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The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
Only She Came Back by Margot Harrison
Emmett by L.C. Rosen
Phoebe’s Diary by Phoebe Wahl
How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok
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We’re counting down the last days of 2023! While most of the best-of lists and wrap-up posts went up weeks (or months) ago, there is still time to find another favorite book of the year. That’s why I’ve rounded up some great queer books under 250 pages that you can — theoretically, at least — read before 2024 arrives!
I’ve ordered these from shortest to longest, and they include trans, asexual, M/M, and sapphic representations in romance, speculative fiction, and nonfiction genres. For even more short books I recommend, check out my list for the Read Harder newsletter.
It's happening, readers — we're bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you're on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we've got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.
Queer Books Under 250 Pages
The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist by S.L. Huang (52 pages)
This dark retelling of “The Little Mermaid” has haunted me since I first read it — I can’t believe it’s only 50ish pages! It’s about a lesbian scientist who falls for an atargati (mermaid) she’s meant to be studying in a reversal of the usual story: she wants to join them in the depths. The atargati have no gender, and there’s also a nonbinary human side character.
The Craft of Love by EE Ottoman (105 pages)
This is a historical romance novella set in 1800s New York City. Bisexual needlework artist Remembrance is hired by a trans man silversmith named Benjamin for a quilting project, and among their conversations about craft, they fall in love.
The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz (118 pages)
In this cozy sci-fi story, making sentient robots is now illegal, but Sal is one of the few that still survives, running a tea shop as she slowly breaks down. Clara is an AI repair tech who came in for tea one day, and they quickly are drawn to each other. This is a gentle and comforting F/F romance, and both Clara and Sal are asexual.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers (160 pages)
Chambers is best known for the Wayfarers, but this sci-fi novel is a little easier to squeeze in before the new year! It follows a group of scientist astronauts as they survey four habitable worlds using “somaforming” that allows them to adapt to harsh alien environments. It has multiple asexual characters.
Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls by Kai Cheng Thom (176 pages)
I know I’ve been talking about this book a lot, but for one thing, it’s one of my favorite books of the year, and also, I just think this would be an incredible book to read going into the new year. These love letters are part poetry, part essay, and they’re an exercise in extending empathy to anyone from other trans women to unrepentant transphobes and racists.
River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (178 pages)
This speculative fiction novella imagines a U.S. where hippos were imported for meat, and some now have gone feral. It follows a group of mercenary hippo wranglers as they attempt to pull off a revenge plan. Most of the group is queer, including a bisexual guy, a queer woman, and a nonbinary character.
Human Enough by E. S. Yu (199 Pages)
Noah is a vampire hunter…which gets a lot more complicated when he falls for one of his targets, Jordan. Now, he has to try to take down the corrupt organization he works for, free Jordan, and hopefully win this vampire over in the process. Noah is pansexual, and Jordan is gray asexual.
Of course, there are so many other short queer books you can read before 2024 arrives! Also, check out Queer Books Under 250 Pages, 50 Must-Read Queer Romance Novellas, 20 Must-Read LGBTQ Comics, and 2023 Queer Comics and Graphic Memoirs.
Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.
Queer Bookish Goodies
Still looking for a 2024 calendar? Why not support a queer artist with Studio Pheeb’s 2024 Affirmations Calendar! I’ve featured their art on Our Queerest Shelves before, so I’m excited about their calendar. $27
That's it for me! Until next time, you can find me at my sapphic book blog, the Lesbrary. You can also hear me on All the Books, or you can read my Book Riot posts.
Happy reading!
Danika
I am really glad you mentioned River of Teeth on here! I really enjoyed that book and had to get the series for it! Same with anything by Becky Chambers! My first book by Chambers was "A Psalm for the Wild Built" and that lead me down all the other brilliant books by her! Amazing list as always and look forward to checking out the other books here to read!