Friday Mood Recs: 17 novellas that achieve emotional depth in fewer than 200 pages

Quick reads that don't skimp on plot, theme, and character

If you followed me through my reading last year, you know that 2023 was my year of Big Books. I just couldn’t get enough of long, chunky tomes. I’ve still been reading big books, including some hefty new releases. And I still hope to prioritize some of the doorstops that have been sitting on my shelves unread for years.

But as much as I love getting lost in an epic, I find something extremely satisfying about a short book that’s doing it right. If an author can get explore nuanced theme and create complex characters in a tight 200 pages, I’m there—bonus points if the plot is engaging and the structure is original.

I know a lot of readers who are often looking for short books for their TBR, so today I thought I’d share a list of favorites that you can keep in your back pocket for the rest of the year. Whether you’re looking for a something to fill a reading challenge, need a one-sitting read, hope to meet a reading goal, or want to explore something literary without a huge commitment, here are 10 novellas doing it all in 200 pages or less.