25 Short Books You Can Read in a Day or Two

l’ll be honest. Some days, I’m in a terrible reading slump. Other days, I just want a good book I can finish in a day or two. Something that doesn’t take weeks to read but still has a great story.
And that’s why I love short books! They’re perfect when I’m in a reading slump, have a busy week, or just want to squeeze in one more book before the month ends.
I’ve put together a list of 25 short books you can read in a day or two.

1. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (128 pages)

Set in a small Irish town in 1985, Small Things Like These follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father of five. Just before Christmas, he makes a troubling discovery while delivering coal to a local convent. What he finds makes him question the church, his community, and his own past. It’s a short but powerful story about kindness and doing what’s right. Also read 10 Short Books to Read Before You Die (Under 300 Pages)

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2. Foster by Claire Keegan (96 pages)

In Foster, a young girl is sent to live with a couple on a farm in rural Ireland. She doesn’t know how long she’ll be staying, but life with them is very different from what she’s used to. For the first time, she experiences real care and affection. However, the family has a secret that changes how she sees her new home.

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3. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (120 pages)

What happens when the Queen of England suddenly becomes obsessed with books? The Uncommon Reader starts with Queen Elizabeth II who discovers a mobile library outside Buckingham Palace and starts borrowing books. Soon, reading becomes her favorite activity, much to the frustration of her staff. It’s a funny little story about how books can change the way we see the world. Also read 12 Thrillers With Short Chapters That Are Impossible to Put Down

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4. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (112 pages)

If you love books about books, 84, Charing Cross Road is worth reading. It’s a collection of real letters between Helene Hanff, a writer in New York, and Frank Doel, a bookseller in London. What starts as a simple request for secondhand books turns into a friendship that lasts for twenty years. It’s funny, touching, and perfect for book lovers.

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5. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (176 pages)

The Summer Book follows six-year-old Sophia and her grandmother as they spend a summer together on a small island in Finland. They explore nature, talk about life, and occasionally get on each other’s nerves. Through their everyday adventures, we get to see their special relationship. It’s a lovely story about family, growing older, and enjoying the little things in life.

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6. A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr (144 pages)

After surviving World War I and a failed marriage, Tom Birkin travels to a small English village to restore an old painting in a church. A Month in the Country is about his summer in the countryside. He meets new people, enjoys the simple pleasures of village life, and begins to feel hopeful about his future.

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7. The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery (224 pages)

Valancy Stirling is twenty-nine, unmarried, and tired of living under her family’s control. Everything changes when she receives unexpected news from her doctor. She decides she’s done trying to please everyone and starts living life on her own terms. The Blue Castle is a charming story about finding happiness, falling in love, and finally standing up for yourself.

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8. The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn (240 pages)

Carl is an elderly bookseller who personally delivers books to his regular customers every evening. His familiar routine changes when a nine-year-old girl decides to join him. Their friendship brings new meaning to his life, especially when he unexpectedly loses his job. You will love this heartwarming story about books, friendship, and finding people who care about you. Also read 12 Books That Are Just as Good as Everyone Says

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9. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (224 pages)

In The Travelling Cat Chronicles, a cat named Nana travels across Japan with his owner, Satoru. They visit several of Satoru’s old friends, but Nana doesn’t understand the real reason behind their journey. Along the way, we learn more about Satoru’s life and the people who matter to him. It’s a touching story about friendship, loyalty, and the bond between humans and animals.

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10. The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide (144 pages)

A married couple living in a small house in Tokyo finds their daily routine changing when a neighbor’s cat starts visiting.The little visitor slowly becomes an important part of their lives. The couple begins looking forward to its visits and finds happiness in the simplest moments. The Guest Cat is a short story about love, change, and unexpected companionship.

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11. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (160 pages)

After a painful breakup, twenty-five-year-old Takako moves into a tiny room above her uncle’s secondhand bookshop in Tokyo. Soon, she slowly discovers a love for reading and begins rebuilding her life. Her relationship with her uncle also grows stronger. It’s a lovely book about starting over and finding comfort in books. Also read 25 Books Every Women Should Read At Least Once

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12. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (240 pages)

In What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, five people visit a library in Tokyo while dealing with different problems in their lives. Each meets a librarian named Sayuri Komachi, who recommends books that seem unusual at first. However, these recommendations help them see their situations differently. It’s a feel-good story about finding direction in life and how the right book can make a difference.

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13. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez (224 pages)

After losing her closest friend, a woman unexpectedly becomes responsible for his Great Dane. The caring for the enormous dog becomes a challenge, especially since pets aren’t allowed in her apartment. But as they spend more time together, they begin helping each other through their grief. The Friend is a moving story about friendship and the comfort animals can bring into our lives.

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14. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (176 pages)

Tony Webster is a retired man who believes he understands his past. But an unexpected inheritance brings back memories of his school days and an old relationship. As he tries to understand what happened years ago, he begins questioning everything he remembers. It’s a thought-provoking story about memory, regret, and how differently we can remember the same events. Also read 9 Books Just As Good As Everyone Says

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15. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (210 pages)

Tuesdays with Morrie we follow journalist Mitch Albom who reconnects with his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying from ALS. Mitch begins visiting him every Tuesday, and their conversations turn into lessons about life, love, family, and death. Based on a true story, this is a touching book that reminds us to appreciate the people and moments that matter most.

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16. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (196 pages)

Eddie is an eighty-three-year-old maintenance worker at an amusement park who dies while trying to save a little girl. In The Five People You Meet in Heaven, he wakes up in the afterlife and meets five people who help him understand his life. Some are familiar, while others are strangers. Each reveals how even the smallest actions can affect someone else’s life.

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17. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (260 pages)

A. J. Fikry owns a small bookstore on an island, but his life hasn’t been going well. He’s grieving his wife, struggling with his business, and pushing everyone away. But things change when a mysterious package arrives at his bookstore. It’s a heartwarming story about second chances, unexpected friendships, and the love of books. Also read 6 Underrated Books I Beg You to Read Before 2026 Ends

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18. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (112 pages)

Set during the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men follows George and Lennie, two migrant workers looking for jobs in California. They dream of saving enough money to buy a small farm where they can live independently. But life is difficult, and their plans don’t go as expected. It’s a heartbreaking story about friendship, loneliness, and the struggle to build a better life.

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19. Animal Farm by George Orwell (129 pages)

Animal Farm is about a group of farm animals rebels against their cruel owner, hoping to create a fairer life for everyone. At first, things seem promising, but the pigs gradually take control and become just as unfair as the humans they replaced. It’s a short but powerful story about politics, power, and how easily good intentions can turn into something very different.

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20. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (152 pages)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle centres around eighteen-year-old Merricat who lives with her sister Constance and their elderly uncle in a large family home. The villagers dislike them, and the family rarely leaves the property. Years earlier, several family members died under mysterious circumstances. When a cousin arrives unexpectedly, their strange but familiar life begins to fall apart.

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21. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton (99 pages)

Ethan Frome tells the story of a struggling farmer living in a small New England town. He’s unhappy in his marriage to Zeena, but everything changes when her young cousin Mattie comes to stay with them. Ethan develops feelings for Mattie and begins imagining a different life. It’s a sad story about love, difficult choices, and dreams that may never come true.

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22. The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man by James Weldon Johnson (212 pages)

In The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, a biracial man grows up in America during a time of deep racial division. Because of his light skin, he can choose to live as a white man. As he travels and experiences different parts of society, he struggles with his identity and the choices ahead of him. It’s a powerful story about race, belonging, and personal identity.

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23. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (224 pages)

Orbital follows six astronauts living aboard a space station as they circle Earth over twenty-four hours. They spend their days working, eating, exercising, and thinking about the lives they’ve left behind. From space, they watch the planet change beneath them. It’s a short, thoughtful novel about humanity, our connection to Earth, and how small our everyday problems can seem from a distance.

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24. A Long Winter by Colm Tóibín (144 pages)

Set in the Spanish Pyrenees, A Long Winter follows Miquel, a young man whose mother disappears after an argument with his father. As winter gets worse, Miquel searches for her while struggling with his father’s behavior. When a young servant named Manolo arrives to help, Miquel begins to see new possibilities for his future. It’s an emotional story about family, loss, and love.

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25. Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (176 pages)

Seascraper is about twenty-year-old Thomas Flett who lives with his mother in a small English coastal town. He earns a living catching shrimp but dreams of becoming a musician. One day, an American filmmaker arrives and asks Thomas to help him find locations for a movie. Their meeting makes Thomas question the life he’s always known and whether his dreams might actually be possible. Also read 25 Books Readers Say Were Perfect From Start to Finish

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