Best English Books for Adult Learners

Introduction

So you’ve learned some English, maybe through English literature classes online, and now you’re looking for something to read. What books are good to read when you’re starting out reading English novels?

You’ve come to the right place! In this article, there will be a bunch of book recommendations for adult English learners. All book recommendations listed in this article use language accessible to beginner to intermediate English readers, but with themes adult readers can also enjoy. Whether you prefer classics, short stories, or modern reads, this guide covers the best English books for adult learners across all genres.

How to choose the right book for you as an English Language Learner

Find a book that interests you. Whatever genre you read, reading something you enjoy and are interested in means you are more engaged while reading. Each book suggestion in this article comes with a short description to help you decide if a book is interesting to you.
Pick a book that matches your English difficulty level. If you can understand 85%-90% of the words, you’re good to go. Each book on this page also has a Lexile reading level, which indicates the complexity of the English words and sentence structure in each book. It is recommended to read books that have a Lexile Level within 100L of your own score.

Keep in mind that since this list is aimed at adult learners, some of these books may have adult themes. Whether you are enrolled in an English literature course online or exploring books independently, these recommendations are suitable for a range of learning levels.

Classics

Classic literature is great for both learning English and understanding English-speaking cultures. Native English speakers often grow up reading these books, so reading these may help you understand more English popular culture. While some English classics may use older and more difficult language, this list has classics that are accessible for beginner to intermediate English readers. Many suggestions on this list are also public domain, making them easy to access online. These public domain works are widely regarded as some of the best English books for adult learners who want to explore classic literature.

Below are some of the best English books for adult learners from the classics genre:

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (Difficulty: Lexile Level 940L)

Ernest Hemmingway’s works are known for having plain, easy-to-read language, but with very deep and complex themes. This makes his works well-suited for adult English learners who don’t want to read only children’s novels. The Old Man and the Sea is a novella that tells the story of Santiago, an elderly fisherman, and his journey to catch a giant marlin.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis (Difficulty: Lexile Level 630L)

This beloved children’s fantasy book series can be enjoyed by all ages and has several TV and movie adaptations. The story is set in the fictional world of Narnia, where there are mythical beasts, magic, and talking animals. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first of seven books in the series.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Difficulty: Lexile Level 630L)

Of Mice and Men is a novella commonly taught in American schools. The story follows two migrant ranch workers as they move around California looking for jobs during the Great Depression.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B White (Difficulty: Lexile Level 680L)

Charlotte’s Web is a classic children’s novel about a pig named Wilbur who befriends a spider named Charlotte. To save Wilbur from getting butchered, Charlotte spins webs with words in them to make Wilbur seem like a one-of-a-kind pig.

Animal Farm by George Orwell (Difficulty: Lexile Level 1170L)

A popular read for English language learners, Animal Farm is a dystopian novella about farm animals rebelling against their human master to create their own society. However, the animal society gets corrupt and turns into a dictatorship, leaving the animals in nearly the same state they were under the human masters.

Tip: Are there popular fairy tales or classics that you’ve already read in your native language? Try reading them again in English! Reading the English translation of a story you already know is a great way to focus on learning English, without having to worry about understanding the story.

Short stories

If you don’t have time for a full novel, try reading a short story or novella. Here are some great short stories to start with: Short story collections are often considered some of the best English books for adult learners due to their manageable length and rich vocabulary.

All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury (Difficulty: Lexile Level 710L)

This science fiction short story is about a group of children who live in a colony on Venus, where the sun only appears for an hour every seven years.

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (Grade 9-12, Lexile Level 980L)

The Lottery (1948) is a short horror story about an American village that conducts a mysterious lottery ritual every year.

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell (Difficulty: Lexile Level 740L)

This 1924 short story by Richard Connell is sometimes called “the most popular short story written in English.” The story follows a hunter who gets washed up on a mysterious island, only to become hunted in a deadly sport.

Modern books

A series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (Difficulty: Lexile Level 1000L)

This humorous children’s series follows the lives of three orphans as their evil caretaker, count Olaf, tries to steal their inheritance through different disguises.

Holes by Louis Sachar (Difficulty: Lexile Level 660L)

This book centers on a boy named Stanley who is wrongly accused of stealing and is sent to a prison camp to dig holes.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Difficulty: Lexile Level 810L) Adapted into many popular films, The Hunger Games is a young adult dystopia novel series following a teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen. Every year, the Capitol holds a battle Royale competition called the Hunger Games, where kids have to fight to the death.

Audiobooks

An audiobook allows you to listen to a book rather than read it. Any of the books suggested earlier can be read as audiobooks. Listening to a book in audio format can be a great way to learn pronunciation and get familiar with listening to complicated English words. Audiobook versions of the best English books for adult learners are available on platforms like Audible, LibriVox, and Google Play Books.

While audiobooks are a great way to “read,” it is important to keep reading written books because that will improve your English reading and writing skills. If your goal is to learn more about conversational English, listening to podcasts may be a great option as you will be listening to people talking more casually. You can also pair audiobooks with English literature online resources to get deeper insights into themes, characters, and language usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the best English books for adult learners?
Ans: Books like The Old Man and the Sea, Holes, and Of Mice and Men are good choices for adult English learners.

Q. Which books are best for beginners learning English?
Ans: Beginners can start with simple books like Charlotte’s Web, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Holes. These are some of the best English books for adult learners who are just starting their reading journey.

Q. How can reading books improve my English?
Ans: Reading the best English books for adult learners helps improve your vocabulary, grammar, reading skills, and understanding of English.

Q. How do I choose an English book for my level?
Ans: Choose a book where you understand most of the words. A reading level or Lexile score can also help.

Q. Are short stories good for learning English?
Ans: Yes. Short stories are easy to finish and help you practice English without reading a full novel.

Best English Books and Literature for Adult English Learners

Introduction