Looking to get back into reading? These short reads are perfect for breaking your dry spell

You've probably scrolled through BookTok before. Millions of people are talking about their recent read, which they stayed up all night to finish. You sit there and wish you could get to that point, to where you could contribute your own thoughts from the books you've read. The problem is simple - you can't get yourself to pick up the dusty novel that's been sitting on your bookshelf for years, which you tell yourself time and time again that you'll get to.

It doesn't matter what you read, it only matters that you read. Ten pages a day translates to a three-hundred page book every month. But if your mind jumps between thoughts every few seconds, or if the willpower to concentrate on ten pages intimidates you, have no fear. Your good friend Shay has compiled a list of short, quick reads that'll hold your attention for at least a few pages at a time. Even if you can only hit five pages a day, or just one, here are a few books to get out of the dry spell and back in the reading groove.

Breakfast At Tiffany's

by Truman Capote

Like many iconic films, Audrey Hepburn's 1961 classic is based on a book. The novel stars Holly Golightly, a southern girl who moved to the Big Apple to escape her previous life. Holly is quite the socialite, as evidenced by the characters coming in and out of her apartment and her relationships with various eccentric men. While it appears routine at first, Holly's daily undertakings gradually unravel deeper themes such as her desire for independence and her struggle to belong. Told from the perspective of an unnamed contemporary writer, Capote's work comes in at around a hundred pages - a novella rather than a full-fledged novel. It's an easy one to get started with, and you can see for yourself if the movie is better.

Forever

by Judy Bloom

This young adult classic hit its 50th anniversary in 2025. A high school senior named Katherine enters a relationship with Michael, who would like to engage in intercourse with her. She goes back and forth on the issue of sex, weighing whether it's purely a physical act or a gesture of longer-term love. Follow her journey through the emotions of fleeting romantic attraction, the awkwardness around losing one's virginity, and the highs and lows of teenage relationships. The book is a little controversial for sexual content, but it's easy to follow and not overly explicit. It's slightly longer at around two hundred ten pages - though you'll hardly feel it as the chapters fly by.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

by Eleanor Coerr

I've never read a book that made me cry as much as this one. Based on a true story, the book follows Sadako Sasaki in her fight against leukemia from radiation caused by the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. After a friend reminds her of the Japanese legend that the one who made a thousand origami cranes would be granted a wish, Sadako is inspired to fold one thousand paper cranes. She sets her sights on beating her disease so that she can fulfill her dream of joining the running team. The gut-wrenching tale of persistence and hope depicts the tragedy of war through the perspective of Sadako's innocence, as she is only a child. Most editions of the novel are only eighty pages, making this an easy yet emotional read to get back in the swing of things.

The Alchemist

by Paolo Coelho

There's a reason that The Alchemist is one of the best-selling books of all time. A shepherd boy named Santiago constantly dreams of treasure, and is told that he must journey to the Egyptian pyramids to fulfill his "personal legend" and discover the treasure. He sets foot across Andalusia and reaches Africa via the Strait of Gibraltar, meeting iconic characters and passing different stages in his quest. The novel perfectly encapsulates the importance of the journey in finding one's destiny, and its fantastical elements will keep you hooked until the very end. At one hundred sixty-three pages, the original English edition is a rapid read - but not so quick that you'll miss the meaning of the work. As Coelho writes, "when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." So if you really want to finish this book, the universe will make sure you get there.

How to get started

You've picked your book - now what? I've outlined a few easy steps to help you break your reading rut.

1. Have a plan. Commit to specific, measurable reading goals that break your book into achievable chunks. You can hold yourself accountable to a certain number of pages, or set a time limit for how long you can dedicate to reading every day. And if you miss a day or two, don't beat yourself up. Get back on track by hitting it the next. Make sure you write your goal down, since written goals are achieved more than ones that aren't written down.

   
   

2. Remove distractions. Turn off that phone. Put the TV remote out of reach. Set up a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door. Do anything necessary to make sure you can lock in on reading, and you can go about your day once you've finished. I recommend a quiet, well-lit room so that your thoughts focus solely on the book at hand, but some people need a little white noise in the background.

   
   

3. Make it part of your routine. Incorporate reading into what you already do each day, and it becomes a habit. Set aside a few minutes before bed to open up your book. Switch from work mode to home mode with a few pages. By weaving it into your existing day-to-day life, you remove any previously established barriers about how there wasn't time in your busy schedule to pick up that book.

Happy reading!