5 Short Books That Will Rekindle Your Love for Reading

Getting back into reading after a long break can feel like dipping your toes into an unfamiliar sea. You know you love books, but you’re hesitant, unsure if you have the patience to commit to an intricate plot or a dense literary masterpiece. It’s like dating again after a long hiatus—you want something light, something that doesn’t demand too much from you, but still leaves you with that warm, lingering feeling of satisfaction.

This is where short books come in. Books that don’t overwhelm but still transport you, that remind you why you once loved getting lost in a story. The sweet spot? Under 150 pages—enough to keep things compelling without feeling like a burden. And if one happens to be 158 pages? Let’s not let those extra few pages hold us back.

So, if you’re looking for a book that will reignite your passion for reading, here are eight gems to pick up:

Hello Sadness by Françoise Sagan (154 pages)

Originally published in 1954 when Sagan was just 18 years old, Bonjour Tristesse (translated as Hello Sadness) scandalized French society with its portrayal of a morally indifferent teenage girl living a life of pleasure and recklessness. The protagonist, Cécile, spends the summer in the south of France with her father, a charming widower who introduces her to his glamorous lifestyle of casinos, parties, and fleeting romances. But when he falls in love with a woman who threatens to bring order and stability into their lives, Cécile hatches a plan to stop it. The novel is both a portrait of youthful rebellion and a deeply introspective exploration of freedom, love, and the consequences of selfishness.

McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh (144 pages)

Moshfegh, known for her darkly humorous and often unsettling storytelling, made her literary debut with McGlue, a novella that feels like a fever dream. Set in the 19th century, it follows McGlue, a violent, perpetually drunk sailor who wakes up to the news that he may have murdered his best friend. The problem? He doesn’t remember a thing. The book is fragmented, chaotic, and at times disorienting—just like its protagonist’s state of mind. If you enjoyed My Year of Rest and Relaxation, this is a fascinating look at Moshfegh’s early work, packed with the same raw and unfiltered energy.

A Man’s Place by Annie Ernaux (114 pages)

Annie Ernaux, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, is known for her ability to transform the deeply personal into the profoundly universal. In A Man’s Place, she reflects on her relationship with her father, a working-class man who struggled to understand her intellectual pursuits. The memoir examines the silent, unbridgeable gap between their worlds—one built on literature and academia, the other on labor and practicality. In just over 100 pages, Ernaux captures the bittersweet nature of parental relationships, where love and distance often coexist.

Voices in the Evening by Natalia Ginzburg (154 pages)

A quietly powerful novel, Voices in the Evening explores small-town life in post-war Italy through the lens of one woman and her overbearing mother. As she navigates love, duty, and familial expectations, she finds herself suffocated by the weight of tradition. Ginzburg’s writing is sharp, understated, and infused with a dry wit that makes even the most ordinary moments feel profound. If you enjoy intimate character studies and novels that capture the complexities of family dynamics, this is a must-read.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (163 pages)

Keiko Furukura has always struggled to fit in. When she takes a job at a convenience store at 18, she finally finds a sense of order and purpose. Eighteen years later, she’s still there, content with her perfectly structured life—until external pressures force her to question whether she should want more. This darkly funny and deeply insightful novel explores societal expectations, the concept of normalcy, and the quiet joy of living life on your own terms.