“But what it takes to get there isn’t what you need once you’ve arrived.”
Looking for the best short books to read in one sitting? Sometimes you just want a quick, satisfying read – a story you can finish in an afternoon, on a weekend or even in one evening. Whether you’re trying to hit a reading goal, get out of a slump, or simply don’t have the time for a 600-page novel, short books can be just as powerful and just as memorable. At What We Reading, we’re curating our favourite short books under 200 pages, fast-paced novels, and quick reads you won’t want to put down. From contemporary fiction to classic novellas, these are the best short books for busy readers who love a good story but don’t have the hours to spare. Perfect for book clubs, travel days, or cosy afternoons, these short books show that great stories don’t need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impression!
Before The Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi
First up on our list of the best short books is Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold, a thought-provoking novel set in a small Tokyo cafe with a unique twist: it offers customers the opportunity to travel back in time, but only under strict conditions. The key rule is that the coffee must remain hot while the traveller is in the past.
The story follows four characters who each have personal reasons for wanting to revisit moments from their lives. These moments of reflection and regret bring emotional depth to the narrative, touching on themes of love, loss, and the consequences of our choices. With an emphasis on human connections and the passage of time, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is an enchanting blend of magical realism and poignant storytelling. Kawaguchi’s writing is simple yet moving, creating a space where readers can reflect on their own experiences and relationships.
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Every Heart A Doorway – Seanan McGuire
The first entry in the Wayward Children series, Every Heart a Doorway, blends elements of fantasy and mystery in a darkly whimsical way. The story orbits around Eleanor West, a woman who runs a boarding school for children who have travelled to other worlds and returned, unable to reintegrate into their mundane lives. These children had once discovered doorways to magical realms, only to be sent back to the real world, leaving them lost and longing for the worlds they had left behind.
The novel hones in on Nancy, a young girl who returns from a world of darkness and strange creatures, and her struggles in assimilating back into a world she no longer understands. As Nancy settles into the school, she and her fellow students find themselves caught up in a deadly mystery as one of them is murdered. Seanan McGuire’s novella beautifully explores themes of belonging, identity and finding a place where you truly fit in, making this one of the best short books for fantasy and coming-of-age readers alike.
We Have Always Lived In The Castle – Shirley Jackson
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson is a darkly atmospheric novel about two sisters, Merricat and Constance Blackwood, who live in isolation with their Uncle Julian in their crumbling family estate. The Blackwood family has been ostracized from the nearby village following a tragic event years prior to the story kicking off, where most of their relatives were poisoned. Constance, the elder sister, was acquitted of the crime, but the townspeople still view the family with suspicion and disdain.
Told through Merricat’s perspective, the novel develops in a chilling and unreliable voice, revealing the sisters’ peculiar relationship, their strange routines, and their eerie connection to the house. When a cousin, Charles, arrives with intentions of claiming the family fortune, the sisters’ delicate insular world gradually unravels. Through Jackson’s trademark psychological tension and gothic horror, this is one of the classic short books you won’t be able to put down as you walk the fine line between sanity and madness.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 – Cho Nam-Joo
Credited as the international bestseller that helped launch Korea’s feminist movement, Cho Nam-Joo’s Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is a snappy, thought-provoking novel that charts the everyday struggles of women in contemporary South Korea. The story centres around Kim Jiyoung, an ordinary woman who seems to be living a conventional life. However, beneath her surface is a deep well of frustration and exhaustion with the gender inequality that permeates across society.
As Kim Jiyoung’s life unfolds, we see the societal pressures she is expected to face as a daughter, wife, and mother. From childhood to adulthood, the story highlights how women are often expected to conform to restrictive gender roles and the toll these expectations take on both their mental and emotional well-being. Eventually, Kim begins to exhibit disturbing behaviours, which leads to her family seeking out psychological help. Through her story, Cho Nam-Joo raises crucial questions about the systemic oppression of women and the consequences of keeping their voices silenced.
Assembly – Natasha Brown
Natasha Brown’s Assembly is a devastating short novel that explores race, class, identity and power in modern Britain. The story follows an unnamed Black British woman who has built a successful career in the corporate world, carefully assembling the life she was promised would bring her security and prestige. But, beneath the surface of her polished existence is an exhaustion from the microaggressions, racism and constant pressure to conform.
As she prepares to attend a lavish garden party at her white boyfriend’s family estate, she reflects on her life, her body, and the cost of success in a system not built for her. Told in fragmented, poetic prose and, like Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, Assembly is one of the most powerful short books that examines belonging, resistance and the quiet rebellion of reclaiming one’s own narrative.
Breakfast At Tiffany’s – Truman Capote
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote is a glamorous yet bittersweet novella set in 1940s New York City. The story is told by a struggling writer who becomes fascinated with his enigmatic neighbour, Holly Golightly – a young woman renowned for her beauty, charm, and unconventional lifestyle. Holly drifts through Manhattan’s social scene, living off the generosity of affluent men whilst dreaming of a glitzy, glamorous life in the future.
Underneath her carefree and stylish exterior, however, Holly’s a deeply complex and vulnerable character, haunted by her past and longing for both freedom and belonging. As the narrator gets immersed further into Holly’s world, he discovers the loneliness and emotional fragility behind her sparkling facade. Another one of the classic short books you can finish in a single afternoon, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is witty and tinged with melancholy, capturing the allure of New York and the masks we wear to survive through one of the most unforgettable literary icons in Holly Golightly.
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Convenience Store Woman – Sayaka Murata
Keiko Furukura is a thirty-six-year-old woman who has worked at the same convenience store in Tokyo for the past eighteen years. To outsiders – including her family – Keiko’s life appears strange and stagnant. She has never followed the traditional path of marriage, career advancement, or starting a family.
But for Keiko, the convenience store gives her structure, routine, and a sense of purpose in a world that often feels confusing and overwhelming. When pressure starts to mount for her to make a change, Keiko begins to question whether she should force herself to be more ‘normal’, or embrace a life that truly suits her. Funny, sharp, quietly subversive and easy to finish in one sitting, Convenience Store Woman is a celebration of individuality and an insightful look at the many societal pressures we face to conform.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
