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Any ideas for short novel choice for book group?

83 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:
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

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?

EggplantSurprise · 19/03/2026 13:03

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

Freysimo · 19/03/2026 13:11

On Chesil Beach

KidsAndDogsGalore · 19/03/2026 13:14

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

onitlikeacarbonnet · 19/03/2026 13:29

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

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

rumred · 19/03/2026 13:31

Small Things like These by Claire Keegan. Just superb.

Screamingabdabz · 19/03/2026 13:32

On Chesil Beach.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 19/03/2026 13:32

On Chesil Beach
The outsiders
Agatha Christie

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.

Westfacing · 19/03/2026 13:37

I highly recommend 'Orbital' by Samantha Harvey

Orbital by Samantha Harvey | Waterstones

PancakeCloud · 19/03/2026 13:40

The End We Start From by Megan Hunter

The Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 19/03/2026 13:42

Foster by Claire Keegan!

AlexRidersButt · 19/03/2026 13:46

The Enchanted April is pretty short and also seasonal.
It's by Elizabeth Von Arnim

ItalianChineseIndianMexican · 19/03/2026 13:46

Westfacing · 19/03/2026 13:37

I highly recommend 'Orbital' by Samantha Harvey

Orbital by Samantha Harvey | Waterstones

Currently reading this!

I'd recommend 'Small Things Like These' by Claire Keegan as others have suggested too.

Pashazade · 19/03/2026 13:53

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

38thparallel · 19/03/2026 13:57

The English Understand Wool by Helen Dewitt.
It is very short, though.

Arran2024 · 19/03/2026 14:00

Eurotrash by Christian Kracht or 3 Days in June by Anne Tyler

Farewelltothatid · 19/03/2026 14:09

Somebody recently described Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie as a Tardis of a novel . I thought that was a brilliant description for a short book with a lot of depth.

Baconking · 19/03/2026 14:11

My sister the serial killer

Oyinkan Braithwaite

Arlanymor · 19/03/2026 14:15

I came here to say Orbital as well - I'm currently reading this and managed to snag a signed copy which is a bit of a boon.

Also love the suggestion of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

I'll also toss in McGlue by Ottessa Mosfegh - although more of a novella. It's a good but gruesome read.

canisquaeso · 19/03/2026 14:16

Small things like these

or

Invisible cities

JennyChawleigh · 19/03/2026 14:18

Passing by Nella Larsen

Clawdy · 19/03/2026 14:22

Some great suggestions here, we have already read the Claire Keegan and Orbital, but will check out others.

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