Hoopla’s August Reading Challenge

There’s so much we still want to read, and we’re running out of (summer)time! That’s why Hoopla’s August Reading Challenge is Short Books. There are some outstanding novellas and quick reads that are perfect for busy summer days or weekend reading sessions. 

What is a novella? It’s a compact narrative, longer than a short story but shorter than a novel—typically between 20,000 and 50,000 words. These short novels deliver compelling plots, rich characters, and satisfying endings in just a few sittings. 

This month, we’ve curated a list of some of our favorite short reads for our August Reading Challenge. Check out the best novellas and short books to read as we squeeze every moment from summer. Join in the August Reading Challenge and dive into one of these Short Books today!  

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All Systems Red (dramatized adaptation) by Martha Wells

This intriguing audiobook is a dramatic adaptation of part 1 of the Murderbot Diaries series. It’s a quick
listen, clocking in at just two and a half hours, about a team of scientists and their secretly vengeful
android, “Murderbot.” When the team needs to investigate a neighboring mission, they must join up
with the very Murderbot that wants them gone. 

The Anatomy of Magic by J. C. Cervantes

In this enchanting story by New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes, a young woman
learns to embrace life’s chaos and love’s unpredictability. Lily Estrada, a rising ob-gyn with the rare
power to alter memories, returns to her family’s magical home in Mexico—where reconnecting with
her first love may be the key to healing her shaken spirit and unraveling her past. 

Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro 

After Rita is found dead in the church she once attended, authorities quickly close the case. Only
her ailing mother remains committed to uncovering the truth. Elena Knows follows her determined
search through city suburbs, exposing an old debt, a pivotal conversation, and the deeper layers of
authoritarianism and hypocrisy embedded in the lives of those left behind. 

The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed

This concise “hopepunk” novella is part 1 in the Annual Migration of Clouds series, set in post-climate
disaster Alberta. The story follows Reid, a young woman infected with a mind-altering parasite called
Cad. Offered a rare chance to escape to a surviving outpost, she must choose between a better future
or staying to support her mother and community—while questioning if she can even trust her own mind. 

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Tucked away in a quiet Tokyo alley, a century-old café offers more than just coffee—it grants the
chance to travel back in time. But there are strict rules: you can’t leave your seat, can’t change the
present, and must return before your coffee cools. In this installment, part 1 of the Before the Coffee
Gets Cold series, four visitors take that chance, each hoping to reconnect, heal, or say goodbye.
A tender, thought-provoking novella.

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All these short books are available for you on Hoopla, no waiting, no fees. Hurry up before summer ends!