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Original poster

Unputdownable, short-ish, not trashy books

184 replies

Europeanbanana · 16/09/2026 14:37

I need books that will grip me so much I won't look at my phone. I don't want anything trashy or too long. Let's under under 350 pages. Any suggestions for really wonderful books that fit the bill?

OP posts:
MMUmum · 17/09/2026 18:09

Europeanbanana · 16/09/2026 14:57

Just to mention I don't really want thrillers or books that are intentionally written to be "page turners". Just a really amazing, well written story that is fully immersive.

Flaubert's parrot, Julian Barnes. Chance Developments Alexander McCall Smith

Comicalblackcat · 17/09/2026 18:09

Anything by Anna Jacob’s.

Iamthegirlwho · 17/09/2026 18:03

Anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is particularly good) or Ann Patchett ( just finished State of Wonder - amazing)

ErrolTheDragon · 17/09/2026 17:53

The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico. This won a Radio 4 ‘Neglected Classics’ listeners vote some years ago.

namechange62 · 17/09/2026 17:29

Rivers of London series. Ben Aaranovich. Brilliant and unique

Divebar2021 · 17/09/2026 17:22

Foster by Claire Keegan ( Small things like these is also wonderful )
James by Percival Everett
A month in the Country
Educated by Tara Westover ( non fiction but riveting )

CurlewKate · 17/09/2026 17:17

A Fortnight in September

CurlewKate · 17/09/2026 17:12

The Great Gatsby

jellybobs · 17/09/2026 17:00

Mr Wilder and Me - Jonathan Coe. I’ve always loved his books but I adored this when I read it last summer. I remember it being quite short so I just Googled it and it’s 256 pages!

Mamamia35 · 17/09/2026 16:05

@Ketryne I will check that out. That’s how I felt reading Yesteryear. I couldn’t wait to finish work to get back to it.

Also felt like that about All That Remains by Sue Black. It was fascinating.

Theseagullwhisperer · 17/09/2026 15:55

Another vote for Clear by Carys Davies! I thought it was stunning.

I was completely gripped by Whistler by Ann Patchett - not a stereotypical page turner, but I was just so emotionally invested.

I also really enjoyed -

Nesting by Roisín O'Donnell
Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands
You be Mother by Meg Mason
The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr

TragicMuse · 17/09/2026 15:53

William Maxwell is a wonderful writer of relatively short novels. So long, See you tomorrow is my favourite.

They’re beautiful and literary without being over-written.

And I know you said no thrillers, but if you haven’t read Raymond Chandler he’s worth a go. They’re not like modern crime, and are just so good with description and plot.

Borka · 17/09/2026 15:47

The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
The Greengage Summer by Rumer Golden
The Bowl is Already Broken by Mary Kay Zuravleff

CuriousKangaroo · 17/09/2026 15:35

Swimming Home by Deborah Levy

dreamingofgoodhair · 17/09/2026 15:20

WildExpert · 17/09/2026 12:56

Mark birthday cod coke in my shopping bag for you to get to to see if I can Josh ball daddy mammy hannh car home Mark chis is to get to to

Has a child got hold of your phone ?

padsi1975 · 17/09/2026 15:14

Into Thin Air
Wuthering Heights
Lonesome Dove (but it's enormous so doesn't fit the size requirement)

dreamingofgoodhair · 17/09/2026 15:10

Anything by Clare Chambers.

Bringemout · 17/09/2026 13:09

GagaBinks · 16/09/2026 18:12

A Short Stay in Hell

This, loved it also “I who have never known men” couldn’t put that down and “The time Machine” which is still a brilliant book imo.

Sunnibee · 17/09/2026 12:57

The Bee Sting is amazing, but doesn't fit your criteria as very long. I really recommend though!

WildExpert · 17/09/2026 12:56

Mark birthday cod coke in my shopping bag for you to get to to see if I can Josh ball daddy mammy hannh car home Mark chis is to get to to

Ketryne · 17/09/2026 09:15

This is not what you asked for because it’s 600 page, which would normally put me off, but I just raced through The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett in a week which is very unlike me.

Literally couldn’t stop reading it, I’d open my kindle app any time I got two minutes in the day and also had the audio book on the go for when I couldn’t look at a screen. I’m normally put off books that length but someone firmly recommended not to look past it.

MagpiePi · 17/09/2026 09:08

I re-read The Lord of the Flies, after last reading it as a teenager, and was completely gripped, even though I knew the story.

Jacketpandbeans · 16/09/2026 22:34

SuperGinger · 16/09/2026 18:14

Small Things Like These by Clsire Keegan is just wonderful

Came on here to say this one. I think it's one of the most perfect books I've read. It really stays with you. The adaptation is also beautifully done.

merryhouse · 16/09/2026 22:23

In the Heart of Hidden Things by Kit Whitfield
Tennyson's Gift Lynne Truss
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Rachel Joyce
The Colour of Heaven by James Runcie
Who Was Oswald Fish? by A N Wilson

Pinkissmart · 16/09/2026 21:48

Agree with
The Correspondent
Remarkably Bright Creatures