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Original poster

I need 5 books…

36 replies

CurlewKate · 22/09/2025 07:43

We have a family tradition of Christmas Eve books. Which is lovely-but soooo difficult for the chooser (me!) especially now everyone’s grown up. They have to be short, non stressful, fiction and paperback. 4 mid twenties-2 men 2 women and a mid 50s man. Unusual classics is fine-so long as they fit the short non stressful criteria! In an ideal world they would also be pretty…

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deeplybaffled · 26/09/2025 09:58

How about the Anne Perry Christmas novellas? If any of the recipients likes crime ( historical, Victorian era) they are great.

Bjorkdidit · 26/09/2025 09:51

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas by James Patterson
The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories: From Hans Christian Andersen to Angela Carter

Sliceofbattenberg · 26/09/2025 08:18

imbolic · 25/09/2025 20:33

Gosh, someone suggested Flowers for Algernon as a non-stressful book. It's so, so sad!
How about a Georgette Heyer thriller set at Christmas? Envious Casca (which has been renamed 'A Christmas Party' fairly recently) is a good yarn and quite short.

I said it was a thin book. It’s a sad book, but I don’t think that’s the same as being stressful.

imbolic · 25/09/2025 20:33

Gosh, someone suggested Flowers for Algernon as a non-stressful book. It's so, so sad!
How about a Georgette Heyer thriller set at Christmas? Envious Casca (which has been renamed 'A Christmas Party' fairly recently) is a good yarn and quite short.

SammyScrounge · 25/09/2025 19:36

Alexander McCall Smith's No1 Ladies Detective Agency.series. Wise and.gently humorous with delightful Precious Ramotswe solving problems for her community. Added bonus is the perfect prose it is written in.

KateKontent · 25/09/2025 19:27

I've not read it yet, but I have been eyeing The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clark. Think it's meant to be very short, it's on theme and it looks pretty

BCBird · 25/09/2025 19:24

JaninaDuszejko · 22/09/2025 12:19

Since everyone is an adult these days why not change it so you each have to buy a book on a theme and then make it a lucky dip. Because it seems rather unfair that you are doing all the work.

Think this is a great compromise

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 25/09/2025 19:19

Stop the press!!!
I've just thought of another one!!

Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood. One the craziest and funniest books I've ever read. Bonkers and brilliant.

WatchingTheDetective · 25/09/2025 08:40

Make it easy for yourself this year and buy them all a PG Wodehouse book.

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 25/09/2025 07:50

I have the perfect book!!
Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hessian, an utterly delightful (and short tale). Really really recommended. Also I think there's going to be a tv series of it.

Otherwise I find short books are often written by poets or those who chose their words carefully.
Such as:
Benjamin Myers - The Offing, a wonderful, poignant coming of age tale. Just delightful.

Small things like these (already mentioned, brilliant).

I hope this finds you well- Natalie Sue..Satire about office culture and mental health. Very funny but also dark

Her many faces - Nicci Cloke, page- turning clever murder mystery type. Not something I would normally read but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it.

Canicule · 24/09/2025 21:46

Seconding...
Convenience Store Woman
Small Things like these

Adding...
James (by Percival Everett)

splothersdog · 24/09/2025 21:24

Orbital
Small things like these - Claire Keegan
the blue if you by Amanda Huggins - will be out in a month - I have had a pre read
Fell, Summerwater both by Sarah Moss
A snow garden by Rachel Joyce

MercyChant66 · 24/09/2025 21:19

The Party by Tessa Hadley - very short and has a lovely snowy cover! Agree that A Month in the Country is a fantastic novella.

Lutonsgirl · 24/09/2025 20:40

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 24/09/2025 20:18

Ooo the Before The Coffee gets Cold series they are short, about a time travel cafe in Japan

Edited

I love these

facepalmcustard · 24/09/2025 20:32

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 24/09/2025 20:18

Ooo the Before The Coffee gets Cold series they are short, about a time travel cafe in Japan

Edited

yes and these!! Lovely, short and easy!

facepalmcustard · 24/09/2025 20:31

Three Men in a Boat - short and classic but still v funny

RoverReturn · 24/09/2025 20:26

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Julian Barnes Metroland
Penelope Fitzgerald's books are short

Sliceofbattenberg · 24/09/2025 20:26

No News of Gurb
The Scheme for Full Employment
Raymond Carver short story collection
Flowers for Mrs Harris
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
The Uncommon Reader
The Tenth Man
Diary of a Nobody
Goodbye Mr Chips
This is How You Lose the Time War (perhaps not lighthearted, but not the opposite either)
Small Things Like These (not lighthearted)
Breakfast at Tiffanys
Flowers for Algernon
Chess Novel (assuming that’s the title, it’s Stefan Zweig)
We have always lived in the castle

These are the thinnest books on my shelf at a glance
I also love a book called Parveen but unlikely to be in print

babybythesea · 24/09/2025 20:19

What you are looking for is in the library. Another Japanese one - a collection of five short stories which overlap. One of the best books I have read this year.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 24/09/2025 20:18

Ooo the Before The Coffee gets Cold series they are short, about a time travel cafe in Japan

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 24/09/2025 20:17

If anyone would appreciate a RomCom try Abby Jimenez very light

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 24/09/2025 20:15

Tortelliniortortelloni · 24/09/2025 20:06

What about Claire Keegan? They are definitely short and have lovely covers. I am not sure whether they count as non-stressful. They are not stressful but not lighthearted either.

Was coming on to say Clare Keegan, Foster and Small Things Like These

Tortelliniortortelloni · 24/09/2025 20:06

What about Claire Keegan? They are definitely short and have lovely covers. I am not sure whether they count as non-stressful. They are not stressful but not lighthearted either.

RolandOnTheRopes · 24/09/2025 07:16

The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August is short, I saw it on the main table bit in Waterstones the other week, I think they had it as their book of the day or something.
I've not read it so no idea if it meets any of the other criteria you have, but it's short and fiction. It had a picture of a cat in space on it so will probably be light-hearted.

Greetingscard · 22/09/2025 19:53

We recently read Orbital for my book club set on the space station-lots to discuss and quite short

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