The Best Underrated eBooks of 2025: 10 Hidden Gems You Missed

You know the feeling. You scroll through “BookTok” or your Instagram feed, and it’s the same five neon-colored covers staring back at you. Again. It feels like the entire world is reading the exact same dragon rider academy novel or the same celebrity memoir.

But you? You’re looking for something else. You want that electric thrill of stumbling upon a story that feels like a secret—a hidden door in a bookstore wall that only you have found.

In 2025, the loudest books weren’t necessarily the best ones. While the algorithms were busy pushing the massive bestsellers, a quiet revolution of incredible storytelling was happening in the margins. From lyrical novellas about grammar-magic to gritty industrial fantasies and heart-wrenching indie romances, the real treasures were hiding in plain sight.

This isn’t a list of the New York Times bestsellers you already know. This is your treasure map to the best underrated ebooks of 2025—stories that deserve to be read, cherished, and shared.

What Makes an eBook a “Hidden Gem”?

Before we dive into the list, let’s define what we’re actually hunting for. In the vast ocean of digital publishing, a “hidden gem” isn’t just a book with low sales. It’s a specific kind of magic that meets three strict criteria:

• The “Under-1k” Club: These books often have fewer than 1,000 reviews on major platforms like Amazon or Goodreads, despite having stellar ratings (4.5 stars and up).
• The “Indie” Spirit: Many are published by independent presses or self-published authors who took creative risks that big publishers were too scared to touch.
• Genre-Bending: These stories often refuse to sit politely in one category. They are the “romantasy-thrillers” or the “cozy-grimdark” mysteries that defy the algorithm.

If you are ready to break free from the echo chamber, load up your Kindle or Kobo. Here are your new favorites.

The Unsung Heroes of Sci-Fi & Fantasy

2025 was the year of “Romantasy” juggernauts, but if you looked past the dragons-and-dating tropes, you found some of the most inventive world-building in a decade.

The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

If you loved This Is How You Lose the Time War, this standalone novella will wreck you in the best way possible. It’s a fairy tale about a town where grammar is magic and a woman who must sing to willow trees to keep her world safe.

• Why it’s a treasure: The prose is so lush it feels like drinking honey. It’s a short, potent shot of wonder that respects your time but lingers in your mind for weeks.
• Perfect for: Readers who want a story that feels like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.

Grave Empire by Richard Swan

Forget medieval knights. This is “flintlock fantasy” at its finest. Set in a world on the brink of an industrial revolution, it mixes gunpowder, arcane horror, and political intrigue.

• Why it’s a treasure: It’s dark, gritty, and complex—a “Grimdark” novel for people who think they hate Grimdark. It challenges the standard fantasy tropes of “good vs. evil” with a messy, realistic world of gray morality.
• The Vibe: Peaky Blinders meets The Witcher.

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

This April 2025 release is the definition of a hidden gem. Set in 1910s Coney Island, it follows a Puerto Rican ironworker who builds a tank for a sideshow, only to fall in love with the merman trapped inside.

• Why it’s a treasure: It’s a queer, historical romantasy that deals with colonialism, identity, and love in a way that feels achingly real. The author is also an illustrator, and her visual eye translates into breathtaking descriptions.

Table 1: Your Fantasy Story Ingredients

Not sure which one to pick? Check the “recipe” below to see what matches your taste.

Gripping Thrillers & Mysteries Flying Under the Radar

The thriller charts are usually clogged with “The Girl Who…” titles. These picks, however, offer something sharper.

The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos

This July release flew under the radar for many, but it is a masterclass in modern Western mystery. Sheriff Porter Beck patrols the high deserts of Nevada, dealing with everything from nuclear secrets to old-school murder.

• Why it’s a treasure: It’s smart. The protagonist isn’t a brooding alcoholic stereotype; he’s witty, capable, and facing modern threats (cyber-warfare) in an ancient setting.

Grimdark by Shannon Morgan

Don’t let the title fool you—this isn’t a fantasy war novel. It’s a gothic mystery released in late July 2025. It spans three timelines (1216, 1645, and present day) centered around a spooky English manor.

• Why it’s a treasure: It perfectly blends historical fiction with supernatural horror. If you like the “past lives” trope and atmospheric dread, this is unputdownable.

Indie Romance: Hidden Love Stories of 2025

Romance readers are the most voracious on the planet, which means the “best” lists are often just the “most marketed” lists. Here is a story that offers genuine connection.

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

While not strictly “unknown,” this book didn’t get the massive viral explosion it deserved compared to other rom-coms this year. It follows a divorced school teacher and a wealthy hotelier who start a “no strings” fling that gets complicated fast.

• Why it’s a treasure: It tackles toxic family dynamics with incredible nuance. It’s not just about the romance; it’s about a woman learning to set boundaries and find her voice. The “heat” level is high, but the emotional payoff is even higher.

Table 2: Romance “Ingredients” Breakdown

Non-Fiction Treasures for Self-Growth

Sometimes the best escape is a deep dive into reality.

The Waterbearers by Sasha Bonét

This memoir/cultural history explores the spiritual and healing roles Black women have played throughout history.

• Why it’s a treasure: It’s beautifully written non-fiction that feels like a conversation with a wise friend. It weaves personal narrative with history in a way that feels grounding and expansive—perfect for a year where everything felt a bit chaotic.

How to Find These eBooks (Format & Device Guide)

You found the book you want, but now you need to get it onto your device without a headache.

• Kindle Users: Look for MOBI or AZW3 files if buying directly from an author’s website. If you only have an EPUB, use the “Send to Kindle” email feature—Amazon converts it automatically now!
• Kobo/Nook/iPad: EPUB is your best friend. It is the universal standard.
• PDF: Avoid this for reading novels if you can. It doesn’t “reflow” text, meaning you’ll be pinching and zooming on your phone screen like it’s 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Where can I find these best underrated ebooks 2025?

A: While available on Amazon, many of these “hidden gems” put more money in the author’s pocket if you buy from platforms like Kobo, Barnes & Noble, or direct from the author’s website/Carrd link.

Q: Are indie ebooks lower quality than traditional books?

A: Absolutely not. In 2025, the line is blurrier than ever. Many professional authors (like Richard Swan or Alexis Daria) release books that rival or exceed the editing and production quality of the “Big 5” publishers.

Q: How do I find hidden gems before they go viral?

A: Stop looking at the “Top 100” charts. instead, browse the “Movers & Shakers” lists deep in specific sub-categories (e.g., “Metaphysical Fantasy” instead of just “Fantasy”). Also, subscribe to newsletters like Ebook Treasures that do the digging for you.

Conclusion

The best story of your year might be waiting in a file size of just 2MB, written by an author you’ve never heard of—until now. 2025 has been a stellar year for the underdogs, the risk-takers, and the quiet storytellers.

So, do yourself a favor. Skip the book everyone is talking about at the water cooler. Download one of these treasures instead. You might just find that the best view is the one nobody else is looking at.

Have you read any of these hidden gems? Or do you have a secret favorite from 2025 that we missed? Drop a comment below—we love adding new treasures to our map!