Best Popular Short Stories of 2025: 13 Must-Reads
Get ready to chuckle, ponder, and maybe even shed a tear with our list of the 13 best popular short stories books. We pick stories that stand out for their engaging plots and unforgettable characters. Whether you’re a fan of emotional tales or prefer something with a twist, this list promises a captivating collection for every reader. Buckle up for a literary journey through witty and compelling popular short stories that have charmed readers for generations.
On this list:
- Interpreter of Maladies
- The Thing Around Your Neck
- Dubliners
- Men Without Women
- Tenth of December
- Nine Stories
- Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
- The Bloody Chamber
- Her Body and Other Parties
- The Best American Short Stories
- The Oxford Book of American Short Stories
- Stories of Your Life and Others
- The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway
13 Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
This book is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, so obviously we had to read it! It expertly captures the experiences of Indian immigrants.
12 The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Adichie’s stories are like a rollercoaster of emotions, from heartbreak to hope. We couldn’t put it down for even a minute!
11 Dubliners by James Joyce
Joyce’s stories might be old, but they’re like a treasure chest filled with gems about life in Dublin. We felt like time travelers!
10 Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
Murakami invites us to peer into the minds of lonely men, and it’s both bizarre and beautiful. A real brain workout!
9 Tenth of December by George Saunders
These stories are hilariously dark, and sometimes like a slap in the face. Not for the faint-hearted, but we loved it!
8 Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
Salinger’s stories are like meeting quirky characters at a strange party. They leave you thinking about them way after the last page.
7 Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower
Tower’s tales are wild and crazy, yet they have a soft spot. We went from laughing to feeling all the feels!
6 The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Carter takes fairy tales and spices them with horror and feminism. We were thrilled and terrified all at once!
5 Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Machado spins strange and enchanting tales. Highly original and makes you see the familiar in a whole new light.
4 The Best American Short Stories by Various Authors
This collection showcases diverse voices and stories. You’re bound to find at least a couple of gems you like!
3 The Oxford Book of American Short Stories by Joyce Carol Oates (Editor)
This anthology is packed with classic and contemporary top-notch tales. We reckon it’s like hitting the literary jackpot!
2 Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
We choose this book because Ted Chiang’s collection offers a unique blend of science fiction and philosophical stories. It’s a thought-provoking and engaging read.
1 The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway by Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway’s mastery of the short story form is unmatched. From war to love to life’s little joys, Hemingway captures it all. There is something riveting about reading his tales. Even when we knew what was coming, the delivery was always surprising. His concise prose and ability to convey so much with so little made a lasting impression on us. We laughed, we pondered, and we discussed these stories into the wee hours with our friends. This collection is a fantastic journey, worth every page and every moment spent savoring his genius.
