**The sun sets and a warm sunset ensues with yellows and oranges and pinks taking over the sky. The smell of rain is in the air, but for now I just stare out at the sunset. Fireflies start to wink in the tall grass and I watch as the lights flicker creating an aesthetic with the sky. The fireflies dance around each other to the sound of the crickets in the grass. A light drizzle starts and quickly turns into a rain. I collect myself and watch the slow descent of the sun through my cottage window until it disappears behind the hills, saying goodnight.**

Have you ever read a book and all you could think about was how unique the story was? I have found several of these. Something about it was unique and just stood out from other books that I have read, even when they were similar in some ways. But something about it was just so different. Let’s take a look at a few of those books.

📚Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

While the story of this can be seen as unique, the fact that Joan is from a family of monsters, it doesn’t scream unique idea. It is, but I could imagine finding other books like that on a shelf. However, the magic system in this is one of the most unique I’ve ever read. This is a time travel story (I was kind of sold on this book when I learned that) and they can time travel by taking time from humans. This seemed like such a different idea I was excited to see. It seemed very well done too and it really made me think about magic systems in books.

📚The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

Even though this is a retelling of A Christmas Carol, it was still a very unique idea. Instead of changing her ways, Holly Chase does not change, dies, and becomes the new ghost of Christmas Past. This was kind of cheesy, but so funny and I really loved it. I thought this twist was done so well and was a very different story from other books and retellings I’ve read.

📚Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

When I think of time travel stories, I think of action and adventure. This book takes time travel and puts it in a cozy, low-key literary fiction story. There were a lot of rules to the time travel, but it allowed people to go back in time for as long as the coffee stayed warm and they had to leave before it got cold. I think the cozy literary fiction tone was what made this more unique, as well as the properties and rules of the travel.

📚House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

This book was crazy! It follows three sisters that disappear and a year later return exactly where they left with no memory of how they got there. I thought it was just okay, but the ending was insane and took a huge turn. I don’t want to give it away, but wow! It was so different from other stories I’ve read.

📚The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

Though not the biggest fan of this book, I can’t deny it was still unique. It takes place on an island where people forget objects and the Memory Police makes sure that the objects are destroyed, though there are a few people that remember. It was such an unusual story and, even though I wasn’t a fan, it still has stuck with me for being so different. I wanted to recommend it still because I know this story will be for someone.

📚 I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

I read this several years ago and it was such a unique idea. Two friends created a character called Princess X, but after one dies, the character dies with her. Some time later, one of the girls sees a poster for Princess X and finds out that her friend may still be alive. This book also has illustrations throughout which added to the story. I think that this story had lots of twists and turns and was unlike anything I had read before. It’s contemporary but has some mystery and thriller elements. I can’t really explain, but the story was just very different.

Even as a lifelong reader, I can still find books that stand out from others from its unique properties, whether it’s the overall story, a magic system, or the way the story is told. I love finding these books and can’t wait to find more. Have you found any unique books?

xoxo,

Just another reader