Setting personal goals for yourself — big or small — establishes discipline, motivation, and ultimately builds self-confidence. Something as simple as making a to-do list for the day and checking off the boxes can leave you feeling accomplished. I personally love making lists, and for a few months out of the year, I add a book to a list for me to finish that day. So, my readers, I want to challenge you to the book-a-day challenge! It’s a great way to prioritize a regular reading habit, experience many stories, and pull you out of a reading slump. To help you reach your reading goals — or simply get in the habit of reading more — here are some short, engaging books that will have you hooked from the start and simultaneously leave you wanting more.
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt
Orbiting Jupiter tells the difficult and realistically sad story of Joseph Brook, a damaged and guarded 14-year-old who has a baby daughter he’s never met named Jupiter. He’s deeply misunderstood — often judged by those around him — but he’s just a boy who has endured more than most. From the perspective of his foster brother, Jack, Joseph is passionate to find his daughter and will stop at nothing, no matter the cost. This book explores the complexities of family, forgiveness, and unconditional love.
This is a powerful quick read that leaves a lasting impression. If you’re a fan of realistic fiction with emotional depth, I highly recommend reading Orbiting Jupiter. It’s one I tend to recommend to people who are looking for an easy read and want to start reading more. It’s small but mighty!
The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman
If you want a short and sweet story with a valuable and heartwarming lesson, read The Deal of a Lifetime. None of the characters have names, but the main ones are a five-year-old girl and a successful businessman who reevaluates his life and everything he thought he knew after encountering Death, both battling cancer. Death is presented as an old lady whom the characters fear, as she represents the end of one thing and the beginning of another. The moral of the story is the businessman needing a change, needing to abandon his selfish and conceited ways and learn what it means to be selfless.
Fredrik Backman is an incredible storyteller. The Deal of a Lifetime is a thought-provoking novella about the meaning of life, the fear of failure, and anxiety over change. It is emotional, pushing all the right buttons in the way it deals with Death. Less than 100 pages, this story is rewarding and a perfect one to read in a day and check it off your list!
The Forester’s Daughter by Claire Keegan
Set in the Wicklow countryside of Ireland, The Forester’s Daughter centers around one family. Deegan, the forester, comes across a gun dog and gives it to his daughter, but the owner wants him back. Deegan is a troubled man who doesn’t have a relationship with his children or his wife, who is worried by this act of kindness because she knows if the dog has to return to his rightful owner, her daughter will be heartbroken. As time goes on, family secrets start coming to the surface, leading to a heartbreaking twist and a powerful finale.
The short story has a steady pace throughout that gives readers an understanding of the family dynamic with the background of the forester and the meeting between him and his future wife. It shows exactly what an unhappy marriage looks like. Definitely worth the read!
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
There are two stories within The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. Both are about a retired man named Tony Webster. The first part is him telling the story of his friendship with Adrian Finn in their teenage years and early adulthood, and how they promised to stay friends forever. The second is about him in the future, discovering the “truth” and reflecting on his past choices. An important aspect is a diary that finds itself in Tony’s hands, which triggers him to ponder on some events.
The main theme is how we choose to remember and tell our own life story, and how we may adjust certain details of a story to fit our liking: “…Our life is not our life, merely the story we have told about our life. Told to others, but — mainly — to ourselves.” It is a well-written, short book that invites consideration.
The Stranger by Albert Camus, translated by Matthew Ward
Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger has impacted millions of American readers with its philosophical and metaphorical meanings. The story follows Meursault, a man who has lived a mundane life and is grieving the loss of his mother. His depressive mindset drives him to kill a man for no apparent reason, landing him in prison and sentenced to death. With the ending set at the beginning of the book, we see the story of his life unfold and his outlook on life and death itself as meaningless, which impact his choices.
Albert Camus uses this story to draw on a certain way of thinking about life and how it impacts your day-to-day lifestyle. It focuses on meaning and existence. Not only is it a literary masterpiece, it’s also short enough to read in one sitting, bringing you that much closer to your reading goal.
If Cats Disappeared From the World by Genki Kawamura, translated by Eric Selland
Cats are hands down my favorite animals. I have one and she’s my best friend. So when I saw this title, I was immediately intrigued, and it did not disappoint. It reflects a heartwarming coexistence between people and cats, which I found beautiful. If Cats Disappeared From the World is a story about an unnamed character who only has six months to live due to cancer, and makes a deal with the devil. The deal is giving up certain objects in exchange for a few extra days of life. This story really illustrates the importance of various things and what they mean to humans.
If Cats Disappeared From the World is a great quick read if you’re a cat lover like myself! However, even if you’re not, I still recommend it for its highlight of what matters in life and what life looks like in the face of death.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a fable, meaning it teaches readers a valuable lesson by exploring themes of power, hope, and the impact of greed. Published in 1945, it is an imaginative story, depicting a world with animals in charge, rather than humans. Mr. Jones is cruel and neglectful towards his animals on Manor Farm. All farm animals there and from neighboring farms decide to come together and overthrow their human masters. They live by the commandment, “all animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others,” which ultimately leads to a valuable lesson.
This dystopian satire serves as a warning about the dangers of power corruption, propaganda and truth, and the illusion of equality. Animal Farm is a classic that everyone should read in their lifetime.
The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante
The Lost Daughter is a novella that will no doubt have a lasting emotional impact on you. There is something so hypnotic about it. The story follows Leda, a middle-aged teacher who is working by the sea. She becomes acquainted with a mother and daughter, and ends up stealing the daughter’s doll. This action sets off a powerful sequence of events with heavy emotion and intensity, blending past and present, as well as internal and external struggles.
The Lost Daughter explores the dangers of envy that go beyond the surface, becoming the driving force behind Leda’s actions. It is such a compelling read that will have you hooked from the beginning, and you’ll finish it before you know it.
You Don’t Have to be Everything, edited by Diana Whitney
Poems are an amazing way to hit those reading goals, complete the book-a-day challenge, and to just read more overall. There are countless ones to choose from, but I wanted to talk about You Don’t Have to be Everything by Diana Whitney. It covers the challenging transition from childhood to adulthood. As a woman, adolescence can be confusing and difficult to navigate at times, because growing up and becoming independent can be scary. This book is a compilation of 68 voices of various types of poets, all edited by Diana Whitney. It will give you a better understanding of the emotional landscape that women face.
I highly recommend reading You Don’t Have to be Everything. One way or another, you will resonate with, engage with, and learn from at least one of the poems. The authors’ voices will also not go unnoticed; it’s impossible with how powerful and beautiful each one is.
Blue Horses by Mary Oliver
Another fabulous poetry book is Blue Horses by Mary Oliver. It is important to know that Oliver chooses to believe in the good of humanity and see the beauty in nature, despite the evil humans are capable of. Blue Horses addresses the question of what it means to belong in a gentle yet truthful way.
There are 38 poems, each one a free verse style, making it super easy and accessible for the general reader. Her sincere love for nature and positive outlook on life is admirable and definitely worth checking out!
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur is one of my favorite poetry writers; her portrayal of human existence has always been so powerful and moving for me. It was hard choosing to write about just one of her books (I recommend reading them all), but I chose The Sun and Her Flowers. Published in 2017, it addresses themes of loss, grief, self-love, etc., using simple but elegant wording. It is split into five chapters, each a different topic, making it accessible to turn to a specific section depending on what you may need at the time. The book addresses a wide range of emotions, with the goal of helping you learn more about yourself and to love who you are no matter what life throws at you.
Rupi Kaur’s books are therapeutic and can be related to by everyone. They will give you self-discovery and personal growth, making them super rewarding for a reader.
Thank you for checking out these quick reads! I hope you’re inspired to start the book-a-day challenge to accomplish your reading goals!
Go take a look at more recommendations from the Bookstr team here!
You can find these books and more on our Bookstr Team Recs shelf.
