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Original poster

Any ideas for short novel choice for book group?

87 replies

Clawdy · 19/03/2026 12:26

My book group choice next, and for various reasons, we've got less time to read it, so I need a shortish novel! Any ideas?

OP posts:
Westfacing · 19/03/2026 13:37

I highly recommend 'Orbital' by Samantha Harvey

Orbital by Samantha Harvey | Waterstones

Pallisers · 19/03/2026 13:34

Like others I was coming on to say A Month In The Country.

Recently I read - and loved:

The English Understand Wool by Helen De Witt

Three Fires by Denise Mina

Orbital by Samatha Hervey

The Turn of the Screw or Washington Square by Henry James would be good too.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 19/03/2026 13:32

On Chesil Beach
The outsiders
Agatha Christie

Screamingabdabz · 19/03/2026 13:32

On Chesil Beach.

rumred · 19/03/2026 13:31

Small Things like These by Claire Keegan. Just superb.

BauhausOfEliott · 19/03/2026 13:31

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Heatwave by Victor Jestin
The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James
Beside The Sea by Veronique Olmi
Foster or Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden
Who Will Run The Frog Hospital by Lorrie Moore

onitlikeacarbonnet · 19/03/2026 13:29

I who have never known men by Jaqueline Harpman
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

KidsAndDogsGalore · 19/03/2026 13:14

Want something a bit deeper?
The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig is my all-time favourite book.

Freysimo · 19/03/2026 13:11

On Chesil Beach

EggplantSurprise · 19/03/2026 13:03

Oh, seconded Annie’s Ernaux’s Simple Passion, too.

EggplantSurprise · 19/03/2026 13:02

A Month in the Country is a perfect novel.

Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden?
Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald?
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan?
Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter?
Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss?

AudiobookListener · 19/03/2026 12:56

Seascraper Benjamin Wood

Anything by David Almond. Technically he writes "children's books" but they are wonderfully poetic and philosophical. The Colour of the Sun is my favourite.

A Month in the Country J L Carr

Edit to add suggestions from DH:

Sympathy Tower Tokyo
Simple Passion Annie Ernaux