Best Short Stories and Collections
In recent years, I’ve gone from being ambivalent about short stories to craving them – reading them with relish whenever I have a moment. These are the best short stories I have read and I wanted to share them with you.
After Amor Towles came out with his collection of shorts, I knew that Beyond the Bookends needed a dedicated page for all of my favorites. These collections are perfect one-sitting reads. You can pick them up, read a story and come back to the rest of the short stories later without worrying about what happened or where you are in the book! This fun post also fulfills a prompt for the Winter 2025 Reading Challenge.
Below, you’ll find some of my favorite short story collections across multiple different genres.
The Best Short Stories
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre of short stories. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Short Story Collection
Table for Two by Amor Towles- Click to read the review and see more books in this category
Best Fantasy or Dystopian Short Stories
The Land of Big Numbers by Te-Ping Chen – Click to read the review and see more books in this category
Best Classic Short Story Collection
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Click to read the review and see more books in this category
The Best Thriller Short Story
The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn- Click to read the review and see more books in this category
Best Middle Grade or YA Short Story
Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton et al.- Click to read the review and see more books in this category
*Short story Collections Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Short Story Collections
Table for Two
Author: Amor Towles
Year: 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction Short Stories
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
With Table for Two, famed author Amor Towles re-released his novella, Eve in Hollywood, along with a brand new collection of short stories set in New York City. Each story is an ode to a different part of life in New York, telling the stories of a Russian immigrant, a rare bookseller, an opera bootlegger, and a stranded traveler, among others.
And for Rules of Civility fans, Eve is a character from that novel who was last seen boarding a train to Hollywood. Her adventures out west were an absolute delight!
Why Kirsten loves it
Though I am not typically into short stories, Amor Towles is a favorite of mine so I had to read this collection. Each short story could have been a novel of it’s own, but the novella about Eve was the shining star for me.
Find this book in: Old Hollywood Books / Summer Read 2024 / Books Set in NYC / New Historical Fiction Books / Giftable Books
You Think It, I’ll Say It
Author: Curtis Sittenfeld
Year: 2018
Genre: Fiction
More info: May 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The sharp tales within this collection of short stories are perfect for the modern era. From a story about an influencer to a honeymoon vacation gone awry, each story takes a hard look at the flaws and envy our society produces within us.
Why Kirsten loves it
This collection was a lovely little break in my reading. I’ve long been a fan of Sittenfeld’s work, so I was eager to get to this collection. It was nice to be able to read a story in one sitting for a chance. I think I’ll have to read more short stories in the future, particularly if Sittenfeld is at the helm.
Find this book in: Short Stories
Oh. What. Fun.
Author: Chandler Baker
Year: 2021
Genre: Short Story Fiction
More info: Amazon Original Story
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Oh. What. Fun. is a family drama that had me laughing out loud and cringing at the same time. It’s all about a mother gone missing at Christmas and her adult children trying to justify their terrible behavior before she disappears.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read it in one sitting, smiling the whole time because it HIT. This poor mother did all the work and only got a dinky robe. It’s literally a book version of the SNL sketch from last holiday season and I adored it.
Find this book in: Short Stories / Best Christmas Books 2021
Plot
From a many-times widowed woman trying to sell her home to a clairvoyant who is dealing with a new landlord and dwindling clients, each story highlights a different fierce female protagonist with grit.
Why Kirsten loves it
This collection of short stories left me in awe of the women of Alaska… how they balance everyday life and problems with the brilliant and deadly force of nature they live in. The Alaskan wilderness is not for me, but this set of stories sure is.
Find this book in:
Short Stories with Fantasy or Dystopian Elements
Land of Big Numbers
Author: Te-Ping Chen
Year: 2021
Genre: Short Story
More info: A Best Book of the Year: Barack Obama, NPR, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Esquire
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This short story collection is utterly captivating. Te-Ping Chen vividly showcases life in China and its nuances, political and otherwise. Some stories are straight fiction while others have a touch of magical realism. My favorite involves a new fruit that inspires strong emotions in the eater.
Why Kirsten loves it
Each story is engaging and could lead to a book of its own. It’s a wonderful debut from a writer known for her work as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
Find this book in: Short Story Collections
Buried Deep and Other Stories
Author: Naomi Novik
Year: 2024
Genre: Short Story Fantasy
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of the Scholomance Series
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The Scholomance series, Spinning Silver, and Uprooted, all get a relook with this collection of 13 short stories. Some of the stories will be brand new and some will take you back to beloved books. From the Temeraire series (a must-read dragon Book) to the brand-new world of Abandon, these are short stories perfect for any fantasy lover.
Why Jackie loves it
These are some of my favorite books from Novik and I loved getting a glimpse back into the stories. It was also a perfect way to introduce Abandon, the new world in Novik’s upcoming epic fantasy series!
Find this book in: 15 of the Best Short Stories and Collections
The Office of Historical Corrections
Author: Danielle Evans
Year: 2020
Genre: Short Stories
More info: Winner of the 2021 Joyce Carol Oates Prize
Named a Best Book of 2020 by O Magazine, The New Yorker, Washington Post
Finalist for: The Story Prize
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This collection of short stories was a thought-provoking delight. Within the pages of each story, Evans was able to shine a spotlight on racism through the lens of history and how it shapes American culture.
Why Kirsten loves it
The titular novella was my favorite of the bunch. It gave me chills and had me thinking it was over too soon.
Find this book in: Short Stories / Magical Realism
My Monticello
Author: Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
Year: 2021
Genre: Short Story Fiction
More info: Winner of the Weatherford Award in Fiction
A winner of the 2022 Lillian Smith Book Awards
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a novella with a few short stories and it was SEARING. The short stories at the beginning were good, but the titular novella had my heart pounding.
In it, the extreme weather of the near future, along with a group of white militiamen, has forced black descendants of Thomas Jefferson to seek refuge in Monticello. As they battle to stay alive, they realize the danger they face from white men was always going to end this way.
Why Kirsten loves it
The ambiguous ending left me pondering what I thought would happen to them. This would be a great book club pick for those who don’t like longer tomes.
Find this book in: 15 of the Best Short Stories and Collections
Classic Short Stories and Collections
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Year: 1922
Genre: Short Story
More info: Inspired Movie starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett
Age Range: 12+
Plot
This short story revolves around a man who aged in reverse – born as a 70-year-old and ending his life as a newborn. He has a chance at love and experiences life’s ups and downs throughout his odd life.
Why Kirsten loves it
I listened to this one while doing the laundry the other night, it’s only an hour long but I rather liked it! I liked it so much that I was frustrated that it wasn’t a full-blown novel.
Find this book in: Best Classic Books /1920s Novels / Short Story Collections
Plot
In the secluded glen of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman haunts the residents. He’s the ghost of a soldier from the Revolutionary War.
New schoolmaster Ichabod Crane encounters the ghoul, and the legend lives on. This classic fantasy novel is a must-read around Halloween.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I was first exposed to this tale as a child via the Disney animated remake of Irving’s beloved story. I found the original quite compelling and it solidified to me why it’s such a reknown tale.
Find this book in: Literary Classics / Family Halloween Movies Based on Books /Best Short Stories and Collections
Thriller and Mystery Short Stories
The Grownup
Author: Gillian Flynn
Year: 2015
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16
Plot
When a woman pretending to be a psychic is hired to do an exorcism on a house, she learns that she just might believe in the supernatural after all.
It’s only 64 pages, but this Halloween thriller book will keep you up at night.
Why Kirsten loves it
A short and C-R-E-E-P-Y haunted house book, I wanted to put down and continue at the same time.
Find this book in: Best Short Stories / Books about Con Artists / Haunted House Books / Halloween Thriller /Best Short Stories and Collections
Marple: Twelve New Mysteries
Author: Various Authors
Year: 2022
Genre: Short Story Mystery
More info: National Bestseller
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series was my first introduction to mysteries. I was thrilled to see some of my current favorite mystery writers take a stab at all-new Miss Marple stories.
Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Leigh Bardugo are just a few of the dozen writers who wrote a short story for this compilation.
Why Kirsten loves it
I thought it was very well done and as full-cast audiobooks go, it was wonderful too. Dame Agatha would be proud these retellings.
Find this book in: Classic Retellings / Short Stories
The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Year: 1887-1927
Genre: Mystery
More info:
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Sherlock Holmes’ ability to solve each crime is fascinating. His observations are astute and I can never, ever guess who committed the crime.
If you are looking for the best mystery books of all time, Sherlock Holmes cannot be missed. This complete collection has all the short stories and the 4 Holmes novels.
Why Kirsten loves it
I am a HUGE detective story lover and no one does detective stories better than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These books have inspired countless adaptations and retellings since their initial publication.
Find this book in: Sherlock Holmes Books / Literary Classics / Best Mystery Books / British Mysteries / Short Stories
Middle Grade and YA Short Stories
Whiteout
Author: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany B. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
Year: 2022
Genre: YA Romance
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 13 – 17
Plot
This Young adult Christmas book, written by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, is the perfect ya romance to read on a snowy winter day.
It’s set in Atlanta during a rare snowstorm, features multiple love stories set on the same night, and is interconnected when friends try to help their besties get back together.
Why Kirsten loves it
You know a book is going to be fire when this many heavy-hitting authors are involved. Each of these love stories swept me up and I loved the warm and fuzzy feelings this book gave me. Save this book to read before the fire when it snows and you won’t regret it!
Find this book in: YA Christmas Romance Books / Books with Color in the Title / Books Set in Winter / Short Stories
The Wayside School Collection
Author: Louis Sacher
Year: 1998
Genre:Middle Grade Short Stories
More info: Book 1 of 4 of Wayside School
Age Range: 8+
Plot
Louis Sachar’s hysterical collection of stories about the students of Wayside School is a true must-read for students and a perfect read-aloud book.
The wacky tales and backward ways of the students and teachers at Wayside will have your child in a fit of giggles. Each chapter is about a different student in the school, so they can be read as individual short stories, making them perfect for bedtime reading.
This is the first in a collection of stories about Wayside School. While I recommend you start with this one, each book in the series is just as funny!
Why Kirsten loves it
Not all books from my childhood stand the test of time, but I enjoyed this story even more when I read it to my children. Hearing them giggle through the stories had me smiling. It certainly made for an entertaining bedtime tale.
Find this book in: Short Stories / Bedtime Stories for Kids / Best Books for 10-Year-Olds / Family Audiobooks / School Books
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
Author: Jason Reynolds
Year: 2019
Genre: Middle-Grade Short Story
More info: A National Book Award Finalist
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
Age Range: 10+
Plot
I thought this middle-grade novel was a wonderful look at the problems facing young people. Each chapter is a different narrator telling a different story about their walk home from school addressing issues like crushes, bullying, sick parents, and more.
Each tale gives you a glimpse into the minds of the children in the neighborhood – the funny, the sad, and everything in between.
Why Kirsten loves it
I finished this story in one sitting and immediately told Jackie to give it to her son. I can’t wait to give this to my boys one day.
Find this book in: Best School Books / Realistic Fiction Books / Short Stories / Best Books for 10-year-olds
Expert Tip
Are you new to short stories and not sure where to start?
- Short story collections are the perfect books to pick up if you want to read something in one sitting
- The short stories are often related in theme but do not need to be read in order
- Have 20 minutes? Pick a shorter of the stories within the collection
- Grab your favorite genre and pick a short story collection to help ease in. The best short stories immediately grab your attention and leave you wanting more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a short story collection?
A short story collection is a book of short stories by a single author. The stories are often on a similar theme. Sometimes a short story collection can be wrote by different authors all on a similar theme.
How long is a short story?
A short story can be 3 pages or 30 pages. The wonderful thing about a short story is that there are no rules for the length of the story.
How many short stories are in a collection?
There is no definite number for the amount of short stories in a collection. It will usually be between 5-12 stories.
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Epilogue
Which of these short story collections are you looking forward to reading?
