The best short books to take on your summer holiday, all less than 200 pages long
By
You know the feeling: your suitcase is packed, your out-of-office is on and you're ready for a week of baking sun. Then comes the all-important question: which book should you take?
Ideally, you want something short enough to finish before you land by the pool, but gripping enough to cast aside any haziness from last night's cocktails. Enter the under-200-page wonder: books that are slim in size but pack a punch.
Whether you're after sharp satire, lyrical love stories, or gothic gore, these small-but-mighty reads will slip right into your beach bag. Even better? They'll mean no excess baggage charges, even if you're flying budget.
The best short books to take on holiday
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
This quirky, wry story follows Keiko, a Japanese convenience store worker who's never fit in anywhere before. But despite her contentment in the role, Keiko's social circle can't understand why an unmarried woman is spending her time stacking shelves. As pressure mounts for her to find a new job, or worse, a husband, she's forced to take drastic action…
178 pages
£9.99 Shop
McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh
She may be most famous for her shocking and hilarious book My Year of Rest and Relaxation, but Moshfegh's first release, the novella McGlue, is every bit as strange and gripping. Set in 1851 Salem, McGlue is in custody after allegedly killing his best friend in a drunken rage. He's remorseless, however, despite the foggy recollections of the incident in question.
128 pages
£8.99 Shop
West by Carys Davies
When Cy Bellman, American settler and widowed father of Bess, reads in the newspaper that huge ancient bones have been discovered in a Kentucky swamp, he leaves his small Pennsylvania farm and young daughter to find out if the rumours are true: that the giant monsters are still alive, and roam the uncharted wilderness beyond the Mississippi River. This novella is crisp, poignant and atmospheric, perfect for those who loved Where the Crawdads Sing.
160 pages
£9.99 Shop
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
Henri has a passion for Napoleon – but Napoleon has a passion for chicken. As the soldier and emperor butcher their way across Europe, glory falls to ruin and love to hate. But, when Henri encounters the red-haired, web-footed Villanelle, he discovers in her an equal. Together, they abandon their pasts and flee to the Venetian canals to meet their singular destiny...
176 pages
£9.99 Shop
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
Immortalised by Audrey Hepburn's iconic performance in the 1961 film, Breakfast at Tiffany's is a dazzling portrait of 1940s New York. It follows socialite Holly Golightly, a social climber and stunning heartbreaker, her questionable relationships and her search for a place she belongs.
160 pages
£8.99 Shop
Absolutely and Forever by Rose Tremain
This stunning novella tells the piercing love story between 15-year-old Marianne Clifford and 18-year-old Simon Hurst, destined to go far as a clever, beautiful and privileged teen. But fate intervenes. Simon's plans are blown off course, and Marianne is forced to bury her dreams of a future together.
192 pages
£8.99 Shop
Foster by Claire Keegan
Booker-shortlisted author Claire Keegan's novella tells the story of a girl sent to live with a foster family on a sweltering Irish farm. There, she finds affection she's not known before and begins to blossom – until a secret threatens her fragile new happiness.
96 pages
£9.99 Shop
So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell
This evocative masterpiece by one of America's greatest novelists tells the story of two Illinois farmers who share too much until finally, jealousy leads to murder and suicide. A tenuous friendship between lonely teenagers - the narrator, whose mother has died young, and Cletus Smith, the troubled witness to his parents' misery - is shattered. The boys never speak again, and only fifty years on can the narrator attempt a reconstruction of those devastating events.
176 pages
£9.99 Shop
This is Pleasure by Mary Gaitskill
This nuanced take on #MeToo, power and consent is told from two perspectives. The first is Quin, a male publisher undone by allegations of sexual impropriety; the second his loyal friend Margot, trying to understand and explain his actions. It's an unflinching look at the moral complexities of the 21st-century world, and perfect for anyone after a thought-provoking read.
96 pages
£6.99 Shop
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
This cult favourite gothic novella follows Merricat and her sister Constance, who live in isolation after most of their family died of arsenic poisoning. When cousin Charles arrives, armed with overtures of friendship and a desperate need to get into the safe, Merricat must do everything in her power to protect her remaining family.
176 pages
£9.99 Shop
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Falling in love really could make you take the plunge - as new romances can make you more likely to take risks and commit immoral acts
Falling in love has always been something of a leap of faith - but maybe more so than anyone realised. New research shows people caught up in a new romance are more likely to indulge in risk-taking behaviour – such as bungee jumping. They're also more inclined to commit immoral or fraudulent acts, including bribing strangers for financial gain. The findings, from a series of studies in China, demonstrate how being in love can detract from our powers of self-control and increase our appetite for danger. Researchers from Sichuan International Studies University in Chongqing, China, tested how being exposed to images of love and romance affected volunteers' judgement. In one experiment, they recruited 150 men and women who were told they were there to assess the quality of new TV advertisements. Half were exposed to ads packed with romantic imagery – such as a woman being kissed on the shoulder by a man, a dozen red roses lying on the floor and a Valentine's Day heart-shaped pink cake on a table. The rest watched ads for mobile phones and video games that featured no romantic shots. As a reward for taking part, participants were then offered free tickets to either visit a new gardening exhibition – or do a bungee jump where they would 'leap head-first from a great height with a thick rubber cord attached to their feet'. The results, in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, revealed 53 per cent of those who watched TV ads for phones and computer games chose a bungee jump. But amongst those who'd seen romantic imagery it was almost 75 per cent. In a second experiment, a different group of volunteers were subjected to the same romantic or non-romantic images and then asked to evaluate the design of a new website for its consumer appeal. The website featured two dummy advertisements – one on how to look for the best video games to play and the other promoting a course on bribery and how to do it. Those who had viewed the love-themed TV clips were more likely to click on the bribery advertisement for more details. Researchers said previous studies have shown risky behaviour may reflect a desire to demonstrate health and vitality to a possible mate. In a report on the findings they said: 'Romance may make people become more focused on short-term mating strategies – which can lead to increased risk-taking. 'This behaviour may be designed to enhance attractiveness. 'There also seems to be a strong connection between romance and an inability to exercise personal control.'
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Thousands of tourists CANCELLED holidays after Japan's ‘Baba Vanga' predicted terrifying natural disaster
THOUSANDS of tourists cancelled trips to Japan — over predictions of a huge disaster in a graphic novel. The manga comic claimed the nation would be hit yesterday by a tsunami, an asteroid or even the end of the world. 3 3 Despite a volcanic eruption at Mount Shinmoedake and several earth tremors on its Tokara Islands, thankfully the doomsday prediction failed to come true. But it was enough for superstitious travellers to stay away. Nearly four million people visited Japan in April but there was an 11 per cent dip in May. Most of the cancellations were from people in Hong Kong but also from China, Vietnam and Thailand. The predictions came in The Future I Saw, in which artist Ryo Tatsuki details her dreams. In 1999, the comic warned of a disaster in March 2011 — and that month a Japanese earthquake and tsunami killed 18,000 people. It garnered cult status and a Complete Edition reprint in 2021 included the new prophecy that the 'real disaster' would hit on July 5, 2025. But Tatsuki's publishers have insisted she is 'not a prophet'. Moment 'mini-tsunami' sweeps SIDEWAYS across tourist beach injuring 8 injured as freak wave drags sunbathers over rocks 3
The Review Geek
7 hours ago
- The Review Geek
Kaiju No. 8 – Season 2 'Hoshina's Day Off' Recap & Review
Hoshina's Day Off The special episode of Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 begins with Reno tending to a sick Hibino, who's suffering from a stomach ache due to overeating. With some unexpected free time on his hands, Reno wonders what to do on his day off when he runs into Vice Captain Hoshina, who's also off-duty. Hoshina vaguely hints at having something planned and disappears soon after. Just then, Iharu shows up. While Iharu suspects that Hoshina is headed for a date, Reno bets he's doing extra training to get stronger. They decide to follow Hoshina to find out who's right. Hoshina goes on to buy premium dried squid for Mina, briefly runs into Kikoru and her friends, and drops them off at a restaurant. He also gives Haruichi and Aoi tips on where to buy cheap camping gear. Meanwhile, Iharu and Reno continue tailing him, and eventually all the Third Division new recruits gather together. They spot Hoshina delivering a huge metal box—one that Haruichi immediately recognizes as the type used to store defense gear. Jumping to conclusions, the recruits suspect that Hoshina might be selling their defense gear on the black market. United in their suspicion, they follow him further, until Hoshina finally catches them. It turns out he's been heading to a disaster prevention center owned by a retired Defense Force officer, the same man he had met earlier in the episode. Hoshina was actually donating his old gear to the center, not selling it. The rest of the day is spent at the center, playing with kindergarten children who've come to visit. Just as things settle down, a new kaiju alert sounds. Without hesitation, the entire group, including Hoshina who had been wearing his suit underneath his casual clothes, marches off to face the threat, closing the episode on a high note. The Episode Review Hoshina's Day Off, a special episode before the new season kicks off, leans into Kaiju No. 8's more heartwarming and comedic side, delivering an adorable and lighthearted story. Though it's an extra episode meant to spotlight the supporting cast, it's still very enjoyable, even if it's a little predictable. There's also a clear underlying message here about natural disasters in Japan, with kaiju serving as fictional metaphors. The episode subtly expresses a hope for a future where there are no more 'kaiju' (disasters) to fight, as mentioned by the center's owner. Overall, it's a quirky and thoughtful little detour, one last breath of fresh air before the real battle begins!
