Throughout the year, I hoard novellas on a dedicated shelf in my bedroom, and make note of them on Edelweiss and at the library. I always have an eye towards November.

But I read novellas other times of year, too. Fifty-one of them between early December 2025 and now, according to my Goodreads shelves (the last few years it was 44–46).

I often choose to review books of novella length for blog challenges, as well as for paid reviews for BookBrowse, Foreword and Shelf Awareness. I’ve undertaken one trilogy of novellas (The Summerhouse Trilogy by Alice Thomas Ellis) and the first two novellas in a seasonal quartet (Different Seasons by Stephen King). These are all reasons for a slightly higher figure this year.

My favourites included Mrs. Bridge, I Who Have Never Known Men, which I’ll be rereading soon for book club and will review at that time, Strange Weather in Tokyo, Mitz and The Employees. I’m looking forward to reading more by H. Kawakami and Ravn soon.

Onwards to a fresh stack of novellas from my shelves and library stash!

What were some of your recent favourite novellas?