Short novels anyone can read in a day
If you're short on time or short on energy, then a short book is a good choice.
If you’re not the fastest reader, or you are a fast reader and want to read a different book every day, then here are some short novels for you to add to your to-read list.
Elizabeth and her German Garden by Elizabeth Van Armin
This is a creative memoir, following the seasons of Elizabeth Van Armin’s garden in the early 20th century. It’s a story of a wife and a mother, and the escape a garden can be for someone living a hectic life. Perfect for people who enjoy lyrical and descriptive prose and who need a reminder to sit down and smell the roses.
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Heartburn is a very short semi-biographical novel about a heavily pregnant woman discovering her politician husband has been having an affair, and is in love with the other woman. Based on Nora Ephron’s own experience of discovering her husband’s infidelity while she was pregnant, this story is an acidic and hilarious novella about starting over, when you’re already experiencing change.
Passing by Nella Larson
Passing is a breathtaking novella from 1929 and a precursor to Britt Bennet’s The Vanishing Half. The story follows Clare, a fair-skinned black woman who passes as white in Harlem, New York while her friend Irene, who could also ‘pass’ but lives as African-American. The two are fascinated with each other’s lives and it leads to tragic consequences.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
This book’s title says it all. What if your little sister was a serial killer and you were responsible for clearing up her messes? It’s a surprisingly witty novel about an older sister with strong family ties. But her strange life is pulled further apart when her serial killer sister begins to date the man she, the protagonist, is in love with. It’s a lot of fun.
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Set in Mexico, this tiny novella is only 90 pages long but it packs a punch. The story starts with a child being stung by a scorpion, but the doctor turns him and his family away as they’re poor. The following day the father of the child finds a pearl; the most beautiful and expensive pearl ever found. What follows is a story of morals, ethics, and greed.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
And finally, A Christmas Carol. The perfect novella to read at Christmas - although it can be read all year round. It’s another story that focuses on morals and love, but it is also a supernatural ghost story. Perfect for reading before going to bed on Christmas Eve, with a warm cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate.
What short novels and novellas would you recommend to readers looking to finish a book fast? Let me know in the comments below.