32 Short, New Books to Help You CRUSH Your Reading Challenge

Posted by Cybil on November 9, 2020


Someday, this year will end! And with the ringing in of 2021, we will come to the end of this year's Goodreads Reading Challenge. Of course, there's still plenty of time this year to unplug, find someplace comfy, and get lost in a great book (and we strongly suggest that you do!)...plus that will also help you crush those annual reading goals that you may have set in the distant past of [checks notes]...January.

Every book here was both published this year and has fewer than 250 pages (let's be honest, the longest book here is 240 pages). That's a nice, achievable length that also has enough oomph to get in a great story as well. And we've delivered up the perfect excuse to catch up on some of the new books across fiction and nonfiction genres that made their grand entrances in 2020. 

Scroll over the book covers to learn more about each novel, and be sure to add the books that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf!










How are you doing on your Reading Challenge? Which of these titles catch your eye? Let's talk books in the comments!

Check out more recent articles:
21 New Books By Native American Writers
Readers' Most Anticipated Books of November
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Comments Showing 51-92 of 92 (92 new)

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message 51: by Pat Cummings (new)

Pat Cummings May I suggest A Year Without the Grocery Store: A Step by Step Guide to Acquiring, Organizing, and Cooking Food Storage ? Short, filled with action notes, and reading it provides a good way to relax when the next surge of empty shelves hits the stores!


message 52: by Magdalena (new)

Magdalena Suggesting someone should read short books to reach a superficial goal and creating a list of books based solely on their length is pretty absurd. Reading is a pleasure not a race or competition with oneself.


message 53: by Richard (new)

Richard Holleb Any male writers left? Very one sided list!


message 54: by April (new)

April Jim wrote: "i'm just going to say if readers are just picking short books to meet a social media-created reading goal I find that pretty ridiculous."

I think any reason that gets people reading is a good reason.


message 55: by Andy (new)

Andy These are fantastic. I just put them all on hold at the library. This is exactly what I needed to maybe finish my reading goal by the end of the year!
Thank you


message 56: by Jessica (new)

Jessica Richard wrote: "Any male writers left? Very one sided list!"

Make your own list then if you don't like this one.


message 57: by Paromita (new)

Paromita I love that Goodreads keep reminding me about the challenge, But how can reading be a race? If you get a real page-turner, even 500 pages can be read in 15 days! I never sign up for these challenges, as most of my books are meant to be savoured. Some books can be difficult to read too, such as Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi.
This time, on an idle day in late June, I signed up and ambitiously put 36 books. I have done 19, and I think if I can manage 24 by eoy, I am okay.


message 58: by Norma (new)

Norma J. I have read more than 150 books this year so far. None of the above listed books interest me, but I have read many of the political books out , and other non-fiction, many fiction and autobiographies.


message 59: by Tony (new)

Tony Not one book on this list had me interested sorry.


message 60: by Ecem (new)

Ecem They should be listed under cathegories :/


message 61: by ~CharlieAngel~ (new)

~CharlieAngel~ #Luster
#Want
#Sisters
In That Order!


message 62: by yamila bulos (new)

yamila bulos Most are American authors


message 63: by Eli (new)

Eli Ransom I do wish this post had more voices behind it, and blurbs to say what books are about, or at least what category/genre it is so we would have a clue to what may interest us (instead of having to judge by title/cover or randomly click). Especially when it was shared by Goodreads by e-mail.
I do believe that this comment suggestion is more interesting, and shares more variety and detail on books.
Sadly I do not have any recommendations for anyone to add to the list, as this year my read list is mainly limited to classic stories and comics (with nothing being published this year).


message 64: by Sallie (new)

Sallie Nothing here I interested in.


message 65: by Steve (new)

Steve Jeff wrote: "Terrible selections INHO Who picked this junk?"

The Obama's


message 66: by Susan (new)

Susan Jane wrote: "When I read a book I like to take my time. I appreciate it more, the prose and the plot, and the characters too, all add to the enjoyable experience of indulging another author’s hard work and the ..."

I love your way of reading. This year I’ve been making and listening to playlists of music mentioned in the books I’m reading, and also looking at maps of the settings for more of an immersion type experience.


message 67: by Karen (new)

Karen Younts I left the challenge, because none of the books I read were added to the challenge page.


message 68: by Denise (new)

Denise Have easily met my goal every year and was hellbent charging right along this year and then......I went on a diet, rediscovered some activities, and BAM! - the goal will not be met (I lost 40 lbs tho!) I am currently reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - love it, the story line unique, the writing is superb! Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!


message 69: by Susan (new)

Susan Denise wrote: "Have easily met my goal every year and was hellbent charging right along this year and then......I went on a diet, rediscovered some activities, and BAM! - the goal will not be met (I lost 40 lbs t..."

Wow, great job this year! I wonder if you could meet your reading challenge goal next year by adding audiobooks to your activities :)
I’ve got Addie LaRue in my to-read pile, btw, and I’m looking forward to it!!


Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) Sadia wrote: "The content of the book is mindblowing, I really enjoyed it when I was reading. My students who need assignment writing services in Pakistan I will share with all of them and they also very excited..."
Which book Sadia?


message 71: by Summer (new)

Summer (speaking_bookish) Nothing was doubled on mine 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’ve got a few of these on my tbr and can’t wait to get to them!


message 72: by Summer (new)

Summer (speaking_bookish) @anika Upright Women Wanted, Ring Shout, and Follow Me to Ground are all in your listed genres.


message 73: by Lina (new)

Lina Can someone recommend me which of the books above (or any other books) I should really read? I enjoy historical fiction and fantasy. Some nonfiction books are nice too. Thxs


message 74: by Amber (new)

Amber Karen wrote: "I left the challenge, because none of the books I read were added to the challenge page."

Hi Karen, did you enter the date you finished each book on Goodreads?
https://help.goodreads.com/s/article/...


Baudelairecestpasmoi Jim wrote: "i'm just going to say if readers are just picking short books to meet a social media-created reading goal I find that pretty ridiculous."

I'm of a similar opinion. We should focus on quality, not quantity. If someone falls short of their reading goal, they shouldn't worry about it. They should just figure out if it had been unrealistic, or if they had not budgeted their time well enough, or if some unforeseen circumstance got in the way of reaching it. And then, in subsequent years, they should adjust their objective accordingly.

The danger of participating in challenges on social media, be it a reading challenge, a work-out challenge, or an ice-bucket (etc.) challenge, is that it can cause you to engage in behavior that's not beneficial to you and that can even be detrimental to you.


message 76: by Amber (new)

Amber Baudelairecestpasmoi wrote: "Jim wrote: "i'm just going to say if readers are just picking short books to meet a social media-created reading goal I find that pretty ridiculous."

I'm of a similar opinion. We should focus on q..."


So what if people read short books in order to finish their challenge on time? I think it's good that people read something they might not otherwise have picked up/bothered with, and possibly discover a real gem of a book. Short doesn't equal low quality.


message 77: by Marie (last edited Nov 28, 2020 08:07PM) (new)

Marie Come on folks! The challenge is self generated!
Pick a lower number if you want to enjoy your choices!


message 78: by Stijndenhaan (new)

Stijndenhaan Diary of a wimpy kid

Author of the book= Jeff Kinney
Illustrated of the book= olso Jeff Kinney
The main characters are= Bram and Roderick.
my book is about the life of a loser who never has his day and is always bullied, I still don't know anything, because I'm not that far yet.
My favroute persoon is Bram, because he's funny.

I dont have a favroute part of the book.

I recommend this book because it is a fun and funny book.


message 79: by Andy (new)

Andy I'm addicted to reading these comments. They're hilarious.


message 80: by Jodi (new)

Jodi Elizabeth Ayana wrote: "I do wish this post had more voices behind it, and blurbs to say what books are about, or at least what category/genre it is so we would have a clue to what may interest us (instead of having to ju..."

If you HOVER over the book's photo, the title, author, and SYNOPSIS will appear. You can read it, and decide if it's for you.


message 81: by Vincent (new)

Vincent DiGirolamo Poetry, people. Clearly this is a job for poetry.


message 82: by Dana (new)

Dana Monroe My top pics for 2020:
Migrations
Shuggie Bain


message 83: by Olesea (last edited Dec 21, 2020 11:27PM) (new)

Olesea 4 BOOKS :
FINNA
INDELICACY
WANT
THANKYOU
:)


message 84: by Joann (new)

Joann M the only book that i really enjoyed was TEMPTATION AND DENIAL by ADAM NICKE , it was a good reading love story, if you have not read it yet, i wish you would pick up a copy.


message 85: by [deleted user] (new)

Jack wrote: "Have all the male writers died of Covid-19?"

Publishers have b come woke, men don’t deserve to be published


message 86: by Liz (new)

Liz Really not sure just where to post this comment, but here goes ...
did anyone else find that they had a hard time reading during this pandemic, even though we certainly had plenty of time on our hands? The Salem Athenaeum [Massachusetts], founded in 1810, and one of the oldest membership libraries in the United States, recently had a Zoom meeting with some local authors. That question was asked by a participant and, surprisingly, the authors answered YES. It gave me some comfort that I wasn't alone ... so I'm asking Goodreads participants for their thoughts ...


message 87: by Nathan (new)

Nathan Worthington Another quick read - “Annihilation” by Jeff VanderMeer


message 88: by Hilary (new)

Hilary Schlegel Can you do a Ya version. Please


message 89: by Tatiana (new)

Tatiana It's been a long time since I've encountered such a ridiculous comment section. It gave me a good laugh, though!

And great recs! I know b/c I've already read a few. :)


message 90: by Poetniknowit (new)

Poetniknowit Jack wrote: "Have all the male writers died of Covid-19?"

We can only hope.


message 91: by Marie (new)

Marie Phillip Still time to meet your challenge! Download RUNNER today! Only 124 pages. Free with KINDLE UNLIMITED. Marie Ann Phillip


message 92: by KR (new)

KR Raj excellent very amazing books to read. I love reading books especially
thriller books


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