25 Books to Read Instead of Scrolling

When exhaustion hits, reaching for yet another doom-scroll session reinforces fatigue and scatters focus. Instead, grab one of these easy-to-read books—each under 400 pages, many under 200—with straightforward language, brief chapters, or bite-sized essays. They’ll help you unwind, spark joy, and lull you toward actual rest without demanding intense concentration

These books contain short chapters and simple prose to let your brain rest. You can finish a chapter easily in 5-10 minutes, which will create micro wins that discourage mindless scrolling.

1. Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett

The Discworld series is a collection of 41 satirical fantasy novels set on a flat, circular world that rides on the backs of four giant elephants standing atop the cosmic turtle Great A’Tuin, featuring stand-alone stories and interlinked sub-series that follow characters such as the cowardly wizard Rincewind, the personified Death, the pragmatic witches of Lancre, and the resourceful con-man Moist von Lipwig. Each book combines elements of traditional sword-and-sorcery—trolls, dwarfs, dragons, and wizards—with modern-day parallels, blending slapstick, parody, and character-driven humor as it skewers politics, religion, academia, and popular culture

2. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

A 150-page novella about a tea-loving robot and a monk wandering a tranquil post-collapse world—pure restorative reading.

On the moon Panga—where robots withdrew centuries ago and humans built a bucolic, solarpunk society—Dex, an agender Tea Monk, sets out beyond settled lands to find meaning. Deep in the woods they encounter Mosscap, a robot, and together they embark on an episodic journey of philosophical conversations over tea.

3. Beach Read by Emily Henry

Witty romance with brisk dialogue and sunny vibes. Chapters average 8 pages, so you can pause anywhere and stay grounded in the story.

January Andrews, a romance novelist reeling from her father’s death and a broken relationship, moves into his lake house only to find her literary-fiction rival, Augustus Everett, living next door; they strike a summer-long bet to swap genres, forcing each to confront personal grief, creative block, and unexpected attraction

4. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Dual timelines and punchy chapters keep the friends-to-lovers arc moving swiftly.

Best friends Poppy and Alex have spent ten summers traveling together, but after a sudden fallout two years ago, Poppy—now a travel writer stuck in a rut—invites Alex on one last trip to rekindle their bond and finally face unspoken feelings

5. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Episodic, first-person narration with laugh-out-loud moments. Each chapter feels like a mini episode of your favorite sitcom.

Becky Bloomwood, a financial-advice columnist with a compulsive shopping habit, spirals into debt and comedic chaos as she dodges creditors, spins PR cover-ups, and schemes to hide her obsession—even as her career begins to thrive

6. I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Playful mistaken-identity plot and concise chapters make this a quick read that’s light on the brain.

Poppy Wyatt loses both her heirloom engagement ring and her phone on the same day, only to “borrow” a discarded handset belonging to Sam Roxton—her fiancé’s cold-hearted personal assistant—and unwittingly entangle herself in his life as they exchange hilarious texts and emails.

7. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Warm, relatable prose about college life and fanfiction—easy to dip in and out of, with chapters designed for small reading bursts.

Cath Avery, a socially anxious college freshman and avid fan-fiction writer, struggles to find her identity apart from her twin sister and her beloved Simon Snow stories while navigating roommate drama, first love, and her father’s bipolar episode

8. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Deadpan humor and short chapters center on a socially awkward professor’s quest for love—keeps you engaged without overload.

Don Tillman, a socially awkward genetics professor with rigid routines, designs a scientific questionnaire to find the perfect wife but is derailed when he meets Rosie—an unconventional bartender who defies all his criteria yet becomes the focus of his unexpected “Father Project” to help her find her birth dad

9. The Venice Hotel by Tess Woods

Over twelve days at Venice’s Hotel Il Cuore, four very different women—celebrity chef Loretta Bianchi, Australian food writer Sophie, law graduate Elena, and grandmother Gayle—each confront hidden passions and life-altering secrets against the backdrop of a city threatened by rising waters and cultural changes. Their separate stories intertwine into a tapestry of suspense and sisterhood as they forge unexpected bonds in the winding canals and ornate halls of a sinking city

10. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Four perspectives, tight chapters, and a one-weekend timeline make this family binge-worthy.

On August 27, 1983, the famous Riva siblings—model Nina, surfer Jay, photographer Hud, and college-aged Kit—host their legendary end-of-summer party in Malibu, only to confront buried family secrets, romantic betrayals, and a destructive fire that forces them to choose what they truly want to carry forward. Flashbacks to their turbulent childhood and their parents’ legacy interweave with the party’s chaos, revealing how each sibling’s identity is shaped by fame, loyalty, and loss.

11. American Royals by Katharine McGee

YA with an alternate monarchy premise—straightforward prose and multiple POVs for quick switching when you nod off mid-chapter.

In an alternate America where George Washington was crowned king, Princess Beatrice prepares to become the nation’s first queen regnant, while her rule-shy sister Samantha and cousin Nina navigate forbidden romances and palace intrigue in a gilded modern monarchy. As political duty collides with personal desire, the Washington heirs must decide between honoring tradition or pursuing their own hearts.

12. Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Told over 24 hours aboard a fictional space station, six international astronauts undertake routine scientific tasks while grappling with existential questions—about Earth’s fragility, the meaning of home, and humanity’s place in the cosmos—as they orbit the planet sixteen times. Through their private reflections and shared challenges, the crew confronts isolation, wonder, and the “overview effect” that reshapes their bond with Earth and each other.

13. The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

Gentle humor and short chapters help you process grief and find comfort without heavy lifting.

Grace Winters, a recently widowed 72-year-old retired math teacher, inherits a dilapidated house in Ibiza from a former colleague and travels there to uncover the mystery behind her gift and her friend’s suspicious death; along the way, she encounters “La Presencia,” a mystical force that awakens latent psychic abilities and draws her into a battle to protect the island’s natural beauty from exploitative developers

14. Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan

Small-town romance, relatable leads, and concise storytelling keep the pages turning, even at 10 p.m.

After thirty-six years of an arranged marriage, Suresh and Lata Raman divorce and embark on separate journeys—Suresh experimenting with online dating in mid-life and Lata rediscovering independence—while their adult children, Priya and Nikesh, each grapple with secret romances and familial expectations over the course of three transformative weeks in August

15. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg

Interconnected short stories and letter-style chapters let you stop anywhere without losing the heartwarming arc.

Through interwoven narratives set in the 1920s–’30s Deep South and a 1980s nursing home, the novel follows Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison’s café in Whistle Stop, Alabama—where lifelong friendship, community solidarity, and acts of quiet rebellion create a haven against racism and hardship—and Evelyn Couch’s transformative bond with her elderly listener, Ninny Threadgoode.

16. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

On the solarpunk moon Panga—where robots abandoned human society centuries earlier—Tea Monk Dex, seeking purpose beyond their comforting routine, ventures into the wilderness and encounters Mosscap, a lone robot; together they embark on a gentle journey of philosophical dialogue about need, fulfillment, and humanity’s place in nature.

17. Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin

Witty, personal essays on food and life—each reads like a letter from a friend, making it exceptional light nonfiction.

A warm collection of essays that blend personal anecdotes, practical recipes, and wry observations—Colwin writes as if corresponding with a dear friend, exploring everything from “how to disguise vegetables” to the comforts of chocolate and fish dishes, all centered on the kitchen’s role as the heart of home life.

18. Half a Lifelong Romance by Eileen Chang

A slim classic set in 1930s Shanghai, with clear, elegant prose that flows effortlessly—ideal for bedtime reading.

Half a Lifelong Romance traces the bittersweet relationship between Manzhen Gu and Shijun Shen, two childhood friends in 1930s–’40s Shanghai whose tentative love is continually disrupted by social upheaval, war, and unspoken regrets. Chang’s elegant, fluid prose captures both the tender moments of first love and the sorrow of paths not taken as her protagonists reflect on what might have been

19. My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall-Smith

Charming, short tale of a runaway adventure in Tuscany—McCall-Smith’s gentle humor and vivid snapshots feel like a mini-vacation.

Travel writer Peter Stuart, recovering from a painful breakup, finds himself stranded in a Tuscan village where he unexpectedly wins an old bulldozer at a local raffle—and embarks on a gently humorous journey through sun-drenched vineyards, small-town quirks, and burgeoning friendships.

20. The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

366 pocket-sized meditations—read one a day (or one per tired moment) for a quick burst of wisdom.

21. The Three Ring Rascals Series by Kate Klise

Early-chapter, illustrated novels—perfect bite-sized stories that read fast and pair well with audiobooks .

Aimed at early chapter-book readers, this playful series follows Sir Sidney’s Circus through colorful capers and inventive wordplay; each book combines lively text with charming illustrations to engage developing readers. The episodic structure and humor-rich narrative make these quick, rewarding reads that bolster confidence and spark imagination

22. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Accessible epistolary style keeps each letter concise and engaging—ideal for stops and starts.

Set in 1946, this epistolary novel unfolds as London writer Juliet Ashton corresponds with members of a makeshift book club on German-occupied Guernsey, discovering how literature and camaraderie sustained islanders through wartime hardship. As Juliet uncovers their stories and visits the island, she finds friendship, unexpected love, and the restorative power of shared narratives.

Did you find a book for your next reading list? Let us know!