Welcome back! Previously, I shared a post on cozy reads. Today, I’m turning to something a little different: quick bite books.
Quick Bites are the short ones — slim novels, novellas, essays, short stories, and poetry collections that you can tuck into a busy afternoon. They may be brief, but their impact is anything but small. These are the books I’ve reached for when I didn’t think I had time to read at all — and found myself not just reading, but deeply moved. Each one has been like a breath of fresh air, clearing my mind and settling my spirit.
Here are a few of my favorites:
✨ A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush – A witty, honest, and wonderfully relatable poetry collection that feels like sharing coffee with a friend who “gets it.” It’s funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly grounding. This was in my top ten reads of 2024.
✨ Instructions for Traveling West by Joy Sullivan – A poetry collection that feels like both a map and a companion. Sullivan’s words invite you to look outward at the wide world while also turning inward with tenderness.
✨ Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones – Gentle reflections on finding sacredness in the everyday. Jones makes stillness feel not only possible but holy.
✨ Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatathil – A vibrant, joyful exploration of food and memory from one of my own college professors! Reading this felt like a celebration of flavor, culture, and connection.
✨ Sandwich by Catherine Newman – This novella is warm, messy, and full of heart. It feels like summer sun on your shoulders, with all the sweetness and ache of life tucked inside. And it turns out that she has a sequel coming out this fall!
✨ In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It by Lauren Graham – Brief but full of wisdom, like a pep talk from your big sister. Graham’s voice is light, funny, and exactly the kind of encouragement you want to keep on your nightstand.
✨ The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer – A stunning essay that weaves together ecology, gratitude, and reciprocity. It’s a meditation on living generously, and like all of Kimmerer’s work, it stays with you.
✨ Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez – A tender, emotional short story that proves even the briefest reads can leave a lasting mark. Jimenez’s signature humor and heart shine here, making it one you’ll think about long after the last page.
Sometimes a little goes a long way. These books prove that you don’t need hundreds of pages to be changed, comforted, or inspired. If you’ve ever thought, “I want to read, but I just don’t have time,” one of these little gems might be exactly what you need.
The Book Nook 