Top 10 Tuesday — The Novella

17 Jul

no·vel·la

noun
1. a short novel or long short story.

Yep, that is the official definition of novella, the subject of this week’s Top Ten Tuesday. As in the case of their longer cousins, novellas span genres and styles — historical, contemporary, suspense, romance — there is something for everyone! Looking at the varying forms novellas take, I have come up with a few categories. What do you think?

Don’t forget to check out other bloggers favorite novellas at That Artsy Reader Girl.

 

 

Top Novellas

The Complimentary Novella — books that are written to introduce or compliment a novel series. These help to fill in the blanks, as well as entice a reader with a quick read. They are often prequels to the main story.

An Awakened Heart (An Orphan Train Novella) by Jody Hedund

Then Came You (A Bradford Sisters novella) by Becky Wade

 

Interrelated Novella Collection — these 2-4 novella collections often have several authors all writing within a continuing storyline. The examples I have chosen either follow different members of a family, involve characters connected with a place, and/or tell the story from different characters’ points of view.

Austen in Austin, volume 1 by Susan Dietze, Gina Welborn, Anita Mae Draper, and Debra E. Marvin

Invitation, Cycle One of The Harbingers Series by Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, Bill Myers, and Alton Gansky

Where Tree Tops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman, and Sarah Sundin

 

Serialized Novellas — a series of individually published novellas (not part of a published collection) that follow a character, or group of characters, and are written by a single author.

Boo series by Rene Guttering (there are 4 in the series)

In The President’s Service series by Ace Collins (there are 14 books in this series, I have included the covers of the first 2)

Summer of The Burning Sky series by Susan May Warren (a third is due out in August)

Thematic novella collections — several novellas published together and united by a common theme or subject matter. They often involve several authors.

Among The Fair Magnolias by Tamera Alexander, Dorothy Love, Elizabeth Musser, and Shelley Gray

Sins of The Past by Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason, and Dani Pettrey

 

Standalone Novellas — a complete, unto itself story, just in novella length. I have found that there are lots of novellas published with Christmas themes — great for quick reading during a very busy time of year.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep

An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti 

Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh

Silent Night, Deadly Night by Richard Mabry, M.D.

 

What is your favorite novella?

 

8 Responses to “Top 10 Tuesday — The Novella”

  1. Ruby's Books July 17, 2018 at 8:32 am #

    I absolutely love how you split this post into types of novellas. I never though about novellas like how you put them, but it’s super informative. Thank you! I’ve seen Then Came You mentioned on a few posts now, and I’m very curious about it. I might give it a try soon. Thank you for sharing!

    Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday

    • rbclibrary July 17, 2018 at 12:39 pm #

      Thanks! The categories I came up with are certainly unofficial, but they made sense to me.

  2. Astilbe Reviews July 17, 2018 at 9:47 am #

    The Boo series looks like it’s a lot of fun.

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.

    • rbclibrary July 17, 2018 at 12:38 pm #

      It is! There’s Boo Humbug too.

  3. Rissi July 17, 2018 at 10:38 pm #

    What a fabulous post, Beckie! Love how you put it together – and of course, I’m so glad to see Becky’s on the list. 🙂

    • rbclibrary July 18, 2018 at 8:41 am #

      I need to read Becky’s novella. I am currently reading Falling for You. Love this series.

  4. Aj @ Read All The Things! July 18, 2018 at 8:40 pm #

    Great list! I haven’t read any of these, but I like your categories.

    • rbclibrary July 18, 2018 at 8:46 pm #

      Thx! And thanks for stopping by!

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