Books Over 500 Pages Actually Worth Your Time
Look, I get it. We’re all sprinting toward our reading goals, and staring down a 500+ page brick …let alone a 1,000-page monster — can feel counterproductive. It’s so much easier to grab two or three shorter books and get those dopamine hits.
But here’s the thing: some long books are absolutely worth every hour you sink into them. The kind of stories that make you forget about the page count entirely because you’re too busy spiraling, crying, or texting your group chat in all caps.
So if you want to tackle some chunky reads but don’t want to waste time on bloated, meandering nonsense, here are the long books that actually deliver.
The Count of Monte Cristo — Alexandre Dumas
A classic, but it’s one for a reason. I promise that skeptical look you have right now is the same one I made about two months ago, staring down the 1200+ pages sitting in front of me. Somehow, I flew through this book despite its girth.
Page Count: 1,276
Genre: Classic Fiction
Source: Self Purchased | Free KU Amazon Classics
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
Wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, Edmond Dantès spends years in a brutal island fortress before escaping, reinventing himself, and executing the most petty, meticulous, delicious revenge arc in the history of literature. Every plot thread ties up with a dramatic flourish. Every character gets what they deserve. And somehow, despite the page count, it moves at a very modern pace
The Priory of the Orange Tree — Samantha Shannon
I read this nearly two years ago and still think about it allllmost daily. This book earns every single action-packed page. I mean, dragons and add in some saphic romance, obviously that’s a must-read no matter how long it is.
Page Count: 848
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Source: Owned
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Kobo
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
A sprawling, dragon-filled feminist epic with multiple POVs, political intrigue, a sapphic romance anchoring the heart of the story, and enough worldbuilding to fill a library. Shannon’s universe is massive, but her character writing keeps everything grounded. If you want a book that feels like sinking into a whole new world, this should be on your list.
The Stand — Stephen King
This is one of my absolute favorite books of all time. Genuinely, almost every Stephen King book could have been on this list but, if I had to narrow it down to just one. This would be it. This is almost an annual re-read for me at this point.
Page Count: 1,153 (Uncut Edition)
Genre: Horror | Dark Fantasy
Source: Owned
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Kobo | Libro.fm
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary: A superflu wipes out most of humanity, and the survivors split into two camps—those drawn toward Mother Abagail’s goodness, and those seduced by Randall Flagg’s darkness. It’s sweeping, terrifying, biblical in scale, and one of King’s most ambitious works. The cast is enormous, the stakes are existential, and the journey feels epic in a way few post-apocalyptic novels ever manage.
The Wheel of Time — Robert Jordan
I know, I know, I know. There are so many books and so many pages. However, Robert Jordan does really craft a masterful tale with so much detail. I mainly listened to these on many cross-country road trips, and most of the time I felt like I was adventuring right alongside Rand and crew.
Total Page Count: ~13,000 across the series
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Source: Owned + Library
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
A pillar of modern epic fantasy. Prophecies, magic systems, immortal enemies, political factions, legendary battles, braid-tugging, and enough character arcs to fill a dissertation. The world is enormous, the lore is deep, and if you want a reading experience that genuinely becomes a lifestyle, this is the one.
The Will of the Many — James Islington
This series will be your new Roman Empire. I’m not going to lie, this book wasn’t going to be on the list…until the ending. The ending of book 1 earns every single word. This was my first James Islington book, and I can’t wait to jump into more.
Page Count:
Book 1: 720 Book 2: 960
Genre: Fantasy | Dark Academia
Source: Owned + Library
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Kobo
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
Imagine a Roman-inspired empire, a dangerous elite academy, a mysterious magic system tied to societal hierarchy, and enough political scheming to make George R.R. Martin sweat. It’s cerebral but deeply compelling, with twists that reframe everything you thought you understood about the world.
Babel — R.F. Kuang
Another one of my all-time favorites. Since I first read this book years ago, there hasn’t been a day that's gone by when I haven’t thought about it. Heartwrenching in a way that only Kuang can do. It will rip your heart out, but it’s so worth it.
Page Count: 560
Genre: Literary | Historical Fantasy | Dark Academia
Source: Owned
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
Language is literal magic in Kuang’s reimagined Oxford, where translation serves the British Empire’s colonial machinery. Through a group of students at the Royal Institute of Translation, Kuang unpacks power, imperialism, and revolution with razor-sharp prose. It’s brilliant, devastating, and demands your full attention.
Dark Age & Light Bringer (Red Rising Saga) — Pierce Brown
You guys already know from my reviews of both Dark Age and Light Bringer that I am a Red Rising stan, so it should be literally no surprise to anyone that these are on this list.This whole series is worth a read, but these last two are just on another level. God tier books.
Page Count:
Dark Age: 784 Light Bringer: 672
Genre: Sci-Fi
Source: Owned
Where to Buy (Dark Age): Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm
Where to Buy (Light Bringer): Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
Brown unleashes full-scale, gut-wrenching war as Darrow and company fight for the soul of the solar system. These books are brutal, unflinching, and packed with political machinations, battlefield chaos, and genuinely jaw-dropping character arcs. “Emotional damage” doesn’t even
Oathbound — Tracy Deonn
Okay so let me just say, every single book in this series is god tier - as you will know from my reviews (Legendborn, Bloodmarked) but there is something about Oathbound that you just know it’s setting up something huge. I don’t know what’s coming next, but I can’t wait.
Page Count: 608
Genre: YA/NA Fantasy
Source: Owned
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
Bree’s world expands dramatically as she confronts ancestry, generational trauma, identity, and power. Deonn’s blend of Southern Black girlhood, magic, grief, and Arthurian myth is unmatched—and the emotional stakes in this sequel hit even harder than Legendborn.
The Book Thief — Markus Zusak
What an apt book to read in the year 2025. This was one of the first books post-college that made me a reader again. I remember sitting down in the bean bag chair that probably every single millennial had in their apartment at 22 and not getting up again for another 2 days because I was completely sucked into this book.
Page Count: 552
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Owned
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
Narrated by Death, this WWII novel follows a girl who steals books to survive the terror unfolding around her. The writing is lyrical, the characters unforgettable, and the emotional punch lands every single time. A modern classic.
The Poisonwood Bible — Barbara Kingsolver
Despite being published in 1998, I just read this for the very first time in 2025. Like the book above, what a year to be reading this book. The shift POV’s and the need to know how this family manages keep you turning pages. Also, the need to know if anyone eventually punches Nathan Price in the face (iykyk)
Page Count: 576
Genre: Literary Fiction | Historical
Source: Owned (shoutout to my friend Mark for reading this and then immediately sending it to me because he knew I had to read it too)
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary:
Four daughters, one missionary father, and a life-altering move to the Congo. Kingsolver delivers a masterclass in voice, structure, and character study. Heavy, beautifully written, and thematically rich.
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Why You Might Want to Switch to Bookshop.org or Libro.fm
Look, I include Amazon links because realistically… It’s where most people already shop. It’s fast, it’s cheap, and everyone knows how to use it. No shame. Life is hard enough without being morally evaluated every time you buy a paperback.
But—and hear me out—there are some genuinely compelling reasons to use alternatives when you can.
📚 Bookshop.org: The Indie Bookstore Lifeline
Bookshop.org gives 10% of every purchase straight to independent bookstores.
And another 10% goes to the creator you clicked through.
So when you buy from Bookshop.org:
You support local shops
You support creators
You support a more ethical book ecosystem
And you’re still getting the exact same books
They’re literally hysterical to follow on Threads and Instagram
Prices can be a little higher than Amazon, yes. But you’re directly helping keep physical bookstores alive. Which… we kind of need if we want to keep “books” as a culturally relevant thing.
Checkout My bookshop.org shop here
🎧 Libro.fm: The Anti-Audible
If you listen to audiobooks and want to break up with the giant orange Audible app (or at least see other people), Libro.fm is the easiest switch:
You actually own the audio files (DRM-free)
You choose a local bookstore to support with every purchase
The catalog is nearly identical to Audible’s
And the app is, frankly, better than it has any right to be
Libro.fm is basically:
“What if audiobooks, but not ethically complicated?”
If you like the idea of your money going to real humans and not just into Bezos’s fourth yacht, this is a fantastic option.