Have you ever picked up a book and then put it down? Do you feel overwhelmed at the thought of reading a book from start to finish? Do you find yourself counting the number of pages left in the chapter every time you sit down with a book? If that’s the case for you, or even if you don’t, books with short chapters can come to your rescue.
Many readers believe that books with short chapters are easier to read. For me personally, this affects me in a few different ways. When I read, I almost feel the urge to stop at the end of a chapter. I can’t count the number of times I’ve gotten a call from my best friend that I ignored and instead texted her, “Hey, I’ll call you back when I’m done with my chapter.” When I’m short on time and feel like I can’t finish a chapter, I try not to start it at all and pause my reading session instead.
Short chapters are really handy as I can get through them quickly. I end up starting several new chapters and feel the reward circuit in my brain smiling triumphantly. If you’re looking for short chapter books to help you get out of a slump, or even to squeeze a few words into a busy schedule, this list is for you. It includes some books I love and others I’m dying to check out. I hope you find something that fits your attention span and reading habits too!
Lovely War by Julie Berry
Set during World War I, the story is about four lovers – a shy pianist, a soldier who dreams of becoming an architect, a gifted musician who is sent to war, and a French woman who is mistreated by the Germans. Years later, Aphrodite tells the story to her husband Hephaestus and her lover Ares. They wonder how love and war are so intertwined, bringing each other together and separating each other. It is a story full of drama, trauma, prejudice, music, and above all, love.
“Dear Martin” by Nic Stone
This book is a blunt and realistic account of race in America. It was written in response to the murder of Jordan Davis, a 17-year-old black boy. Justyce McAllister has a bright future ahead of him in the Ivy League. But that makes no difference to the police officer who handcuffs him. Feeling lost, confused and helpless, Justyce seeks advice from the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He begins to write a diary addressed to him. This epistolary novel stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
Almond by Won-Pyung Sohn and Sandy Joosun Lee
Yunjae suffers from alexithymia, a brain disorder that makes it difficult for him to feel certain emotions, such as fear or anger. But his devoted mother and grandmother are undeterred. They have helped him navigate the world in small and large ways. On his 16th birthday, however, a horrific act of violence leaves him alone in the world. It isolates him until Gon, another troubled teenager, shows up at his school and starts bullying him. Over time, they realize they have more in common than they think, and their stories take an unexpected turn.
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
This is an autobiographical book about the author’s condition, which left her bedridden with an undiagnosed illness. She meets a common forest snail, the Neohelix albolabris. She observes the snail and is fascinated by how it moves through the world, with its anatomy, defense mechanisms, decisions and courtship rituals. She shows us the wonders of nature and how much we can learn from it. It’s a story about resilience, told with grace and wit as a woman tries to survive alongside a mysterious creature.
Icarus by K. Ancrum
Icarus is a high school student and thief. He replaces priceless artwork with his father Angus’s forgeries. They have their reasons for stealing Mr. Black’s artwork, which we find out as time goes on. Icarus sneaks in and out of the Black household and forms an unlikely friendship (possibly more) with his son Helios. The book is divided into several short chapters that make the story digestible. It’s a book that’s a bit bizarre and very strange. It deals with cruelty while also being a celebration of quiet love. It made me recognize and empathize with all the moments of caring that sometimes go unnoticed.
The People by Matt Haig
This is a short, quirky read, broken down into short, bite-sized chapters. It’s written from the perspective of an alien sent to Earth. You might think the cliche is over the top, but in this book, it’s executed so well. We follow a member of a species more intelligent than humans, sent here to destroy information we can’t handle. He takes over the body of a professor and lives like one among us. It’s full of delightful observations and black comedy. It’s such a vivid and raw lens into what makes us human and what would stand out about us to an intelligent life form that isn’t human.
The Push by Ashley Audrain
This is a psychodrama about a family of four. Blythe wants to be a loving mother to her baby Violet, but can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong with her daughter. Her husband ignores her fears. When her son Sam is born, everything seems fine and Blythe has the connection with him she has always longed for. But that breaks down and we get a deeper look into her life. It makes readers question everything we know about motherhood. Trigger warnings for this book include dysfunctional families, trauma, and mental illness.
With the fire on high by Elizabeth Acevedo
Even Acevedo’s prose reads like poetry. This book is so beautiful. Like all of her other works, it tackles feminist themes like our struggles and solidarity, as the book follows a teenage mother who wants to be a chef. All of Acevedo’s protagonists are in love with something, and Emoni loves cooking. Each short, snappy chapter evokes emotion. It’s a celebration of food, sisterhood, and family – the one you’re born into and the one you find.
If you enjoyed this list of short chapter books, check out our short book archive.
