Graphic novels to read if you’re behind on your Goodreads goal

When it comes to the Goodreads challenge, people often seem to fall into two categories:

Miles ahead of their challenge, have surpassed their goal by 20 books, absolutely flying
7 books behind, trying valiantly to get back on track, this ship is sinking friend

I’ve been in both those categories before so I know the stress of trying to catch up and hit your goal. The best way I’ve found to do it is to read lots of short books in quick succession so you can power through.

And what better ‘short books’ than graphic novels? If you’re in category two, and looking for some books to bump up your challenge, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best “quick” graphic novels to help you reach your goal.

Heartstopper

This is one of the sweetest LGBTQ+ graphic novels I’ve ever read and I honestly can’t recommend it enough. It follows two teens, Nick and Charlie, as they grow closer and start to realise that they both might not be straight.

There are two volumes and they’ll only take an hour or so to read (each), so there’s two more books to get you closer to your challenge.

Bloom

This is another soft, queer romance that will melt your heart. Ari’s parents own a bakery in a small town, but now high school is almost over, Ari wants to move to the city with his band.

But when his parents employ a cute guy to help out in the bakery, Ari starts to question what he actually wants for his future.

This graphic novel is coloured in beautiful blue tones and is well worth spending an enjoyable couple of hours getting lost in the story.

The Avant-Guards

If you’re looking for a fun, happy-go-lucky graphic novel to boost your challenge, this is it.

When Charlie transfers to a new art college, she isn’t sure she fits in. But when the rag-tag basketball team recruit her, she begins to find her feet.

At only 112 pages, this is a book you’ll fly through.

Pumpkinheads

Although this is perhaps a little out of season now, Pumpkinheads is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Deja and Josiah are spending their last night at the pumpkin patch they’ve worked at for years, and it promises to be one of drama and excitement.

This is a really fast read and the art style is sublime.

Fence

If you’ve not picked up this series, get thyself to a bookstore good friend.

As the title suggests, it follows Nicolas Cox as he enters the world of competitive high school fencing.

There are three volumes of Fence out now and I’d highly recommend buying at least two at once. You’ll breeze through the first one and then be desperate for the second.

Moonstruck

This graphic novel is nothing short of a delight.

In it, we meet werewolf barista Julie as she goes on a date to a magic show with her new girlfriend. But everything goes wrong when the magician casts a horrible spell on their friend Chet and they have to try and reverse it.

This is 120 pages of diversity, cute romance, and hijinks, and I can’t recommend it enough.

The Prince and the Dressmaker

This book has been on my TBR for ages because it seems so heckin’ cute.

It’s about Sebastian, a prince by day, and a fashion icon by night who wears incredible dresses and takes Paris by storm. Sebastian’s best friend Frances is his dressmaker and the only one who knows his secret.

This book explores gender, but it does have TWs for forced outing so please be aware of that.

Heavy Vinyl

This is another one that’s been on my TBR for ages and I’m determined to try and read it next year.

When Chris lands her dream job at Vinyl Mayhem, her local record store, she quickly learns that her co-workers are hiding something. It turns out they’re members of a secret fight club that take on the patriarchy and fight crime.

Women working in a music store and fighting crime on the side. What more could you need?

Goldie Vance

Marigold “Goldie” Vance lives at a Florida resort with her dad, and dreams of becoming the hotel’s in-house detective. When she gets her first case, she ends up involved in a drag race, a helicopter chase, and major puzzle solving.

This is a fun, fresh take on the detective/mystery genre and at just over 100 pages, it seems like the ideal read to add to any Goodreads challenge.

The Tea Dragon Society

The art style, colours, and characters all make this one of the most adorable graphic novels you’ll ever come across.

The story follows Greta, who discovers a lost tea dragon in the marketplace and learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking. Greta begins to sees how the craft enriches people’s lives and brings happiness.

This graphic novel is only 72 pages and is so warm and cosy. If you’re behind with your GR goal, you know what to do.

Ms Marvel

I love this series because we finally have a woman of colour as the main superhero protagonist.

The story revolves around Kamala Khan, an ordinary teen from Jersey City, who gains incredible powers out of the blue one day. Kamala must figure out how to use them and who to help.

These volumes only take an hour to read and include other heroes in the Marvel universe (which is always fun), so they’re definitely a good choice to boost your Goodreads goal.

Hopefully this post has given you a few suggestions for short, fun graphic novels to pick up if you need to catch up with your Goodreads goal.

Have you read any of these? Where are you at with your Goodreads goal?