Is there such a thing as books with a collection of short stories for adults?

[PlumpAndGrump]

I want to get back into reading again but every time I start a book I never get round to finishing it because life is hectic with 3 young children and I am exhausted.

I've recently got my 6 year old the 5 Minute Stories by Enid Blyton which is just a collection of shorter reads as he is moving on from younger books, and I wonder if there is something like this for adults.

I've tried audio books too but find it difficult to get into them if I don't gel with the narrators voice, it puts me off. I prefer actual books with pages anyway.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations. If no such thing exists then could I possible take recommendations for easy enjoyable reads to get back into it again? I feel like my life is missing an unputdownable book.

I had a look at MiddleFadiddle's suggestion of A Little Aloud - it looks great, very varied. You can see the contents pages on Amazon if you view a sample.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Aloud-anthology-reading-someone-ebook/dp/B0040711UW

Margaret Atwood has written collections of short stories, and I also love Somerset Maugham.

I've just finished this. All the stories link up. Rather cleverly.

I used to love the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

I love a short story.

Penelope Lively has a couple of good collections.

PP beat me to recommending Margaret Ashwood.
Maeve Binchy is a bit dated I’d say.
Alexander McCall Smith’s Facebook page has LOADS of short “food for thought” articles and extracts.

Aw, yeah. Some used to read one of these at night with ds when he was younger.

Frederick Forsyth has a great short story collection. Margaret Atwood has at least one, too.

The Author's Guild in the US has just published a book called Fourteen Days, set during the pandemic, which is a collection of short stories written by well known authors and gathered with a linking narrative by Douglas Preston. The stories are good, and the way they are joined is ingenious. It's a fundraiser for the Author's Guild, so in a good cause too.

There are several collections of short stories by Ruth Rendell.

Very good, readable author.

Chekhov wrote some amazing and really readable short stories.

Stephen Kings 'Skeleton Crew' is one of my favourites, if you enjoy something with a bit of thrill/horror.

Alice Munro's short story collections are great. I also love Help the Witch by Tom Cox, and some of them are very short. (More on the spooky side)

F Scott Fitzgerald has a collection of short stories, they have been published under many names including Flappers and Philosophers

Jane Gardam and Patrick Gale

Yes, there are loads and loads, from subtle, literary to page turning crime or horror.

What sort of fiction do you like usually OP?

Start with an anthology - the Best American Short Story (BASS) editions come out once a year. I think UK does something similar too. Once you find a few authors in there that you like, you can order whole collections by them.

Jane Gardam has some wonderful story collections. And if you want something light and nice, Maeve Binchy has a couple of collections too.

Claire Keegan 'Antarctica' . Brilliant book of short stories

Daphne du Maurier has published a couple of excellent short story collections…including The Birds. If you are into horror, MR James ghost story collection is brilliant also.

Also Bazaar of bad dreams by Stephen King

Jeffrey Archer's Collected Short Stories.

Your local library probably has a short story section. Then you can have a flick through to see which ones you like

For easy and enjoyable, what comes to mind are Roald Dahl and Saki. Quite short, and usually either amusing or somewhat creepy. Also, for quick, maybe sentimental old-time stories, O. Henry.

Barbara Erskine has written a couple of books of short stories