Top Short Books Recommended by Goodreads

The best Goodreads: Favorite Short Books includes Sandwich: A Novel (eBook) by Catherine Newman, Small Things Like These (Oprah's Book Club), Orbital: A Novel (Booker Prize Winner) - eBook Edition and many others as mentioned below.

1

Sandwich: A Novel (eBook) by Catherine Newman

  • Heartwarming story of family and summer vacations.
  • Explores themes of love, loss, and acceptance.
  • Balancing humor with poignant moments throughout.
  • Protagonist navigates life changes with humor and grace.
  • Rich character development and relatable experiences.
  • From bestselling author Catherine Newman.
  • Perfect for fans of emotional literary fiction.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $11.99
2

Small Things Like These (Oprah's Book Club)

  • Oprah's Book Club Pick 2024
  • New York Times Bestseller
  • Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize
  • Winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction
  • Set in an Irish town during Christmas 1985
  • Explores themes of love, courage, and empathy
  • Now a major motion picture starring Cillian Murphy
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.00
3

Orbital: A Novel (Booker Prize Winner) - eBook Edition

  • Winner of the 2024 Booker Prize.
  • A New York Times bestseller.
  • Thought-provoking exploration of space and life.
  • Six astronauts share their intimate experiences.
  • Evocative writing from prize-winning author Samantha Harvey.
  • Captivating reflections on Earth from orbit.
  • A moving tribute to our environment.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $8.67
4

Graveyard Shift: A Novella [eBook]

  • USA Today National Bestseller
  • Thrilling novella by M. L. Rio
  • Set in an eerie college cemetery
  • Five night shift workers uncover secrets
  • Mystery of a fresh, open grave
  • Unravel strange happenings in town
  • Atmospheric, modern Gothic storytelling
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $11.99
5

The Night Guest: A Novel [eBook]

  • Eerie tale set in contemporary Reykjavík.
  • Iðunn struggles with unexplained fatigue and injuries.
  • Dismissed by doctors and loved ones alike.
  • Attempts various remedies with no success.
  • Starts sleepwalking over 40,000 steps at night.
  • Unravel the mystery of her nighttime activities.
  • A gripping story that keeps readers awake.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $11.99
6

The Melancholy of Untold History Novel

  • Debut novel by Minsoo Kang, rich in mythology.
  • Explores love, grief, and the power of storytelling.
  • Interweaves four captivating narratives over generations.
  • Inspired by East Asian myths and national history.
  • Complex characters navigate life’s challenges through tales.
  • Examines truth, fiction, and their intertwined nature.
  • A unique blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $12.99
7

Ring Shout (eBook) by P. Djèlí Clark

  • Dark fantasy historical novella by P. Djèlí Clark.
  • Supernatural twist on Ku Klux Klan's terror.
  • A thrilling blend of history and imagination.
  • Fierce resistance led by Maryse Boudreaux.
  • Combines action, horror, and political commentary.
  • Award-winning with multiple prestigious nominations.
  • Published without Digital Rights Management (DRM).
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $11.99
8

You Dreamed of Empires: A Novel (eBook Edition)

  • A New York Times Top Ten Book of 2024.
  • Reimagines the encounter between Cortés and Moctezuma.
  • Explores themes of colonialism and revenge.
  • Captivating characters including Nahua princess Malinalli.
  • Unique blend of history and hallucinatory narrative.
  • Original storytelling by acclaimed author Álvaro Enrigue.
  • Brings Tenochtitlan to life in vivid detail.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $12.99
9

The Undocumented Americans: Lives Unseen by Karla Cornejo

  • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST and acclaimed memoir.
  • Groundbreaking insights into undocumented Americans' lives.
  • Author Karla Cornejo Villavicencio's personal journey revealed.
  • Explores love, duty, and survival in challenging circumstances.
  • Captivating stories beyond politics and media portrayals.
  • Showcases resilience and magic in everyday experiences.
  • Essential reading for understanding America's hidden narratives.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $6.99
10

What Does It Feel Like? (Sophie Kinsella eBook)

  • Heartfelt story by bestselling author Sophie Kinsella.
  • Explores themes of love, loss, and resilience.
  • Follows a novelist confronting severe health challenges.
  • Captures moments of humor amid heartbreaking experiences.
  • Short novel filled with warmth and insight.
  • Personal reflections intertwine with fictional narrative.
  • A must-read for fans of emotional literature.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $7.99
11

The Deep by Rivers Solomon [eBook]

  • Inspired by Daveed Diggs's acclaimed song.
  • Explores Afrofuturism and rich cultural folklore.
  • Follows Yetu, a powerful historian of her people.
  • Unveils traumatic memories of ancestral experiences.
  • Highlights themes of identity and reclamation.
  • Embarks on a journey to the surface world.
  • Acclaimed by Publishers Weekly as a tour de force.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $12.99
12

City in Glass (Nghi Vo) - Ebook Edition

  • Standalone novel by award-winning author Nghi Vo.
  • Set in the enchanting city of Azril.
  • Explores themes of love, loss, and transformation.
  • Features a captivating demon and a conflicted angel.
  • An epic tale of memory and redemption.
  • Combines rich world-building with deep emotional resonance.
  • A must-read for fantasy lovers and dreamers.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $12.99
13

Everyone's Secret: A Cozy Mystery (Book 3)

  • Christmas-themed cozy mystery with unexpected twists.
  • Features magician Rylan Blaze's deadly performance.
  • Ernest Cunningham tackles real-life murder mysteries.
  • A suspenseful plot with clever misdirection.
  • Engaging characters, including professional tricksters.
  • Unique clues tied to an advent calendar.
  • Perfect for fans of lighthearted whodunits.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.99
14

Intimacies: A Novel (eBook) by Katie Kitamura

  • Haunting and morally astute psychological thriller.
  • Explores themes of love, power, and betrayal.
  • Set against the backdrop of The Hague.
  • Follows an interpreter navigating personal turmoil.
  • Acclaimed by Barack Obama and major publications.
  • Longlisted for the National Book Award in Fiction.
  • Engaging story of identity and belonging.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $12.99
15

The Anthropologists by Aysegül Savas (eBook)

  • Inspired by real-life experiences and modern relationships.
  • Explores themes of home and belonging in a foreign city.
  • Features rich character development and emotional depth.
  • Acclaimed by major publications and literary critics.
  • Combines humor, warmth, and a unique narrative style.
  • A thought-provoking journey through love and identity.
  • Perfect for fans of contemporary literary fiction.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $8.92
16

Stay True: A Memoir (Hua Hsu, eBook)

  • Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir by Hua Hsu.
  • Explores friendship and grief through personal narrative.
  • Highlights the search for identity and belonging.
  • Reflects on the impact of American culture.
  • Captivating storytelling with emotional depth.
  • A coming-of-age journey filled with profound insights.
  • Acclaimed by best-selling authors and critics alike.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $12.99
17

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English (Paperback)

  • Winner of prestigious literary awards.
  • Explores love as a weapon of empire.
  • Set in post-Arab Spring Cairo.
  • Features complex characters with rich backgrounds.
  • Alternating perspectives enhance narrative depth.
  • Questions identity politics and globalized experiences.
  • Engaging, experimental debut from Noor Naga.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.99
18

Wintering: Embrace Rest and Resilience in Hard Times

  • Intimate exploration of self-care during tough times.
  • Inspires acceptance of life's cyclical nature.
  • Combines personal narrative with rich literary insights.
  • Encourages transformative power of rest and retreat.
  • Offers solace through nature's beauty in winter.
  • Provides guidance for navigating dislocation and loss.
  • Models active acceptance of sadness and healing.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $12.99
19

Why Fish Don't Exist: Exploring Life's Mysteries

  • A compelling blend of biography and memoir.
  • Explores themes of love, chaos, and perseverance.
  • Inspired by true events from David Starr Jordan's life.
  • A story of resilience amidst overwhelming despair.
  • Highlights scientific obsession and its consequences.
  • Acclaimed by major publications and readers alike.
  • A thought-provoking fable about life's hidden order.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.99
20

Body Not Apology Self Love eBook

  • New York Times bestseller promoting radical self-love.
  • Encourages acceptance of diverse bodies and identities.
  • Offers tools to combat body shame and oppression.
  • Includes global stories and transformative experiences.
  • Final chapter provides actions against social injustices.
  • Workbook enhances practice of radical self-love.
  • Empowers readers to create a compassionate world.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.99
21

What Are You Going Through? eBook

  • A best book of 2020 by NPR and People.
  • Explores life, death, and human connection.
  • Captivating narrative with humor and insight.
  • Features diverse encounters with relatable characters.
  • Transforms ordinary moments into profound experiences.
  • Offers wisdom on empathy and relationships.
  • A moving portrait of contemporary life challenges.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.99
22

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (eBook)

  • Searing novel on war and memory.
  • Finalist for National Book Award.
  • Longlisted for International Booker Prize.
  • Explores Palestinian suffering and identity.
  • Twin narratives spanning decades intertwine.
  • Haunting portrayal of violence and trauma.
  • Richly layered storytelling by Adania Shibli.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $8.61
23

Open Water (ebook) by Caleb Azumah Nelson

  • Winner of the Costa First Novel Award
  • Explores intimacy between two young Black artists
  • Tender love story set in London
  • Addresses race, masculinity, and vulnerability
  • Beautifully written with emotional depth
  • Essential debut novel from Caleb Azumah Nelson
  • A poignant exploration of love and loss
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.62
24

She Who Knows (Nnedi Okorafor, eBook)

  • A captivating blend of science fiction and fantasy.
  • Explores West African culture and spirituality.
  • Introduces a unique coming-of-age story.
  • Najeeba experiences the unprecedented Call at 13.
  • Set in the acclaimed Africanfuturist universe.
  • First novella in the She Who Knows trilogy.
  • A star-studded selection by Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.99
25

How to Do Nothing: Resist the Attention Economy (eBook)

  • New York Times Bestseller.
  • Named a Best Book of the Year by multiple outlets.
  • Explores the impact of the attention economy.
  • Encourages reclaiming personal time and attention.
  • Offers a unique perspective on political action.
  • Challenges capitalist narratives of productivity and efficiency.
  • A transformative guide to finding meaningful happiness.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $11.99
26

The Removed: When Reckoning Comes eBook

  • Haunting novel exploring race and history.
  • Protagonist returns to a troubled past.
  • Set at a reconciled plantation wedding.
  • Confronts childhood friendships and buried secrets.
  • Engaging narrative reminiscent of Octavia Butler.
  • Reveals dark truths of a historic land.
  • Captivating, thought-provoking, and unsettling storytelling.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.12
27

Everything Happens for a Reason: Embracing Life's Lies

  • New York Times Bestseller
  • A powerful reflection on mortality and faith
  • Written by Duke Divinity School professor Kate Bowler
  • Humorous and poignant observations on life and dying
  • Explores the pitfalls of the prosperity gospel
  • Offers comfort in life's uncertainties
  • Emphasizes beauty in hardship and vulnerability
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $8.99
28

What We Fed the Manticore [eBook]

  • Longlisted for prestigious literary awards.
  • Explores animal perspectives in diverse stories.
  • Themes of loss, identity, and belonging.
  • Emotionally vivid tales from around the globe.
  • Engaging narratives about environmentalism and conservation.
  • Unique character-driven stories featuring loyal animals.
  • Captures the richness of life’s complexities.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.99
29

Whale Fall: A Novel (eBook) by Elizabeth O'Connor

  • Debut novel by award-winning author Elizabeth O'Connor.
  • Explores themes of loss and isolation in community.
  • Set on a remote Welsh island in 1938.
  • Follows Manod's desire to escape her life.
  • Features the arrival of English ethnographers studying culture.
  • Engaging prose with emotional depth and sharp wit.
  • A story of ambition and community dynamics.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.99
30

Weather: A Novel by Jenny Offill [ebook]

  • New York Times Bestseller
  • From acclaimed author Jenny Offill
  • Darkly funny exploration of family crisis
  • Engaging narrative about a nation's struggles
  • Unique perspective on disaster psychology
  • Wry humor blended with deep emotion
  • A must-read for contemporary fiction lovers
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.99