14 Books That Should Have Gotten More Praise in 2015

All of us have secrets, thoughts, and ideas that remain deep inside the realms of our own mind. Unfortunately, those thoughts never reach the surface and become our own reality. For Leah Lax, entering a Hasidic Jewish community with arranged marriage and strong faith, hiding secrets became a skill. Uncovered is a unique memoir that details the journey of finding your own truth, and Leah Lax's story is remarkably revealing and relatable.

Sophie Stark has finally found a way to artistically express herself, by making independently produced documentaries — about her obsessions. Her first project is Daniel, a college basketball star. Yet as Stark's artistic eye and obsession begin to blur together, she finds herself the victim of a tragic retribution. A story of infatuation, fame and an unrelenting perseverance of the truth, The Life and Death of Sophie Stark is sure to become your haunting, new obsession.

Protecting your child is all a parent ever thinks about, and the first sleepover is a big deal. So when hovering mother Alyson finally puts her trust in her sister and allows her daughter, Lyla, to spend the night, she feels like she's made a big step. Unfortunately, Alyson's breakthrough moment is shattered when her daughter returns the next morning with an unbearable secret that could tear their family apart in the novel, The Word Game.

With the rise of racial violence in modern day America, it seems as though almost every city has had a statement, riot, or an act of protest. The rise in violence in 2015 alone has clouded the past, where many racial issues began. All Involved brings back the verdict of the 1992 Rodney King trial and the six days of violence that followed in South Central Los Angeles. Told through seventeen personal, yet interconnected stories, Gattis details past racial stigmas that outline modern day America.

After being neglected at home, Charles and Aidan do what any young, trouble-making duo would do — they run away. Eventually the two boys find themselves in the middle of a crime that could lock them up indefinitely. Running away yet again, the boys ditch the streets of Boston for the prestigious Boston Farm School — a place that doesn't accept anyone with a criminal record. The school is the perfect cover, but the boys soon learn, you can run from your life, but eventually you run out of steam in the novel, The Island of Worthy Boys.

A beautifully written coming-of-age novel, Dasha Kelly takes readers into the life of a young CeCe and the family ties that define a person. CeCe is living in poverty with her depressed mother and missing a father. Her own insecurities and environment should cripple her, but with motivation and strength, CeCe is able to dream big and find a successful career and personal life. Almost Crimson is an inspiring, heartfelt story that is sure to encourage you to keep moving forward.

With her witty and cunningly smart tactics, Josephine Breaux is the greatest reporter at Washington's Morning Clarion — always capturing both sides of the Union and Confederate activities. That is until her identity is revealed and she is arrested for treason. During the height of the civil war, Josephine discovers the real reason for her arrest and is faced with an ultimatum that could expose secrets and change the course of history in The Crescent Spy.

It's hard to miss the award-winning Gillian Flynn as an author, but you may have missed her most recent release, The Grownup: A Story by the Author of Gone Girl. This short novel tells a chilling tale of a woman who pretends to be a psychic until she discovers true evil. What begins as a visit to see a "client's" eerie Victorian home ends with three people being stuck in a psychological battle with ghosts, evil and grisly horror. This is a must read for fans of Flynn's award-winning Gone Girl and an exciting peek into George R.R. Martin's Rogues anthology.

What girl hasn't dreamt of living in New York City with a high-paying job, classy after-work martinis and a perfectly chiseled boyfriend? Well, for Mackenzie Corbett her childhood dream has just become a reality. Living every young woman's fantasy, Mackenzie is on the cusp of closing her law firm's biggest deal ever. With her career on the line, a nagging colleague and almost no sleep, Mackenzie soon finds out that those who thrive in New York City must also crumble as well in BIGLAW.

Simon Watson's family history isn't a typical journey through time. His mother was a "circus mermaid." His sister ran away years ago and is now reading tarot cards in a traveling carnival. Alone in his family home, working as a librarian, Simon begins researching the rich and dark history of his long gone relatives. As he digs deeper he discovers a disturbing pattern that has claimed generations of mermaids in his family — all on the same day. July 24 is fast approaching and as the days pass his fear for his sister grows. Follow Simon's race against time in this bold and beautiful debut story, The Book of Speculation.

As a woman forced into the testosterone-dominated world of the Naval Academy, Sara Dennings is doing everything she can to avenge her brother's death, by becoming the pilot he never could. As Sara is pushed to the edge in tests of mental and physical strength, she begins to lose touch with her feminine side. Suddenly, as her training regime becomes all too real, Sara is forced to reinvent herself and the woman she once knew, or soon fall to the same fate as her brother in the novel, Hover.

In case you haven't been keeping up with Oprah's Top 10 Books of 2015, you need to read The Only Ones by Carola Dibbell. A fascinating and daring debut, this novel takes place in a post-pandemic world as a woman named Inez volunteers as a test subject to make a living. When this experimental genetic work backfires, Inez is stuck responsible for a scientific breakthrough in the form of a baby girl named Ani. Peppered with influence from years of music writing, this is a punk-rock science fiction story you won't want to miss.

After the death of his father, Skanda is forced to return back to his home of Delhi, the city he has tried so hard to escape. Now an outsider to the dynamics of his family, Skanda must relive traditions and join the tragic turmoil of his parents' love. Taken from the ancient language of Sanskrit, itihasa, or "the way things indeed were," Aatish Taseer pieces together a cultural portrait of Indian families and the chaotic paradox of returning back to an estranged culture.

The iconic writer of 20th century fiction, Ernest Hemingway has portrayed himself in a way that seems almost unimaginable. Hemingway lives only in our minds and through his quintessential mastery works of literature. Before passing in 1961, Hemingway had been recording his secret life story through A.E. Hotchner for years. Thinking to keep the details of Hemingway's affairs, tragic accidents and human errors to himself, A.E. Hotchner could not contain Hemingway's story anymore and after reading Hemingway in Love, you may not be able to contain yours either.