7 Short & Sweet Novellas
Short on time but still craving a good read? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are seven short and sweet books that prove great things come in small packages—no need for hefty novels or endless sagas. Whether you're sneaking in a quick read during your lunch break or lounging on the sofa with a cup of tea, these books deliver big thrills, heartwarming moments, and plenty of charm in under 300 pages. So, ditch the ‘to be continued’ and let’s dive straight into these bite-sized literary delights!
This haunting and exquisitely crafted novel delves into the intricacies of identity, isolation, and gender, making it an essential read for those seeking a deeply thought-provoking and gripping tale.
Deep beneath the earth, thirty-nine women are confined in a dark, suffocating cage, their every move overseen by guards. They have no memory of how they came to be there, no sense of time, and only vague recollections of their lives before. Among them is a young girl - the fortieth prisoner - who sits isolated in a corner, outcast from the others. However, she will soon reveal herself to be the key to their escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above.
Although this a short novel, it offers a rare and profound exploration of the human condition, lingering in your mind long after you’ve read the final sentence.
Prepare to launch into a story that’s as vast as the universe itself. This book is a short but sweet read that will keep you gripped, intrigued, and perhaps even a little contemplative.
Six astronauts are orbiting high above Earth, collecting data, running experiments, and taking in the view of their silent, blue planet. From glaciers to deserts, mountains to oceans, they see breathtaking beauty as the seasons shift below them. But even out there, they can’t escape the pull of home. News of a mother’s death makes them think about life on Earth, while a typhoon forming over an island leaves them awestruck and worried for the people they love. It’s hard not to reflect on the fragility of life and wonder: what’s life without Earth, and what’s Earth without us?
The beauty of Orbital is in its ability to balance the speculative with the deeply personal. It’s about space, yes, but more about the space between our decisions and their consequences.
So, if you’re after something that won’t take you weeks to read but will stick with you far longer than the time it took to finish, this short read is your perfect match.
This beautifully written gem blends time travel, romance, and poetic prose into a mind-bending, emotional journey.
In the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter with a simple instruction: Burn before reading. What starts as a unexpected exchange between two rival agents—each fighting for their faction’s future—quickly turns into something far bigger. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the course of both the past and the future.
But here’s the catch: if anyone finds out about their bond, it’s game over for both of them. There’s still a war to win, after all, and only one side can come out on top.
This may be short read, but its emotional depth will stay with you long after you’ve finished. If you're looking for a thought-provoking, unique read, this one’s definitely worth your time.
In the mood for a short but sweet read that’s equal parts gripping and unsettling? We’ve got you covered.
A strange, unidentifiable noise keeps haunting her flat. A memo to her boss somehow gets swapped for obscene insults. Amanda, a successful architect with a happy marriage, feels her life slowly slipping out of control. She picks up smoking again, and one night, without even realising what she’s doing, she burns her husband with a cigarette. Her dreams are no better—she keeps seeing a beautiful woman with sharp teeth, standing on the shore of a blood-red sea. Then there’s the voice in her head. It tells her to steal things, to chat up strange men in bars, and it’s terrifying. Amanda is desperate to regain control, but the question nags at her: is she possessed by something evil, or is she simply losing her mind?
Gran expertly blurs the lines between reality and madness, keeping you guessing until the very end.
If you’re after a short novel that delivers a serious punch, this needs to be at the top of your TBR.
Fancy a book that’s a bit like a warm cup of coffee—comforting, thought-provoking, and just the right size to finish before your caffeine fix is gone?
Tucked away in a quiet alley in Tokyo, there’s a café that’s been brewing coffee for over a century—and offering customers the chance to travel back in time. Four visitors come to the café, each hoping to change something from their past: confront a lost love, receive a letter from a husband with Alzheimer’s, see a sister one last time, or meet a daughter they never knew.
But time travel has its rules: sit in a special seat, never leave the café, and return before your coffee gets cold.
This Japanese gem is a short read, but it’s packed with emotional depth and a touch of whimsy, perfect for when you need a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of life. And the best part? It’s a short but sweet read you can finish before your coffee gets cold.
This book explores what happens when we lose everything we love – our memory, our body, our humanity – in the afterlife. The heroine, keenly aware yet adrift, longs for the place where she once knew herself and was loved. Travelling through time and space with a dead, opinionated crow in her chest, she loses parts of herself in absurd, terrifying, and heartbreaking situations.
Marcken’s sharp, darkly funny novel bends reality with ease, exploring mortality, love, and what remains when everything else is gone.
One of the best things about this book is its ability to pack so much emotion and meaning into a compact space.
With its mix of wit, warmth, and a bit of melancholy, this short but sweet read packs a punch in just the right amount of pages.
Are you in the mood for a short but sweet read that blends humour, philosophy, and a fresh take on hell, then this is the book for you.
Soren Johansson is just an ordinary family man, geologist, and Mormon, someone who’s always believed he’ll be reunited with his loved ones after death in a peaceful eternity. Then, he dies. But instead of the afterlife he expected, Soren wakes up in a Hell he never imagined—a vast library, cast there by a God he’s never heard of. The only way out? He has to find the book that tells the story of his life.
In this haunting, thought-provoking novella, author and philosopher Steven L. Peck offers a radical take on what eternity might look like. It’s a journey through an afterlife where everything everyone believed turns out to be completely wrong.
But don’t be fooled—just because it’s a quick read doesn’t mean it’s light on substance. It's a philosophical exploration served with a side of wit, which is always a winning combination.
To sum it up, these short but sweet reads are proof that great stories don’t always need hundreds of pages. Whether you’re after a quick escape, a burst of humour, or something with a bit more depth, there’s a book here for every mood and every moment. If you’re short on time but still craving a good read, these picks are ideal for fitting a bit of literary magic into your day. So let these compact gems whisk you on a delightful adventure.
If you just can’t get enough, then check out the links below for even more great reads.