Describing Books – Vocabulary
Guide
Adjectives to Describe Books
Easy to read – It contains simple language and requires little effort.
Example: I found the book easy to read, so I finished it in one afternoon.
Hard to read – Difficult to understand and focus on due to style or
vocabulary.
Example: The novel was hard to read, and there were many parts that I
didn’t understand.
Readable – Engaging and can be read without effort.
Example: I’m looking for something readable that’s easy to get into.
Well / Beautifully written – Written in an attractive or elegant style.
Example: It’s such a beautifully written book. The author really has a flair
for language.
Moving – Makes you feel strong emotions like sadness or sympathy.
Example: The story was so moving that it brought a tear to my eye.
Gripping – So interesting or exciting that it is hard to put down.
Example: The book was so gripping that I couldn’t put it down.
Action-packed – Full of action and excitement.
Example: The book was action-packed; there was never a dull moment.
Predictable – Easy to guess what will happen.
Example: The story was so predictable; it was obvious that they’d get
married in the end.
Far-fetched – Exaggerated or unbelievable.
Example: The story was rather far-fetched; things like that just don’t
happen in real life.
Thought-provoking – Makes you think deeply and reflect.
Example: The book was quite thought-provoking and made me question a
lot of things.
Award-winning – Has won at least one award.
Example: He has written two award-winning novels that have been
published in 20 languages.
Widely acclaimed – Popular and has received good reviews.
Example: The book is widely acclaimed both in the UK and overseas.
Noun Phrases to Describe Books
Page-turner – A book that is so exciting you can’t stop reading it.
Example: The book was a real page-turner; I couldn’t wait to find out
what happened next.
Best-seller – A popular book with record sales.
Example: It’s one of the shop’s best-sellers, so it’s currently out of stock.
Heavy read – Contains serious content and may be hard to focus on.
Example: It’s a bit of a heavy read, and I’m not really enjoying it.
Long read – Has many pages and takes a long time to read.
Example: The book has over 900 pages, so it’s quite a long read.
Must-read – Highly recommended.
Example: It’s a must-read for anyone interested in science fiction.
Bedtime reading – Suitable for reading before sleeping, not disturbing.
Example: I hardly think a ghost story is suitable bedtime reading for a
child.
Bookworm / Avid reader – Someone who reads a lot.
Example: Tom’s such a bookworm/an avid reader; he gets through five
books a week.
Account of something – Detailed description or narrative of events.
Example: The book is an account of the author’s travels through South
America.
Twist – An unexpected change or development in the story.
Example: The novel’s twist at the end completely changed my perception
of the main character.
Setting – The time and place where a story happens.
Example: The setting of the book is modern-day London.
Central character – The main person around whom the book revolves.
Example: The central character is a detective who spends her life-solving
crimes.
Plot – The storyline or sequence of events in a book.
Example: I was eager to see how the plot would unfold.
Verbs and Verb Phrases to Describe Books
Can't put a book down – The book is so exciting that it’s difficult to stop
reading.
Example: The book was so exciting that I couldn’t put it down.
Get hooked on a book – Become addicted to reading it because it's
gripping.
Example: The story was so gripping that it didn’t take me long to get
hooked.
Flick through a book – Turn pages quickly without reading in detail.
Example: I spent the afternoon flicking through books in a local
bookshop.
Read from cover to cover – Read the entire book, every word.
Example: I read the book from cover to cover; I didn’t miss a word.
Be based on – Structured around someone's life or a real event.
Example: The book is based on the life of a 20th-century poet.
Be set in – Takes place in a particular time or location.
Example: I enjoy reading sci-fi novels and books that are set in the
future.
Depict – Represents or tells a story about something.
Example: The novel depicts the story of a famous Russian dancer.
Unfold – The story develops and information is gradually revealed.
Example: I was curious to find out how the story would unfold.
