The Bookish Mindset

Ever fancied something short and snappy to fill a few hours of the day? Be that on the beach, a long car drive or maybe a hair appointment? Have we got the books for you. Read on for our favourite books you can read in a day.

Short Fictions

If you’re fed up of fictions that go on forever then I have the perfect fix for you – short (but equally brilliant) books that come in at under 250 pages. These pocket size beauties will keep you occupied for the perfect amount of time and of course leave you longing for more.

Wandering Souls – Cecile Pin. Historical fiction.

Minor Detail – Adania Shibili. Literary fiction.

Open Water – Caleb Azumah Nelson. Literary fiction.

Assembly – Natasha Brown. Literary fiction.

In The End, It Was All About Love – Musa Okwonga. Literary fiction.

I’m A Fan – Sheena Patel. Literary fiction.

Infinite Country – Patricia Engel. Literary fiction.

Giovanni’s Room – James Baldwin. Literary fiction.

Love Me Tender – Constance Debré. Literary fiction.

Red at the Bone – Jaqueline Woodon. Literary fiction.

The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison. Literary fiction.

Freshwater – Akwaeke Emezi. Magical Realism.

PET – Akwaeke Emezi. YA, fantasy.

Bitter – Akwaeke Emezi. YA, fantasy.

Diary of a Void – Emi Yagi. Translated, literary fiction.

Heaven – Mieko Kawakami. Translated, literary fiction.

Pleasantview – Celeste Mohammed. Short stories, literary fiction.

The Panchinko Parlour – Elia Shua Dusapin. Translated, literary fiction.

She and Her Cat – Makoto Shinkai & Naruki Nagakawa. Translated, literary fiction.

None of The Above – Travis Alabanza. Non-Fiction, memoir.

It’s Not That Radical – Mikaela Loach. Non-Fiction, climate change.

Books in Verse

Now these three are a bit special. While they’re all longer than the above books mentioned in the fiction section, these books written in verse, in prose deserve a special place on this page.

I’ve found that reading books in verse gives them a rhythm, gives them a certain structure and speed to them. There’s an excited urgency to them, enhanced by the speed you’ll turn the pages since they’re not full of text but perfectly placed verses instead.

The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta

Clap When You Land – Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X – Elizabeth

I’d love to know which of these you’ve enjoyed or what you choose from the list, leave a comment below!

Buy all these and more through my Bookshop.org storefront here.

Last updated 07/01/2024