10 Books to Complete Your 2023 Reading Goal
Not where you wanted to be by December for your 2023 reading goal? (Or just really love shorter stories?) It’s fine. EVERYTHING’S FINE! Because I’ve got you covered with ten quick reads to finish the year strong.
This one’s for all the bookish folks out there whose eyes are nervously darting between their lofty (or incredibly reasonable) reading goal and the rapidly approaching arrival of 2024. First, it’s fine if you don’t read as many books as planned. But if you really want to round out that list, here are some great short stories, novellas, and novels (all under 300 pages) across genres from horror to scifi, fantasy to contemporary thriller.
This year I read more books than I have in any given year since high school. Are you ready for the number? It’s very impressive. (It’s really not.)
30.
A whopping 30. For some this number is going to seem great. For others, well, give yourself a high five after you have a little giggle. (Seriously, if your goal was 50, 100, 200, I’m super happy for you, you absolute beast!)
For me, this number is huge. In the past, I’ve managed about 20 as my upper limit, because I work a full-time job and am also pursuing traditional publishing. There’s not a ton of time left for me, personally, to fit in lofty TBR goals.
All this to say, whatever your personal reading goal for 2023 was, it’s great and I’m impressed.
If you’re close (or not-so-close) to hitting your target number and want a list of novels, novellas, and short stories to get you over the finish line, I have ten suggestions for you to check out.
I’ve linked to Goodreads so you can dive deeper into summaries, content warnings, etc. of any that sound like your next read. I didn’t include ratings, but there are a few key points for each including approximate page count, genre, and random general thoughts. Mostly things I liked about them.
If you’ve read any of these and want to scream about them, come chat with me on Instagram or Tik Tok (where I haven’t been very active in November because I’ve been busy writing so, so many words, but I’m comin’ back!).
Every book on this list is 300 pages or less (sometimes way less) and categorized as adult – enjoy!
Wrap Up Your Reading Goal with These Quick Reads
1. The Monster of Elendhaven, by Jennifer Giesbrecht, 155 pages. This is a horror fantasy set in a cold, industrial world. It’s dark, enthralling, and probably my all-time fave novella. It’s told from the monster’s POV which is fun. It’s also just a great cold-weather read. Picking this one up in summer might feel…off-putting.
2. The Lover, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, 43 pages. This is a fantasy short story that you can read and enjoy in an hour or two! It’s got major dark fairytale vibes, and features sister rivalry, monstrous men, and dangerous desires.
3. As Born to Rule the Storm, by Cate Baumer, 104 pages. This is a SFF novella for fans of This is How You Lose the Time War and Divine Rivals. It follows an experimental soldier who can jump through time, but loses months of her own life in return. Yes, she’s trying stop a catastrophic war, but mostly, she’s trying to save the boy she loves. This one is indie published and a great option for you if you want to dive into a little science fantasy.
4. My Sister the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite, 226 pages. This is a contemporary thriller novel set in Nigeria. I will always be out here virtually thrusting this one at people. I read it in an afternoon at the beach and let me tell you, that was the perfect choice. I wouldn’t call it a “light beach read” in material (hi, hello, see the title) but it’s SUCH an engrossing ride! Really delivers on the promise of the premise. PRO TIP: If you’re an older sister, maybe pour yourself a comforting bevvie before picking this one up because omg.
5. What Moves the Dead, by T. Kingfisher, 176 pages. This is a horror fantasy novella, but it wasn’t as fast a read as some. I found it had a slower, more creeping pace. It’s actually a reimagining of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. There are creepy hares, weird mushrooms, damp and decaying houses, and an unsettling end. There’s also trans rep through the main character, Alex Easton. Also, GO READ THE TWISTED ONES because it’s my favorite T. Kingfisher work (it’s 400 pages but it’s still a quick read).
6. The Empress of Salt and Fortune, by Nghi Vo, 119 pages. This fantasy novella is an absolutely luxurious read. It follows Chih, who is a cleric seeking out stories to record in a fantasy empire reminiscent of imperial China. Important to note that Chih’s travel companion of a talking bird named Almost Brilliant, which is delightful. This is the first in a series of related (but stand-alone) novellas, which all follow Chih. You can’t go wrong with any of them!
7. The Ballad of Black Tom, by Victor LaValle, 149 pages. Perfect speculative horror (maybe, I’m not the best at genre classification) fans! I really enjoyed LaValle’s writing style. It’s powerful, while still being easy to read. Pick this one up for eldritch horrors, rage, and a badass main character.
8. A Dowry of Blood, by S.T. Gibson, 235 pages. This is a fantasy novel with horror and romance elements. I actually have the original printing version of this one so the current version might be a little longer, but I think it’s still under 300 pages. Vampires! Toxic relationship with Dracula! Queer, poly romance! Vengeance! Also, it’s told in second person POV which is a super interesting style to read for a change-up.
9. Goddess of Filth, by V. Castro, 141 pages. This is a horror novella, and it really delivers on the title. Filth. Gore. Bodily fluids. It’s pretty unsettling and also deeply satisfying.
10. Empire of Wild, by Cherie Dimaline, 300 pages. This is a contemporary fantasy novel. Looovvveee this book! It’s inspired by the Métis story of the Rogarou, which is a werewolf-like creature that haunts the roads of Métis communities. Follows a woman whose husband went missing and then turns back up…as a totally different person: a charismatic preacher with a travelling church (see: religious cult). The writing is pretty heavy on the metaphors and symbolic language with I adore, but this may be a harder one for you to get through if that’s not your prose preference.
That’s all for now, folks!
If you liked this list, validate my opinions by letting me know ;) And if you don’t “finish” your 2023 reading goal, I can’t stress this enough, THAT’S OKAY! Every word you read was a gift to yourself, a piece of time you carved out of your busy day and set aside to enjoy worlds that some author spent years creating. And that’s awesome.
Stay magical, friends!
Roselyn