If bigger novels don’t excite you and you are looking to read something that is fast-paced, engaging, and retains your attention span in its entirety, then we have something for you. Here is a list of the 12 best short books that are good and are under 200 pages. They can be read in one day or in a single sitting. These books are absolute page-turners that keep you hooked till the end.
As Jane Austen said, “If a book is well-written, I always find it too short”.
So, let’s start. Here are the 12 Best Short Books for you that are really good:
#1 A City Happens in Love by Ravish Kumar
About the book
Title- A City Happens In Love
Author- Ravish Kumar
Genre- Fiction
Publisher- Speaking Tiger
Type- Standalone
Pages- 134
Goodreads rating- 3.7/5
A boy from Patna remembers his time in the village and compares his life there and in the city. As we move forward, the book introduces us to lovers who are in constant search of a secluded place in the crowded city of Delhi. They can’t seem to find a place to spend some private time together. And then there is always a fear of being recognized or caught. So a city becomes an indispensable part of their love and becomes something that can make or break it. The author portrays how love and heartbreak flourish in these urban cities.
Why do we recommend this book?
“There is no relation between love and city spaces,” you say? When you read this book, you’ll find out that it is not the case. The story’s premise is when you’re in love, you explore the city in a completely different way. The Old Delhi charm and all its cozy corners make love even better. This book is a delight for those who consider themselves wanderers.
If you want to buy/gift A City Happens in Love by Ravish Kumar, click on the link below: 👇
#2 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
by Khaled Hosseini
Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Genre: Domestic Fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 162
Goodreads rating: 4.4 / 5
A Thousand Splendid Suns portray people’s lives in Afghanistan, especially women. It tells us about 30 years of Afghan history. And this story is about two women, Mariam and Laila, born decades apart but then are bought together by war, loss, and fate. And, it is their story of surviving through Russian invasions and Taliban rule in Afghanistan. This book is a fantastic story of unforgettable and unforgiving times.
*This book has mentions war, abuse, and violence. It might be triggering for some readers.
Why do we recommend this book?
A Thousand Splendid Suns is a remarkable story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love. It is a heart-touching and heart-warming tale. It is soo rare to find books like this one, whose story will stay in your heart forever. And this book is undoubtedly one of them.
If you want to buy/gift A Thousand Splendid Suns, click on the link below: 👇
#3 Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond
About the book
Title- Blue Umbrella
Author- Ruskin Bond
Genre- Fiction
Publisher- Rupa Publications
Type- Standalone
Pages- 90
Goodreads rating- 4.3/5
This novella tells the tale of Binya, an ordinary village girl from Garhwal, who lives with her mother, brother, and two cows called Neelu and Gori. Binya receives a beautiful blue umbrella from Japanese tourists in exchange for her leopard claw pendant. She carries the umbrella everywhere she goes. Local shopkeeper Ram Bharosa notices the umbrella and becomes jealous of the young girl, trying to buy it from her. The ending of the story is a beautiful message that hits home.
P.S.: This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read this book for free.
Why do we recommend this book?
Ruskin Bond is enough of a reason to pick this up. He is a master at weaving stories out of the most ordinary things. This short story is best for people who are just getting into reading. Bond’s picturesque descriptions of village life and love for nature are a bonus.
If you want to buy/gift Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond, click on the link below: 👇
#4 Dollar Bahu by Sudha Murty
About the book
Title: Dollar Bahu
Author: Sudha Murty
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Global
Type: Standalone
Pages: 152
Goodreads Rating: 3.7 / 5
Vinita is a young woman who marries Girish, a bank clerk. However, things go sideways when Chandru, Girish’s elder brother, gets married. Chandru is based in the US, and his wife is the ‘Dollar Bahu’. Vinita now faces constant comparisons between her and her new sister-in-law, by Gouramma, her mother-in-law. But when Gouramma visits Chandru in the US, things change. She now looks at the other side of life there. Can this trip change Vinita and Gouramma’s relationship? Or will it be the same? Dollar Bahu is a story about how money corrupts the way people look at each other.
Why do we recommend this book?
The novel portrays the delicate relationships in a family in a heart-touching way. The story is short, hilarious, and fun to read. While this is a fictional story, it feels very realistic. The novel is short, hilarious, fun to read, and beautifully portrays delicate relationships.
If you want to buy/gift Dollar Bahu, click on the link below: 👇
#5 Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag
About the book
Title- Ghachar Ghochar
Author- Vivek Shanbhag
Genre- Psychological fiction
Publisher- HarperCollins publisher India
Type- Standalone
Pages– 124
Goodreads rating- 3.9/5
A young man’s close-knit family is nearly destitute when his uncle finds a successful spice company, changing their fortunes overnight. As they move from a cramped, ant-infested shack to a larger house on the other side of Bangalore and try to adjust to a new way of life, the family dynamic begins to shift. Allegiances realign; marriages are arranged and falter, and conflict brews ominously in the background. Things become “Ghachar Ghochar”—a nonsense phrase uttered by one meaning something tangled beyond repair, a knot that can’t be untied. Ghachar Ghochar tells the tale of a family going from rags to riches.
Why do we recommend this book?
I believe this book is a must-read. It drops truth bombs on every page. Each page contains pearls of wisdom that you think about the kind of society we are a part of. We learn about the power of money, its fickleness, and how it controls us.
P.S.: This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read this book for free.
If you want to buy/gift Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag, click on the link below: 👇
#6 Gently Falls The Bakula by Sudha Murty
About the book
Title: Gently Falls The Bakula
Author: Sudha Murty
Genre: Penguin Books
Publisher: Contemporary Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Type: Standalone
Pages: 169
Goodreads Rating: 3.9 / 5
What is more important: a successful career or a happy marriage? Shrimati and Shrikant are neighbors and rivals in their schools. But they realize they have feelings for each other. So after a few years of dating, they decide to get married. Shrikant joins an IT company, determined to reach the top. While Shrimati, who is equally aspirational, sacrifices her career to fulfill her duties as a corporate leader’s wife. Then one day, while talking to her old professor, she realizes how empty her life is now. So what does she do to find her happiness again? Does she even find it?
Why do we recommend this book?
Gently Falls the Bakula is one of my favorite books. The story is beautiful and captivating, and even after years of reading it, I still remember it as though I had just read it yesterday. Surely, recommend it.
If you want to read our full thoughts on it, click here: Review Of Gently Falls The Bakula By Sudha Murty (Spoiler Free) – Favbookshelf
If you want to buy/gift Gently Falls The Bakula, click on the link below: 👇
#7 Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
About the book
Title– Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982
Author- Cho Nam-Joo
Genre- Fiction
Publisher- Liveright
Type- Standalone
Pages- 192
Goodreads rating- 4.2/5
Kim Ji-Young is a thirty-something woman who has been the victim of misogyny at every stage of her life. The story is divided into parts from childhood to adulthood and then marriage. It documents the various instances where she faces discrimination in school, workplaces, and familial dynamics. The book talks about the gender inequality that persists in Korean society that is mainly patriarchal. Ji-young’s frustration becomes more apparent when she exhibits certain symptoms noticed by her husband and persuades her to see a psychiatrist.
P.S.: This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read this book for free.
Why do we recommend this book?
It is difficult to touch upon such an important issue with fewer words and make a huge impact. However, the author has succeeded in doing that. The writing is crisp and to the point. Kim Ji-Young is the story of every woman. It could be the women sitting beside you on the bus, your neighbor, your domestic help, your classmate, or your teacher. This book leaves you thinking.v
If you want to buy/gift Kim-Ji Yong, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo, click on the link below: 👇
#8 The Twelve Holidates by Emma St. Clair
About the Book
Title: The Twelve Holidates
Author: Emma St. Clair
Genre: YA, Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Type: Series
Pages: 110
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
* This book is a part of the series. But you don’t need to read the previous book in order to read this one. You can read this book as a standalone.
Taylor just found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her. So she goes to her best friend, Weston, for comfort and a shoulder to cry on. Weston insists on doing the Twelve dates with Taylor to cheer her up, which she had planned to do with her ex-boyfriend. But on these dates, she finds her feelings for Weston resurfacing again. And this Taylor did not see coming. She always thought that her feeling for him had died a long back in her teenage years. But apparently not. They seem to grow more and more intense on these dates. Will Taylor tell Weston about her feelings? Or will she get her heart broken once again this holiday season?
Why do we recommend this book?
This is a cute and fun novella, perfect if you’re in the mood for something quick, fun, and Christmasy. I will recommend this for some light reading and especially when you are in a holiday mood.
P.S.: This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read this book for free.
If you want to buy/gift The Twelve Holidates by Emma St. Clair, click on the link below: 👇
#9 The Office Party by Whitney G.
About the Book
Title: The Office Party
Author: Whitney G
Genre: Romance
Publisher: WGW BOOKS
Type: Standalone
Pages: 123
Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5
Savannah Grey is the rising star at West Media. As the top advisor for the C.E.O. of West Media, she never gets a break. She’s a hard worker but believes everyone deserves time off at Christmas. Unfortunately, her boss Garrett West has a different opinion on the matter. He believes there is no such thing as a day off in December. Their yearly two weeks all-expenses-paid work retreat isn’t exactly how she’d choose to spend her holidays; this includes the mandatory event that is their office party. But, everything goes wrong when she decides to re-gift a present her sister gave her. Even though she can’t stand her boss, he’s possibly the most handsome man in Manhattan. The tension has lingered between them for years and soon becomes too hard to ignore. Will they work out on it or will they not?
P.S This series is available on Kindle Unlimited. So if you have subscribed to it, you can read it for free.
Why do we recommend this book?
The Office Party by Whitney G. is an enemy to lovers’ romance full of humorous banter and chemistry. This novel is perfect to read when you want to do some light reading.
P.S.: This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read this book for free.
If you want to buy/gift The Office Party by Whitney G, click on the link below: 👇
#10 The Vegetarian by Han Kang
About the book
Title- The Vegetarian
Author- Han Kang
Genre- Psychological fiction
Publisher- Changbi Publishers (South Korea); Portobello Books (UK)
Type- Standalone
Pages- 160
Goodreads rating- 3.6/5
This book is the story of Yeong-Hye, whose life is narrated through the lens of three people. This book is in three parts. The first part is from her husband’s point of view, Mr. Cheong. He leads an ordinary life in a loveless but tolerable marriage with Yeong-Hye until she becomes a vegetarian after haunting nightmares. Her decision was considered an act of rebellion and defying the “so-called” social norms. The second part is through Yeong-Hye’s brother-in-law’s point of view, who is tempted by a Mongolian mark she has on her body. Filled with desire, he persuades her to work for his erotic and sensual artworks. The third part is by Yeong-Hye’s sister in Hye. It is a kind of introspection of in-Hye. She tells the possible events which led to her sister being in such a delicate condition.
Why do we recommend this book?
This book comes with trigger warnings, so I recommend it to people only if they are comfortable with it. The Vegetarian is a book that challenges you as a reader, forcing you to look at things differently. It conjures intense and eccentric imagery that almost feels like ants crawling on your skin. What is even more fascinating is that every reader may have different interpretations about the actions of the characters. So, dive straight into this spine-chilling novel if it arouses your interest.
If you want to buy/gift The vegetarian by Han Kang, click on the link below: 👇
#11 We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
About the book
Title- We should all be feminists
Author- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Genre- Essay
Publisher- Fourth Estate
Type- Standalone
Pages- 64
Goodreads Rating– 4.4/5
We Should All Be Feminists is a power-packed essay, adapted from the much-talked-about TEDx talk of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, award-winning author of several books like Purple Hibiscus and Americanah. She explains the true meaning of Feminism in simple words, asking certain uncomfortable questions that compel the readers to introspect. Drawing arguments from her personal experiences, as a girl growing up in third world country Nigeria, she convinces us as to why we should all be feminists.
Why do we recommend this book?
Though the words are few, the impact that Adichie’s writing makes is commendable. Everyone and I mean everyone, should read this book. All the arguments put forward by the author were apt. Feminism is a concept that has become misunderstood in many ways. In the 21st century, it becomes even more important to pick up this essay and understand the true meaning behind the word.
If you want to buy/gift We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, click on the link below: 👇
#12 Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
About the book
Title– Zikora
Author– Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Genre– Fiction
Publisher– Amazon original stories
Type– Standalone
Pages– 35
Goodreads rating- 4.3/5
This book tells the story of a middle-aged woman, Zikora, a lawyer who comes from a wealthy Nigerian family. She gets pregnant, and when she tells her partner Kwame, he refuses responsibility and abandons her. Nevertheless, she puts on a brave front and decides to have this child as she feels it might be her last chance since she’s in her late thirties. She seeks the help of her mother, that is when the mother-daughter relationship is transformed and displayed beautifully in the end.
Why do we recommend this book?
This book was my second book by Adichie, and again I loved it. Although it is a short story of merely 35 pages, it is still a powerful read. Adichie’s writing is raw, seamless, and touches upon various important issues. The detailed description of childbirth, all the pain a woman endures while bringing a new life into this world may be a little heavy and difficult to read, which is in itself a testimony to Adichie’s fierce expression through words.
If you want to buy/gift Zikora, click on the link below: 👇
P.S: Some books recommended here are available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read these books for free. Check out this article: Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It?
SO, to conclude here are 12 short books under 200 pages that are really good:
| 1. | A City Happens in Love by Ravish Kumar ( Ishq main Shahar hona) | Buy now |
| 2. | A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini | Buy now |
| 3. | Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond | Buy now |
| 4. | Dollar Bahu by Sudha Murty | Buy now |
| 5. | Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag | Buy now |
| 6. | Gently Falls The Bakula by Sudha Murty | Buy now |
| 7. | Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo | Buy now |
| 8. | The Twelve Holidates by Emma St. Clair | Buy now |
| 9. | Office Party by Whitney G. | Buy now |
| 10. | The Vegetarian by Han Kang | Buy now |
| 11. | We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Buy now |
| 12. | Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Buy now |
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I appreciate you sharing this blog article.Thanks Again. Will read on…