Open {{🍄}} Judging {{}} Closed and winners have been announced {{}} For over 20 years on Wattpad, I've discovered countless stories that deserved more love, more recognition, and more readers. That's why I created the Hidden Gems Reader's Choice Awards-a place where you, the readers, get to spotlight the underrated treasures of Wattpad. 💎 These awards celebrate originality, creativity, and emotional impact, shining a light on the stories and authors who may not have millions of reads, but have captured hearts all the same. Here, every vote matters, every voice counts, and every hidden gem gets the chance to sparkle. 🌟 Join us in honoring the passion, talent, and imagination that makes Wattpad such a special community. 📚❤️

Desert of No Return is a haunting and courageous novel that exposes the brutal realities of human trafficking through the eyes of a young woman betrayed by trust and circumstance. When Ireoluwa, a hopeful orphan living in Ibadan, accepts what seems like a chance at a better life, she unknowingly steps into a carefully woven trap. Renamed Tiara and stripped of her identity, she is forced through unimaginable suffering-from exploitation and abuse to a deadly journey across the desert into Libya. In a world ruled by cruelty and silence, Tiara discovers that even the smallest act of resistance can carry immense power. Her bravery, born from pain and compassion for others, becomes a spark of hope in a place where hope is forbidden. Desert of No Return is a powerful story of survival, sacrifice, and the devastating cost of human greed-reminding readers that courage can save lives, even in the darkest places.