It’s that time of the year again. You’re looking at your reading challenge (whether you’re doing the traditional goodreads challenge or another one), and wondering if you can make it.
Before heading into this post, I just want to say: reading isn’t a competition and you shouldn’t feel pressured to meet a reading challenge.
Now that this has been said: I know a lot of people enjoy reaching their reading goals (I mean, who doesn’t, really?!) and… at that time of the year, you might be looking for some quick reads, in order to get there. To help (and because, selfishly, I thought this might be a fun idea for me, too), I compiled a list of YA books under 300 pages for you to read. It’s a little mix of contemporary (okay, a lot of it, you know me), a bit of science-fiction, intriguing, magical stories. They all have in common something: they were fast-paced (I thought so!) and fun reads overall.
I hope you’ll enjoy this list and please, if you have recommendations, I’d love to hear them in comments!
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10 YA Books under 300 pages to read
I Wanna Be Where You Are, Kristina Forest
This book is a little gem and I need to scream about it more. It’s about Chloe, deciding to drive across country for a dance audition, even if her mother’s against it. She ends up having to road-trip with her ex-best friend/neighbor and… well. You know. SO much fun to read, adorable characters with big dreams and, ugh, I adored this one!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Never, Ever Getting Back Together, Sophie Gonzales
This book was SO. MUCH. Fun. I think all of Sophie Gonzales’ books are excellent, though. This one’s about two 18 years old girls, agreeing to participate in a TV show with their famous ex-boyfriend. One of them wants to get back with him, another wants to get revenge, and…. well. This is queer, this is a bit dramatic at times, this is absolutely binge-worthy!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, Lauren James
I don’t even know how to explain this book. This is one hell of a book, okay, the biggest what the F- am I reading kind of story. It’s about Romy, the only survivor in a spaceship taking her to a new planet. If you’re looking for a book you won’t be able to put down, read this one.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Undoing of Thistle Tale, Katelyn Detweiler
I feel like this book flew a bit under the radar and that’s a shame. It’s this super intriguing story about a famous teen author, Thistle, struggling with the biggest secret ever: she’s not actually the author of her bestselling books. This was addictive, fun, intriguing and loved the exploration of family in this one, too.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Blackwell’s
Creep : A Love Story, Lygia Day Peñaflor
This book is really, really strange and… well, as its title suggests it: a bit creepy. It’s about Rafi, obsessed with the most popular couple in her high school. It’s completely disturbing to read, yet it’s addictive, as well!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
An old but a good one! I read Nick and Norah AGES ago, but have very fond memories of this. It’s a whirlwind of adventures in New York, starting with Nick asking Norah, a complete stranger, to pretend to be his girlfriend for a minute. It’s so much fun and definitely a quick read!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Blackwell’s
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between, Jennifer E. Smith
On their last night together before college, Clare and Aidan have to decide whether they’ll stay together or break up. This bittersweet, excellent YA contemporary romance got my heart, friends. I loved following and understanding the love between the two main characters and this just made me soft and, yeah, one of my favorites.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over, Shani Petroff
If you’re looking for a quick YA contemporary to read, this is it! It’s a story about Sari, finding herself stuck in the airport…. with her ex-boyfriend the cheater. This was overall a really cute book and the airport setting makes it all the more fun!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Blackwell’s
Summer of Salt, Katrina Leno
Georgina’s waiting for her magic to come. Her sister’s already able to defy gravity, but Georgina’s afraid her power will never reveal itself. During a summer of storms, magic and tragedy, she’ll learn the real truth about magic… Set on an island, this book is so intriguing and transports you in an unique universe. Definitely recommending it if you want to get away.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Bad at Love, Gabriela Martins
Daniel’s a bad boy in a boys band. Sasha’s an aspiring journalist, looking for a scoop to secure her scholarship… This is a really heartwarming, soft, adorable YA contemporary romance overall, with a Hollywood setting I really loved!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
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For more YA book recommendations, check out these blog posts:
- 10 Fast-Paced, Addictive YA Books To Get You Out Of A Reading Slump
- 10 YA Books I Can’t Stop Thinking About
- 10 YA Books To Read To Get Into The Christmas And the Winter Holidays Spirit
📌 Pin 10 YA Books To Read To Finish your reading challenge on Pinterest!
How are you doing on your reading challenges this year? Do you think you’ll make it?
Do you have any recommendations of short, fun books to read? I’d LOVE to hear them in comments!!
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I didn’t realize Never Ever Getting Back Together was under 300 pages. I’m tempted to sneak that on to my December tbr!
It’s such a fun read, I hope you’ll give it a try! 🙂
Great list! I want to get Never Getting Back Together.
Thank you so much!! I hope you’ll get to read it soon, it was so much fun 🙂
What a great list of books! I’ve only read Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between but I’ve definitely found some other options for when I need a shorter read. Thanks for sharing!
Oh thank you so much for reading, so happy you enjoyed it! <3
Awesome list as always, Marie!
While a few has been on my list already, some were not ☺️
Thank you so much Kristina!! <3
I love this! Sometimes you need a shorter book for a challenge or in general. I still need to read that Martins’ book.
Agree and sometimes, you just want a quick read! I hope you’ll give it a try, I really enjoyed it! 🙂
I love finding books less than 300 pages. Some books are just too padded!
Agree! So glad I could help! 🙂
I haven’t read YA books in a while, but I love the idea of this! I’m on a bit of a time crunch for my own reading challenge, which I could just lower at any moment if I wanted to haha and short books are a life saver in times like these. Also, love to see Nick & Norah on here. Because it is the season, I can also recommend all three Dash & Lily books 😀
Thank you, Kat! YES it is the season, Dash & Lily could be perfect for this list! 😀
Great post, I love reading a fast-paced, short book in the last weeks of the year 🥰 The Undoing of Thistle Tate sounds great, I love it when the main characters are authors! I also need to read something by Gabriela Martins, I still haven’t read her debut or Bad at Love … the covers look so cute and I love softer YA contemporary books ❤️
Thank you so, so much! <3 I think you'd really love Thistle Tate, it was such a fun read overall :)