Whether you need a small bit of entertainment to bring into waiting rooms or a good story to get you through a Saturday evening, short, easy reads can be a great option. Consider putting one or more of these books on hold at the Phoenix Public Library, adding it to your Kindle or keeping an eye out for it at local thrift stores or book sales.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

This award-winning book was an Oprah Book Club pick in 2024 and has been made into a major motion picture. It tells the story of father, husband and coal merchant Bill Furlong and what he finds in a local convent. The story is steeped in the idylls of the Irish village in the 1980s but includes a surprising gritty truth based on actual events.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This classic favorite blends a whimsical story about a prince from another planet with profound discussions on philosophy and the nature of humankind. The narrator in the story is an earthbound and stranded pilot who meets the mysterious Little Prince while trying to fix his plane. The story explores the strange truths of the grown-up world from the eyes of an innocent. The book was originally published in 1943 and remains a beloved best-seller.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

In the world of small books, this little tome is almost the opposite of The Little Prince. In this book, deGrasse Tyson discusses the mysteries of the cosmos in a conversational, witty style that makes astrophysics accessible to the layperson. You'll learn about dark matter, dark energy, black holes and other concepts in bite-sized chapters.

Sparring Partners by John Grisham

If you're in the mood for a John Grisham legal thriller but don't have time for something as long as The Client or The Pelican Brief, consider this collection of three novellas. The stories center on lawyers and include everything you expect in a Grisham book, like courtroom drama and characters wrestling with legal ethics.

Southern Snow by B. R. Goodwin

A quirky small town, a family coffee shop and a second-chance romance between the former high school bad boy and the girl with a crush make this short read super-sweet. If you want a good Hallmarkesque rom-com with a bit of depth and faith, you may enjoy Southern Snow and the other three books in the Sugartree Romance series.

Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton

Single Dad Center is another sweet romance that's a quick read that packs a bit of emotional punch. This novel is a clean hockey romance between a single dad hockey captain and a woman with commitment issues. As the two are thrown together to care for his young daughter, they end up pulling the bandage off old wounds and figuring out that baggage is sometimes made to carry with someone else.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Children's books make great short reads, and authors who write with the upper-elementary and middle-grade market in mind craft compelling stories adults of all ages can also enjoy. One such book is Coraline, which tells the story of a lonely little girl who discovers a new, exciting world that isn't at all what it seems. If you like light horror with creepy thrills, you may enjoy this haunting little story.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Another entry in the category "Kids books that are great for adults too," this sweet story tells the journey of Edward Tulane, a ceramic bunny doll. Edward Tulane starts out as a vain, well-cared-for toy with a lot of pride and little understanding of what it means to be loved and to love. A disastrous ocean voyage leaves him stranded at sea, and from there, he takes a remarkable journey through the homes and hearts of a wide range of people — all the while learning about love.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The final entry in our list of short books with big stories and concepts is another young adult book. Siobhan Dowd came up with this metaphorical story about a child dealing with the monster in his own home — his mother's cancer — but her own death from cancer kept her from writing it. Patrick Ness brings his haunting but witty writing to the page to pen the story. The result is a beautiful and mysterious book readers of all ages can connect with.

‍