother-in-law selected this book for me. It follows the main character, a Russian aristocrat, through his many decades of house arrest - beginning in 1922 - in the Metropol Hotel in Moscow.

It is a beautifully written book with great characters. I found myself completely absorbed, in a way I could never have imagined, in Count Alexander Rostov's day-to-day life and adventures in the hotel.

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey | May 11, 2004

A Million Little Pieces was a controversial book when it was released. First published as a memoir, it was later revealed to be semi-fictional. I would never have given it a chance except that it came highly recommended from a friend that struggled with addiction in her past. It was a brilliant read. Fast-paced, highly believable (and apparently realistic), and full of interesting characters.

All The Light We Cannot See: A Novel by Anthony Doerr | May 6, 2014

My wife insisted that I would enjoy this book. I finally relented and now accept all of her recommendations without question :-). Set in World War II Europe, this book is driven by memorable characters and their wartime struggles. It is beautifully written and definitely one of my Top 5 favorite books. A must-read.

Bonus Book:

Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel by Mark Sullivan | May 1, 2017

In search of another World War II-era novel after finishing and loving All The Light We Cannot See, this book did not disappoint. Set in WW II Italy and based on a true story, it follows the story of Pino Lella, a young Italian man growing up during the war and under the fascist government that he opposes. This book demonstrates both the inspiring and demoralizing aspects of human nature.

How to Stop Time: A Novel by Matt Haig | February 6, 2018

There is a new cover for this book should you go looking for it, but this is the cover that I judged it by. This is another one of my wife's recommendations. I have been reading more science fiction lately, especially time travel and multiverse stories. This one fits into that category but is more about the human condition rather than science. It is thoroughly enjoyable if you like such tales.

Bonus Book:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig | September 29, 2020

I enjoyed How to Stop Time so much, that I went in looking for other Matt Haig novels and came across this one, which to my delight, was even better. We all want to live our best lives and this book gives its main character an opportunity to try on and explore some of the many versions that her life could have been.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens | August 14, 2018

I don't know how to describe this book. The "blurb," describes the story, but doesn't do the book justice. It is masterfully written - elegant in its simplicity, has unforgettable characters, and is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching at the same time. Perhaps the best I can do is to say that it is probably my all-time favorite book, and was near impossible to put down once I started it.

I would love to know what books would you add to this list?