23 Short Stories You Can Read

for Free Right Now

By Jennifer Martin and BookBub Editors|Updated: April 16, 2019

Those of us who love short stories know the

magic behind a well-told tale. There are times when you just need a
complete story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. And you need it
fast. Well, we’ve got some great news: A lot of incredible short stories are
actually available online, and you can read them for free right now! It’s the
perfect way to spend a lunch break, the moments while dinner is in the
oven or your last few minutes before bedtime. Without further ado, here’s
our list of great short stories you can read for free right now. The list
features a blend of works from contemporary authors, as well as short
stories from your favorite classic authors. Read on for our complete list of
free short stories!

Contemporary Free Short Stories

These stories are by contemporary authors. If you’ve never read these
authors before, their free short stories will give you a taste of their style
before you commit to one of their longer works. There’s something for
everyone, with genres ranging from science fiction to historical fiction to
horror.

“The Hunter’s Wife” by Anthony Doerr

Gorgeous descriptions of nature fill this story of a hunter and his younger,
psychic wife during a Montana winter. After reading it, you’ll be amazed by
the talent of Doerr, who earned a Pulitzer Prize for his novel All The Light
We Cannot See.
“Premium Harmony” by Stephen King
King fans won’t want to miss this 2009 short story which appeared in The
New Yorker. A bickering couple stop at a convenience store and find their
lives taking an unexpected dark turn. If you read closely, you’ll also catch
references to the horror writer’s other works here.

“Broads” by Roxane Gay

You’ll get a kick out of this saucy story by Roxane Gay, author of Bad
Feminist. Jimmy has a thing for loud, bold women. But it’s not until he
meets a diner waitress that he finally seems to get what he wants.

“And of Clay We Are Created” by Isabel Allende

We’re transfixed by this story based on a real-life natural disaster. A
volcano erupted in Colombia in 1985 and caused mudslides that tragically
killed 23,000 people. Weaving culture with a gripping personal drama,
Allende’s story centers on the rescue of Azucena, a girl trapped in the
mud.

Join to access our best book recommendations

Join Now

Already a Member? Sign In

"}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}">

Join to access our best book recommendations

Join Now

Already a Member? Sign In

“Girls, At Play” by Celeste Ng

This story by the author of New York Times bestselling novels Everything
I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere may shock you at first. It
focuses on three 13-year-old girls who play a very adult game at school.
But when a new girl arrives, they are able to recapture some of the
innocence they’ve lost.
“Ghosts and Empties” by Lauren Groff
This poignant story follows a mother on her evening walk as she
contemplates the history of her neighborhood, the personal lives of the
people within, and her own raging emotions. Though short, it’s a powerful
read for those overcome by feelings in their own lives.

“The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees ” by E. Lily Yu

A finalist for both the Nebula and Hugo awards, this short story is more
than it seems. While on the surface it’s a tale of the battle between bees
and wasps, underneath it carries deeper political themes and questions
that you will want to discuss with your book buddies.

“The Faery Handbag” by Kelly Link

We’re betting you’ll find this Kelly Link story as delightful as we do.
Genevieve’s grandmother Zofia claims her handbag houses a group of
fairies. One day, Genevieve discovers if it’s true. This acclaimed story
won three major awards — the Nebula, Locus, and Hugo.

“The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere” by John Chu

What if it rained every time someone lied? That’s the world where Matt
exists in this fanciful, thought-provoking John Chu tale. When Matt needs
to come out to his traditional Chinese parents, not to mention discuss
marriage with his partner, he’ll have to weather the challenges— in more
ways than one.

“St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” by Karen Russell

Those of us who adore Karen Russell’s magical realism know that this
story is a must-read. A group of werewolves’ daughters come to a halfway
house run by nuns, where they are encouraged to civilize. But the girls
struggle not to fall back on their old wolfish habits.

“Younger Women” by Karen Joy Fowler

We’ve got a serious crush on this story from the author of The Jane
Austen Book Club. Jude’s suspicious when her 15-year-old daughter,
Chloe, starts dating a mysterious boy. She becomes even more so when
he comes to dinner, because Eli is far from normal…

“Queenie” by Alice Munro

This short by Nobel Prize–winning Alice Munro is a slow burn, but
powerful. After her sister Queenie elopes with an older widower, Chrissy
reflects on her own choices and what could have been.

Classic Free Short Stories

If you haven’t read these classic short stories, you’re missing out. Cozy up
and take 15 minutes to read one of these free short stories today.

The Nine Stories collection by J.D. Salinger

If you loved The Catcher in the Rye, you won’t want to skip this collection
of Salinger stories published in 1953. Of particular note are “Perfect Day
for Bananafish” and “For Esme — With Love and Squalor,” two of the
more well-known tales, both featuring children and illustrating the haunting
effects of war.

“The Dead” by James Joyce

We’re so curious about the shocking twist in this story by acclaimed Irish
author James Joyce. At a lush Dublin New Year’s Eve party, Gabriel’s
wife tells him a secret that will have lasting impact — on him and the
reader.

“The Lady with the Little Dog” by Anton Chekhov

Published at the turn of century, this Chekhov story follows a married man
who has a brief but passionate affair with a younger woman whom he
meets while she’s walking her dog. It’s rumored to be a favorite of fellow
classic author Vladimir Nabokov.

“To Build a Fire” by Jack London

Readers who are drawn to Jack London’s stories of survival in the wild
shouldn’t skip this short. Set in the frozen Yukon Territory, it follows a man
who unwisely decides to hike with only a dog for company and is forced to
put his survival skills to the test. You’d better read this one with a hot cup
of tea or coffee nearby.

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs

If you haven’t already read it, “The Monkey’s Paw” will unsettle you — and
make you think very differently about wishes! When the White family is
shown a mummified monkey’s paw which is given the magical ability to
grant wishes, Mr. White can’t resist a simple wish. But the price he pays is
ghastly…

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe

Horror fans — especially those who’ve read Poe’s other work — will find
this revenge story delightfully macabre. After his friend Fortunato wrongs
him, Montresor lures him during the carnival season to the catacombs,
where he introduces the man to a truly sinister fate.

“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County ” by Mark Twain

A quirky Twain tale that is not to be missed! Jim Smiley loves to bet. But
when he finds a frog, trains it to jump, and wagers that this prized frog is
the best jumper in the county, he learns a painful lesson.

“Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville

This story is one of the last published by the Moby-Dick author. One day,
at his Wall Street copyist job, Bartleby refuses an assignment from his
boss, saying, “I would prefer not to.” What happens will have you glued to
the pages.

“In the Penal Colony” by Franz Kafka

Though strange and disturbing, you’ll still be thinking about Franz Kafka’s
“In the Penal Colony” after you’ve finished. A visitor to a penal colony
witnesses an odd method of execution: a machine which engraves the
crime on the prisoner before he dies. But does the punishment fit the
crime?
“Symbols and Signs” by Vladimir Nabokov
Appearing in a 1948 issue of The New Yorker, this story centers on an
older couple who visit their mentally ill son who has just attempted suicide.
Returning home, the father decides to remove the son from the hospital.
Interwoven in the story — which lends itself to multiple interpretations —
is the family’s history as Russian Jews.

“The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury

If you adore Bradbury as much as we do, you’ll love reading this science
fiction about technology gone awry. A family of four lives in a home
equipped with advanced technology, including a simulation room for the
children to experience their wildest fantasies. But when their parents
become disturbed by the house’s control over their children, they must
fight back.

What are your favorite short stories?

Share this list:

PREVIOUS POST

19 Books to Read If You Love ‘Little House on the Prairie’

NEXT POST

18 Reasons Reading Is Just Like Exercising

POPULAR POSTS
The Most Anticipated Books of 2019

December 27, 2018

26 Ridiculously Good Historical Fiction Books, According to Readers

January 19, 2019

22 Binge-Worthy New Books

February 15, 2019

RELATED POSTS

The Most Wanted Books of the Year

March 13, 2019

24 Books to Read Instead of Spring Cleaning

March 15, 2019

A Complete List of Maya Angelou Books

March 15, 2019

The Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far)

May 3, 2019

Readers Share the Books Their Moms Passed Down to Them

May 9, 2019