8 of the best books with the absolute worst characters.

In recent months, I've become obsessed with bad people in books. 

I don't mean villains or evil psychopaths — I'm talking about selfish narrators. Moody main characters who can be cruel, thoughtless, complicated. I want deeply flawed, essentially unlikeable protagonists who have a chip on their shoulder.

It's just so much more interesting, don't you think? When you can feel as much disgust for a character as you feel sympathy, and even love, right? 

RIGHT?!

Watch: If all the girls in the world could read. Post continues below.

Either way, I've been devouring any book I can get my hands on that has genuinely bad people leading them — from disturbing fabulism to classic romance and nail-biting thrillers.

So, here are the best eight books I've read so far, led by wholly unlikeable characters.

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado.

Image: Booktopia/Mamamia.

If you want to feel a little disturbed but mostly moved, you should absolutely read Her Body And Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. It's a series of short stories that cover all sorts of genres, from science fiction to comedy, horror (!!!!), fantasy and fabulism.

The book also mixes urban legends and old wives' tales, including my personal favourite chapter, entitled 'The Husband Stitch', which is about the implications of a husband who attempts to control his wife's life.

None of the characters are particularly 'good'. They're all complicated, rather unlikeable and obviously damaged. However, Machado is very talented at making her stories so relatable, or sometimes so fantastical, that you genuinely forget all of her characters... kinda suck.

Homesick For Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh.

Image: Booktopia/Mamamia.

This was the first book I read from Ottessa Moshfegh and I went in blithely unaware of how... gross I would feel afterwards. Homesick For Another World is another collection of short stories (sorry!) and the themes are... well, horrifying. 

Each story is narrated by society's underdogs — the kind of people you might avoid on the street. Despite their unsavoury discussions and grim outlook on life, though, Moshfegh's writing is both brilliant and humorous. It's a strange mix of revulsion and amusement that makes this book an unforgettable read. 

Bunny by Mona Awad.

Image: Booktopia/Mamamia.

Samatha Heather Mackey is a lonely, strange girl and she couldn't be more of an outsider in her MFA program at Warren University. She's estranged from her wealthy and cliquey classmates — in particular, a group of girls who dub themselves the 'Bunnies'. Despite her dislike of them, though, Samantha is drawn into the Bunnies' inner circle and becomes absolutely captivated, even though she knows there is something deeply wrong with all of them.

This book is scary, compelling, disturbing and, honestly, really touching.

While you may sympathise with Samantha, her constant complaining can also be grating. Nevertheless, Bunny is a fantastic read that keeps you hooked until the very end.

None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell.

Image: Booktopia/Mamamia.

In None Of This Is True, Lisa Jewell brings together two women who share the same birthday and were born in the same hospital but come from vastly different backgrounds. Alix Summer seems to have it all — a perfect family, a successful podcast, and a beautiful home. On the other hand, there's Josie, who grew up in a council estate, with a past scarred by abuse and grooming.

Their lives become intertwined when Josie offers up her complicated and frankly dreary story to Alix to tell on her podcast. From there, disturbing truths begin to unravel.

Both characters are pretty complicated and at times incredibly irritating, because they make a lot of bad decisions that hurt a lot of people. Overall though, None Of This Is True is one of those books you devour in an evening. If the suspense doesn't kill you, the characters' audacity surely will.

What books do you love that have unlikeable characters? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Booktopia/Mamamia.