Have You Hit Your Reading Goal? 13 Books to Get You There 

Narrated by an unnamed protagonist, No Longer Human is a beautifully crafted novel that tells the story of a man who feels disconnected from those around him, ostracized by society. A longstanding bestseller decades after his death, Dazai perfectly captures the wonders — and cruelty — of the human experience. With themes of existentialism, belonging and connection, this short novel can connect with any reader.  

Page Count: 176 

It’s a warm November day in 1956 when Kathleen Beckett decides to go for a swim — and stay there until further notice. With the world’s eyes on the sky searching for Sputnik 2, her husband unhappy and unfulfilled at his job, and her dreams of being a tennis champion lost to the past, Mrs. Beckett is simply at her wit’s end. We love immersive books you can read in one sitting, and Jessica Anthony’s novel packs a punch with clever details and an unflinching narrative voice. 

Page Count: 144 

One of the best parts of binge-reading to complete our reading goals at the end of the year is getting to sneak a few seasonal books into the mix. What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with David Sedaris’ snarky and sagacious storytelling? Grab eggnog and a friend, you’ll want to laugh over this collection together. 

Page Count: 166 

Two authors, two characters, two incredible perspectives of a war-torn future. Time-traveling super-agents fight an endless war, leaving taunt-filled letters behind for each other to find. Amid their correspondence, the agents start falling for one another, but this is no ordinary love story. Discover the power of language to bridge divides — even across battle lines. 

Page Count: 224 

A Nebula Award-winning story about queer love, second chances and impossible choices. When an exiled augur is given another shot at securing a future with the love of her life, she embarks on a three-day quest to catch a notorious killer. With a dazzling love story at its core and vivid worldbuilding, this sapphic fantasy noir is an enchanting story that left us windswept, charmed and ready to take on any divine beasts that might dare to head our way. 

Page Count: 144 

The longest book on our list is here for one reason only: it can’t be missed. Kelly Link’s mastery over short fiction is on full display in White Cat, Black Dog. With unforgettable twists and turns, an astonishing blend of folklore, speculation, fable and realism, readers will fly through this collection. Ranging from unexpected fairy realms to weed dispensaries run by cats, Link reminds readers that when wielded as well as she does, weird is a very powerful tool. 

Page Count: 304 

Short, sharp and scary, What Moves the Dead is a certified one-sitting read. A haunting reimagining of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” this story follows Alex, a retired soldier who rushes to a remote house overgrown by fungus to aid their dying childhood friend. If you need more convincing to read this terrifying tale, bestselling author Erin A. Craig (House of Salt and Sorrows) calls it “creepy, claustrophobic, and completely entertaining.”  

Page Count: 176 

One of Stephen King’s rare shorter books — and adapted into the classic 1986 film Stand by Me — The Body is nonetheless as captivating as the rest of his work. As four young boys set off in search of the body of a missing friend, they grapple with the suffocating immobility of the factory town they live in. Rich in storytelling and themes of growing up and the promise (or lack thereof) of a future, this is another must-read from King.  

Page Count: 192 

The latest from the bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass takes on expansive issues with care and compassion. In her exclusive B&N Reads essay, Robin Wall Kimmerer writes, “Looking at the Serviceberry, I see a different way to exist based on reciprocity, as opposed to the scarcity and competition that poisons our human relationships.” The Serviceberry provides perspective on what’s truly important, and how we can rediscover ourselves and our place in the natural world.

Hear more from Robin on our Poured Over podcast where she talks about the ways the natural world reflects human society, how we can reframe our views on the systems around us, what we can do to improve our connection to nature and more with cohost Jenna Seery. 

Page Count: 128 

A gripping history at under 200 pages, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annette Gordon-Reed chronicles the events that led to Juneteenth, beginning with its origins in Texas and continuing through the Jim Crow era, Civil Rights Movement and beyond. Through personal anecdotes, essays and meticulously researched history, Gordon-Reed presents a thoughtful and timely account of the fight for Black equality in the United States.  

Page Count: 152