30 Books Under 300 Pages To Read This Summer

This is the hill I will die on. Manjhi’s Mayhem is the most standout book to have come out of the Indian publishing scene in recent times. It is written to hook the Indian audience, and is an exciting and quick thriller written with very clever narration. Everyone should read this book, just to finally feel like something was written for them, specifically.

Author Name: Tanuj Solanki

Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5

Publishing Year: 2022

Genre: Thriller

Number Of Pages: 216

Mira Sethi’s Are You Enjoying? is a book of six short stories set in Pakistan and the book is a reminder that all our lives are the same, especially in the subcontinent. By the end of each story, you feel a certain kinship with Mira’s characters, who are going through very real life things and finding themselves in the process.

Author Name: Mira Sethi

Goodreads Ratings: 3.2/5

Publishing Year: 2021

Genre: Literary Fiction

Number Of Pages: 208

Ghachar Ghochar is a made/up phrase that means ‘messed up beyond repair’. The book follows the rags to riches story of a complex family and displays their peculiar behaviour changes throughout the journey. It’s psychological, suspenseful, and humorous in the right places.

Author Name: Vivek Shanbagh

Goodreads Ratings: 3.9/5

Publishing Year: 2015

Genre: Psychological drama

Number Of Pages: 124

As a rule, I only read one Gillian Flynn per two or three years because of how heavy the books tend to be. If you haven’t explored her work since Gone Girl became a phenomenon, you must pick up Gone Girl, and you must do it now! In Sharp Objects, a young woman who is still finding her footing in her career as a journalist goes back home after a decade to report the case of a missing girl, possibly murdered. In the process, she is forced to confront her feelings about her hometown and family and her relationship with herself. It is haunting, disturbing, and brilliant.

Author Name: Gillian Flynn

Goodreads Ratings: 4/5

Publishing Year: 2006

Genre: Thriller

Number Of Pages: 272

For anyone who hasn’t yet witnessed the brilliance of Agatha Christie (if that is even possible), Endless Night is an underrated gem you should start with. While it's in the same zone as Murder of Roger Ackroyd, which is one of her most famous works, this is a lesser-known one in the theme of the dubious narrator. There's a bit of a love story, superstition, and, of course, suspense. This book will get you out of a reading slump.

Author Name: Agatha Christie

Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5

Publishing Year: 1967

Genre: Thriller

Number Of Pages: 256

Lovely and Beauty are two sisters who have never stepped outside their home, but that’s about to change. On her fortieth birthday, Lovely decides she’s going to make it special by stepping out and heading to the market by herself, unaccompanied. As the day progresses, many revelations about her mother Farida Khanam and the control she commands on her family come undone. The revelation in the end is unexpected, wild.

Author Name: Leesa Gazi

Goodreads Ratings: 3.7/5

Publishing Year: 2020

Genre: Thriller

Number Of Pages: 204

At the heart of it, this is a story about straddling community and identity as an immigrant, and this book is immensely interesting. The plot of the book could have been tighter and more thought out, but the characters are the real heroes. The protagonist is a law school dropout at odds with her conservative Sikh family because of the kind of life she wants to lead. She takes up a job as a creative writing teacher at the local community centre. When her students, mostly widowed Punjabi aunties, find an erotic story and share it, it sparks a creativity in them that reminds us readers of a very simple truth—almost everyone has desires. When the Brotherhood, a self-appointed moral police group of the community, find out about this, a scandal breaks out. The book is fun, it talks about female sexuality and the policing in immigrant families, which lays the burden of protecting community and culture on its women but in the most unique way ever. And the aunties of the story are amazing.

Author Name: Balli Kaur Jaiswal

Goodreads Ratings: 3.7/5

Publishing Year: 2020

Genre: Thriller

Number Of Pages: 204

Now turned into a movie, Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín is a coming-of-age story of an Irish immigrant, Eilis Lacey. The story calls to the heart in the simplest and most relatable ways, capturing a beautiful journey of figuring out who you are and finding your place in the chaotic contemporary world while paving your path. The relationship between Eilis and Tony is super lovely—a quick read that will resonate with you while evoking a deep sense of nostalgia. 

Author Name:  Colm Tóibín

Goodreads Ratings: 3.7/5

Publishing Year: 2009

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Number Of Pages: 288

This is a perfect travel book! It is part of a trilogy but can be picked up in isolation without making you wonder about the context and setting. The story features a coffee shop that lets you travel back in time, with rules, of course, the most important being to return 'before the coffee gets cold'. It's super unique and interesting, with absolutely adorable characters, and would probably take you a maximum of two days to finish.

Author Name:  Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Goodreads Ratings: 3.7/5

Publishing Year: 2015

Genre: Magic Realism

Number Of Pages: 272

A super heartwarming, steamy, and total masala read, You Made A Fool Of Death With Your Beauty is a spectacular novel that is perfect to get you back into reading. The writing is vivid and compassionate, exploring themes like grief, loss, joy, and second chances while emphasising the potential of love and all the unreasonable ways it can make you act. This book really comes alive, unfolds like a movie, and would have you hooked, with some great epiphanies.

Author Name: Akwaeke Emezi

Goodreads Ratings: 3.5/5

Publishing Year: 2022

Genre: Romance

Number Of Pages: 278

With summer being a central key to the plot, The Summer Without Men craftily creates, analyses, and redeems changing female identities, all perceived and seen through our protagonist, Mia. When Mia's husband decides to introduce a 'break' in their 30-year-long marriage, Mia travels to her childhood home, where her mother and most of the community consist of females who have outlived their spouses. The trajectory of the novel is wondrous and haunting, featuring complex themes and identities constantly on the cusp of change, but it retains the joy of life effortlessly, which makes it a great read. 

Author Name: Siri Hustvedt

Goodreads Ratings: 3.5/5

Publishing Year: 2011

Genre: Psychological Fiction

Number Of Pages: 224

I'm A Fan by Sheena Patel captures the obsessive, unrequited love of a woman. This book is super interesting because it explores the para-social relationship between a man and a woman, with very sincere revelations of innermost desires. The idea of loving someone, wanting someone, and the success of that feeling is extensively explored, with stellar insights into power dynamics, gender, race, class, and emotional manipulation. Each chapter packs a punch of revelations and the sheer ferocity of love, making it a super enjoyable read.

Author Name: Sheena Patel

Goodreads Ratings: 3.3/5

Publishing Year: 2022

Genre: Psychological Fiction

Number Of Pages: 216

I will recommend this book to everyone until my last breath. And, if you are a writer trying to get your groove into fictional writing, this book will be your hoverboard mainly because of how simple and true to its meaning the writing is. Annie portrays the struggles of unrequited love between a married man and a woman, who is falling in love with him and wants to take it beyond just an affair. No, there are no romantic cliches involved, and the book is a raw portrayal of what it feels to be someone obsessed with the existence of another person and centering your entire life around them. Yes, I used all my highlighter gel to colour the entire book because the lines made me bawl. 

Author Name: Annie Ernaux

Goodreads Ratings: 4.1/5

Publishing Year: 1991

Genre: Romance

Number Of Pages: 80

If you are looking for a summer read under 300 pages that does not follow a linear narrative, then this book must top your TBR. Written in the form of letters, e-mails, legal documents, and diary entries, to present a disorienting reading experience. And, yes, it is intentionally written that way to make us go through the same rollercoaster that the main character goes through, because of his amnesia. He struggles to piece together his past and understand the circumstances surrounding his memory loss, based on the stories he is told. Should we always believe what we hear? This novel will warn you not to. 

Author Name: Robert Glancy

Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5

Publishing Year: 2014

Genre: Humour

Number Of Pages: 272

The story centers on Nikki Black who wants to take revenge against her mother who abandoned her at birth. Her quest leads her to a secluded Scottish island, where she encounters her birth mother and half-brother, Calum. The book weaves a narrative that captures the complexities of familial relationships. 

Author Name: Jane Rogers

Goodreads Ratings: 3.7/5

Publishing Year: 1999

Genre: Thriller

Number Of Pages: 272

LBB Tip: The story has been said to have elements that are inspired by Shakespeare's the tempest, with the characters of Calum and Phyllis having similarities to Caliban and Prospero.

The book paints a picture of Shillong with the familiar children's game as a metaphorical structure, reflecting the protagonist's attempts to categorise and make sense of her world. It talks about how people, places, animals, and things, shape the life of a Khasi woman, in the background of a city marked by political and social complexities.

Author Name: Daribha Lyndem

Goodreads Ratings: 4.3/5

Publishing Year: 2020

Genre: Coming-of-age

Number Of Pages: 187

The story follows Bhavana Satchidanandan, who is an additional district judge. She is presented a case involving a disputed grave (qabar). Through Bhavana's experiences, the reader is introduced to themes of justice, faith, and the complexities of navigating personal and professional responsibilities in a politically charged environment. Quite a mirror to real life!

Author Name: K.R. Meera

Goodreads Ratings: 3.9/5

Publishing Year: 2021

Genre: Alternate History

Number Of Pages: 120

This collection of short stories explores the complexities of contemporary urban life in India, particularly in Guwahati, and Assam. Goswami delves into the lives of ordinary people, revealing their hidden anxieties, desires, and struggles. With elements of magical realism and themes of memory, loss, and the search for identity, Goswami attempts to add a fresh voice to your growing TBR. 

Author Name: Uddipana Goswami

Goodreads Ratings: 4/5

Publishing Year: 2014

Genre: Literary Fiction

Number Of Pages: 224

This novel talks about Naga traditions and oral folklore. The plot unfolds as an ancient prophecy comes to pass, plunging villages into prolonged darkness, which is revealed to be a consequence of mistakes made against the spirit world. The characters navigate the boundaries between the natural and spirit realms, trying to restore light. This book will make you fall in love with exploring the different cultures of Eastern India. 

Author Name: Easterine Kire

Goodreads Ratings: 4.2/5

Publishing Year: 2022

Genre: Horror

Number Of Pages: 180

This novel combines magical realism with the events surrounding the Bangladesh Liberation War. The story follows young Shurjomukhi and her family in Dhaka, who live a dual existence: a normal daytime life and a nighttime world where deceased family members, including those lost in the 1971 war, join them. What follows is an exploration of the traumas of war, migration, and the struggle for belonging, all spanning decades of Bengali history.

Author Name: Iffat Nawaz 

Goodreads Ratings: 4.3/5

Publishing Year: 2022

Genre: War story

Number Of Pages: 228

The book is frustrating, but that's why it keeps you hooked. It follows "you," the reader, as you attempt to read a new novel, that is also titled "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler" (see why we said 'frustrating?'). While reading the book of the same name in the book, you encounter a series of frustrating interruptions and printing errors. These disruptions lead you on a quest through various incomplete novels, each with its distinct style and genre, creating a series of nested narratives. Yes, you will break the fourth wall, and probably all other walls while reading this book. 

Author Name:  Italo Calvino

Goodreads Ratings: 4/5

Publishing Year: 1979

Genre: Literary Fiction

Number Of Pages: 272

Dopehri translates to 'The Long Afternoon.' This novella follows an isolated widow in Delhi whose life is plagued by routine. She spends her afternoons doing the same things in her empty house. One day, her solitude is interrupted by the mysterious sound of footsteps during the quiet afternoon hours. What follows is an introspection into the human longing for companionship and the harsh truth of aging in a rapidly changing environment. 

Author Name:  Pankaj Kapur

Goodreads Ratings: 4/5

Publishing Year: 2019

Genre: Literary Fiction

Number Of Pages: 110

If you have grown up reading animal fables and are longing for a return, this book written in verse will have your heart. Combining humour and rhythmic verse, Vikram Seth weaves ten animal fables, borrowing from diverse cultural origins, including India, China, Greece, and Ukraine, as well as some from his imagination. And yes, each of these tales also imparts morals and is a perfect goodnight read for both adults and kids alike. 

Author Name: Vikram Seth

Goodreads Ratings: 4.1/5

Publishing Year: 1991

Genre: Poetry

Number Of Pages: 120

For a blend of the mundane and the macabre, this collection of absurdist horror stories should be your pick. The stories feature absurd characters, we are talking a creature made of toilet waste and a lamp shaped like a bunny that can be used to assert revenge. This book is not for the faint-hearted and yes, if you think you have hit a reading rut, this book will snap you out of it, with chills on your spine. 

Author Name: Bora Chung

Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5

Publishing Year: 2017

Genre: Horror

Number Of Pages: 256

This interesting book will keep all your senses hooked, especially your olfactory ones. The plot follows Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in 18th-century France with no body odor but an olfactory gift: to capture and preserve scents. To create the most perfect fragrance, he goes down a path of murder. The novel unfolds with his murderous path becoming a metaphor for his isolation. It is a very disturbing narrative for a summer you won't forget! 

Author Name: Patrick Süskind

Goodreads Ratings: 4/5

Publishing Year: 1985

Genre: Mystery

Number Of Pages: 272

Spoiler alert: this book ditches your traditional plots and is an intense exploration of the female psyche. It follows Sabina, who after multiple passionate encounters, still struggles within to find her sense of purpose and meaning (relatable). She seeks intense experiences that flirt with fantasy and reality and ends up feeling like a "spy" in her own life. Be warned: you might need to grab a box of tissues for this one. 

Author Name:  Anaïs Nin

Goodreads Ratings: 3.7/5

Publishing Year: 1954

Genre: Erotic

Number Of Pages: 152

Initially written under the pseudonym of Pauline Réage, I  chanced upon this erotic novel which has a controversial plot capturing sadomasochistic (yes, that's something I learned from the book) practices while challenging the notions of female sexuality. The story has a secret society where a woman, who is guided by her lover, to subscribe to increasingly intense acts of bondage, discipline, and objectification. This book will change everything you know about consent, desire, and the blurring boundaries between pleasure and pain.

Author Name: Anne Desclos

Goodreads Ratings: 3.3/5

Publishing Year: 1954

Genre: Erotic

Number Of Pages: 209

This is a romance novel, the protagonist of which is a man on the spectrum who wants to find a wife. It's a book about finding love as a neurodivergent person, about the neurodivergent need to have control over everything and how love alludes to this control and confounds, confuses, and renders us putty. It's a super cute book, and it's my go-to for ending a reading slump. It's fast, funny, and gets the job done.

Author Name: Graeme Simsion

Goodreads Ratings: 4/5

Publishing Year: 2013

Genre: Romance

Number Of Pages: 304

If you’ve been missing a good psychological thriller that keeps you hooked and thinking about it long after you’ve finished reading it, Jar Of Hearts is an easy pick. The book follows a girl whose ex-boyfriend has resurfaced after being convicted for going on a killing spree, and soon after bodies start dropping dead again. He’s clearly chasing her for revenge, and when I say it gets real, it really does. 

Author Name: Jennifer Hillier

Goodreads Ratings: 4.1/5

Publishing Year: 2018

Genre: Thriller

Number Of Pages: 311

If a heavy read summer is your vibe, then this powerful and meditative novel by Charlotte Wood should be in your TBR. The novel follows an unnamed woman who, feeling burnt out and disillusioned, seeks refuge in a remote religious community in rural New South Wales. Despite her atheism, she immerses herself in the rhythms of monastic life, grappling with grief, guilt, and the weight of past actions. The tranquility is disrupted by unsettling events: a mouse plague, the return of a deceased nun's remains, and the arrival of a figure from her past. The book explores themes of redemption, and hits the nail on every person's search for meaning in a world facing environmental crisis. 

Author Name: Charlotte Wood

Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5

Publishing Year: 2023

Genre: Psychological fiction

Number Of Pages: 320