Historical · Literary
Small Things Like These
A short novel set in a small Irish town in the weeks before Christmas in 1985. A coal merchant and father of five makes a delivery that makes him question what the town prefers not to see, and what he can do about it.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2020
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 70
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a quiet, short, powerful read about conscience and small moments of courage.
Skip this if you want a lot of plot, or find stories about institutional cruelty hard to read.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about Small Things Like These
- What is Small Things Like These about?
- A short novel set in a small Irish town in the weeks before Christmas in 1985. A coal merchant and father of five makes a delivery that makes him question what the town prefers not to see, and what he can do about it.
- Who should read Small Things Like These?
- Read it if you want a quiet, short, powerful read about conscience and small moments of courage. Skip it if you want a lot of plot, or find stories about institutional cruelty hard to read.
- How long and how fast is Small Things Like These?
- It is a slow-paced, short read of about 70 pages, first published in 2020.
- Does Small Things Like These have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Abuse.
- Can I borrow Small Things Like These for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Small Things Like These; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Small Things Like These?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Remains of the Day, Olive Kitteridge, The Light Between Oceans.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Small Things Like These
-
The Remains of the Day
A restrained novel about a man whose silence costs him, told with the same careful understatement.
-
Olive Kitteridge
Short, quiet stories of ordinary lives in a small community, with a similar moral clarity.
-
The Light Between Oceans
Another story about a decent man facing a moral choice that cannot be undone.
Historical
