Being a reader with a short attention span is harder than anyone admits. Social media trains us to zone out, scrolling through endless videos or speeding up the ones that last more than a minute. But short-form content doesn’t have to mean brain rot. Whether you’re just getting into reading or stuck in a slump, short stories, novellas, poems, and bite-sized novels are perfect for staying entertained, stretching your focus, and critically engaging with content. I know the struggle all too well, which is why I’ve put together 10 stories, all from wildly different corners of the literary world, to help you find one you’ll enjoy.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi lives in a labyrinth of endless halls and statues, where an ocean sometimes floods the lower levels. He spends his days exploring, observing, and recording everything in his journal, though he has no memory of where he came from or who he is. The only visitor is a man he calls Other, who appears occasionally with questions. As Piranesi uncovers more about the labyrinth, the strange reality of his world, and of himself, begins to unravel.
This is a book best approached knowing as little as possible, just like the main character at the start of the novel. While this novel is about 275 pages, the writing is concise and the story moves quickly. You will breeze through it as you try to piece together what’s really happening. I read this book in a day, and to this day, it is one of my favorite books of all time. Wacky and mysterious, I recommend this book to even non-readers.
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
White Nights tells the story of a lonely man living in Saint Petersburg. One night, he meets a woman and quickly falls in love with her, but his feelings are not reciprocated. The story explores longing, fleeting connections, and the bittersweet nature of unrequited love.
Coming from a writer known for some of the longest and densest novels I’ve ever read, Dostoevsky’s short stories pack an emotional punch. This short story found some hype on TikTok, so if you enjoy romance, I think you’ll appreciate this one, even though it centers on unrequited love. I love this story not just for its portrayal of love, but because it’s a character study on how humans crave connection and the challenges of navigating loneliness.
A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker by New Yorker Magazine Inc.
This is a collection of a hundred years’ worth of short stories from The New Yorker, edited by Deborah Treisman. The New Yorker has been an influential and important medium to showcase short stories, and A Century of Fiction compiles the stories that you should read from the last century.
The New Yorker has published some of the most iconic short stories in cultural history. You’ve probably read Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery in school, or maybe, like me, didn’t realize that Brokeback Mountain started as a short story by Annie Proulx. Even if some of these stories were required reading for you, I encourage you to revisit them, as they’re classics for a reason. You might even discover a hidden gem you wish you had read sooner.
Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood
Mara, an environmental engineer, inherits half of a house from her late mentor. The other half belongs to Liam, the mentor’s nephew. Forced to live in close proximity, they initially clash, finding each other insufferable. But over time, they realize they can’t stand being apart either.
This is novella #1 in Ali Hazelwood’s The Steminist Novellas, so if you enjoy this one, the good news is that there are two more you can read! Hazelwood is known for her fun tropey rom-com books, and if you want a quick romance fix with just pure enjoyment, these novellas are the way to go.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Before the Coffee Gets Cold is set in a small Tokyo café where ordering a cup of coffee allows customers to travel back in time. The catch: they cannot change the present, and they must return before the coffee gets cold. Through this premise, the novel follows four individuals who seize the opportunity to revisit their past to seek understanding, connection, and emotional closure.
Another TikTok favorite, this novel is well-known for making readers cry. While not every story hit for me, I love its magical premise and how it’s used to explore real emotions and the universal wish to turn back time. At just around 200 pages, the book is divided into four interconnected stories, each quick to read. Since many of them deal with themes of loss, I recommend checking trigger warnings before diving in.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Heartstopper is a graphic novel series that begins with the friendship between Charlie and Nick. Charlie is openly gay, gentle, and a little anxious, while Nick is a popular high school rugby player. As the two spend more time together, Nick starts to question his own feelings.
I love everything about Heartstopper. Seeing this story come to life through a graphic novel is something I wish more romances would do, as it captures themes, emotions, and thoughts in such a heartwarming way. I read the first volume in about an hour and then went straight to watching the show. It’s such a fun, comforting read, though it does also touch on some serious topics, more so in later volumes than the first, so I recommend checking trigger warnings beforehand.
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver is a curated collection of poems spanning more than fifty years of Mary Oliver’s career. Chosen by Oliver herself, the book brings together over 200 poems from her earliest works to her later writings.
I’m not a big poetry reader, mostly because I was traumatized by lit classes where I never knew how to analyze a poem properly. That being said, I’ve been trying to ease my way into poetry, and if you are too, I highly recommend Devotions. Mary Oliver’s writing is very accessible; She uses clear, simple language that’s easy to understand but still incredibly powerful. Her poems explore relatable themes like nature, mortality, and the human experience in a way that feels intricate without being overwhelming.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
This is a dark, gothic novel that follows Mary Katherine Blackwood, a reclusive teenage girl, and her older sister Constance, who live in isolation with their uncle Julian after the rest of their family was mysteriously poisoned years earlier.
This is on the longer side at about 250 pages, but horror novels always tend to move faster in my experience. I personally prefer short gothic horror because it’s the perfect format for building up to a climax and resolution, and most gothic short stories really knock it out of the park, including this one. If you find yourself wanting more, I also recommend checking out any of H. P. Lovecraft’s short stories, as he’s known for his chilling gothic horror.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The House on Mango Street is a coming-of-age novella about Esperanza, a young Latina growing up in Chicago. Told in a series of vignettes, it explores her neighborhood, family, friendships, and dreams of leaving Mango Street to build a better life.
At around 110 pages, I love how personal this book feels in such a short amount of time. Reading a story grounded in someone’s very personal experience can feel surprisingly relatable, and it makes the book resonate long after you’ve finished — definitely a quick and refreshing read.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
The story begins in high school, where Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is intelligent but socially isolated. Despite their differences, they form a secret friendship that slowly develops into a complicated romantic relationship. We follow their lives through high school and college, seeing how they continually find their stories intertwined despite the completely different challenges and changes they face.
This recommendation is not unique by any stretch of the imagination, but Normal People is popular for a reason. If you haven’t read it yet, now’s your time. Every time I read one of Rooney’s novels, it feels like she’s dug into my subconscious and pulls out thoughts I didn’t even realize could be articulated. Her characters feel scarily real, and she explores societal and economic struggles in nuanced ways through the characters of Marianne and Connell. This is a good starter read for Sally Rooney, and if you like this one, check out Conversations With Friends next.
Sometimes the thought of picking up a new book can feel daunting and make you not want to read at all. However, as you can see, short stories come in many different formats and are an excellent way to ease back into reading. Plus, they’re simply good stories. I hope you found something on this list that speaks to you!
Want to read some spooky short stories? Click here.
You can find these books and more on the Bookstr Team Recommendations list on bookshop.org!
