Merry Christmas to everyone! Or Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings depending on what you celebrate. I hope you’re finding comfort and enjoyment in this time of year 🙂
For a lot of people, the end of the year is a busy and often stressful time. Whether you are partaking in a reading challenge and want to complete more books to add to your read list or just need something short and sweet to hold your attention, here is a list of short books to choose from.
I’ve separated the books into three categories, under 200 pages, under 150 pages, and under 100 pages. The categories contain nonfiction options, graphic novels, and romance novellas.
Under 200 pages
Relish by Lucy Knisley
I discovered Lucy Knisley last year when I read her graphic memoir, Relish, and then went on to read anything else by her I could get my hands on. At 173 pages, Relish shares Knisley’s love of food and relationship with it. Raised by two chefs, she had an eclectic palette at young age. Knisley traces important life lessons through food and cooking. Each chapter shares an illustrated recipe at the end.
One Snowy Night by Jill Shalvis
This 160-page holiday romance novella is a quick and fast read. It was one of the first Christmas books I read back in October when I craved a little holiday spirit early this year. One Snowy Night follows Rory, Max, and Carl (Max’s huge goofy dog) on Christmas Eve as they struggle to make it back to their hometown in time for the holiday from their jobs in the city. The long drive gives them the opportunity to deal with their chemistry and past history.
Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan
At 152 pages, this collection of straightforward rules for eating healthy is a fast read. Food Rules cuts through the overwhelm of complicated diets and conflicting health advice. There’s one rule per page with a short explanation. A lot of them are humorous like “Avoid foods you see advertised on TV”, “It’s not food if it’s called the same thing in every language”, and “If you are not hungry enough to eat an apple, you are not hungry”.
Under 150 pages
Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus are known as The Minimalists. They have a popular podcast, blog, documentary (available on Netflix as of this writing), and a couple of books sharing their approach to minimalism and how it has changed their lives by making room for the important things. In this book, they have broken down a meaningful life into five elements: health, relationships, passions, growth, and contribution. Within each chapter there are several examples of small actions you can taken each day to improve your life. At 138 pages, this book is a quick and powerful read.
I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
I love this short 130 page book of essays covering Anne Bogel’s reading life. It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Anne Bogel, the host of the podcast What Should I Read Next? and the blogger behind Modern Mrs Darcy. I’d Rather Be Reading shares stories and reflections on the reading life that are charming, inspiring, and relatable to other book lovers.
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, and Shannon Watters
This ongoing comic series shares the adventures of five best friends as they spend their summer at Lumberjanes scout camp. Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley along with their camp counselor, Jen, are determined to take their friendship to the max. The friends embrace camp life, activities, merit badges, and occasionally battle a supernatural creature or two. This first volume is 128 pages and as of this writing available on Kindle Unlimited.
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson
In this new Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan is an ordinary Muslim-American teenage girl from Jersey City. She soon discovers she’s inhuman and her powers have been activated by the Terrigan Mist, a mysterious purple fog popping up in the city. Kamala’s life is about to become anything but normal as she copes with her new abilities, school, and the expectations of her parents. The first volume is 120 pages and as of this writing also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Under 100 pages
Heat of the Night by Elle Kennedy
This was my first Elle Kennedy book. I discovered her this past October after hearing this erotic romance novella recommended on an episode of the Shelf Love podcast. Heat of the Night is 90 pages long and the fifth book in her Out of Uniform series. As of this writing, it’s available in a three story collection, Hot & Heavy, on Kindle Unlimited.
After a bad break up Annabelle takes off to San Diego to get away, making a list of all her fantasies to prove the ex who called her a prude wrong. Looking to take his sexy neighbor up on their “arrangement”, Navy SEAL Ryan is shocked to find Annabelle in her bed instead. Later Ryan is delighted to find Annabelle’s list of fantasies and makes her an offer to check things off it.
Some Kind of Wonderful by Beth Ciotta
Some Kind of Wonderful, which was featured on my Christmas book list, is an 83 page holiday novella. It is part of Beth Ciotta’s Cupcake Lovers romance series. Maya and Zach were best friends growing up, but since moving and going their separate ways they’ve lost touch. When they both return home for the same Christmas season, a blizzard strands them together and gives them the chance to reconnect.
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
We Should All Be Feminists is a powerful 52 page essay adapted from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s popular Ted talk of the same name. In this essay, she offers a unique definition of feminism for modern times. Adichie shares her own experiences from the U.S., Nigeria, and her travels to argue for inclusion and awareness of the gender divide, offering an explanation for why it is harmful to both women and men.
How is your reading challenge for 2020 going? Do you have any last minute books to sneak in?
