Introduction

As an avid reader, I like to collect book recommendations so that I have a never-ending list of books I want to read on Goodreads. Some of these recommendations come from friends and family, but sometimes when I'm looking for books for my book club for adult intermediate English learners, I'll come across books that sound intriguing to me but would be too long or challenging for my students and add them to the list as well.

If you're an English learner, you know it can be hard to find a good English book because it's hard to know if the book is appropriate for your level. Well, I'm here to save you some trouble!

Best Books for Intermediate English Learners

If you're an intermediate English learner or higher, here are some books I've read with my book club in the past few years that were well-received by my students:

1. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

This is the book we just finished in my book club. It's a fictional book about a Japanese café that people can visit if they'd like to go into the past and follows the stories of several visitors who choose to do so. Several students have said this is the best book we've read as a book club so far, so I definitely recommend this one.

2. A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa

This is Masaji's memoir of the 30+ years he spent in North Korea, from 1960 to 1996, and how he eventually managed to escape. It was a tragic read (be sure to have tissues handy), but it was incredibly eye-opening as well.

3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

This is a fictional story about an autistic teenaged boy in the U.K. who comes across his neighbor's dead dog one day and is determined to find the culprit, all while navigating a challenging home life. It is told from his perspective, and while I recognize autism isn't one size fits all, it was certainly enlightening to see the world through the eyes of this particular autistic character.

4. Gently Falls the Bakula by Sudha Murty

This book follows the fictional love story between two high school students at the top of their class in a small town in India who meet, fall in love, and get married shortly after. The story focuses on the struggles they encounter during their marriage as they attempt to reconcile their individual aspirations and their love for each other. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

5. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

This work of fiction is about a strange girl named Merricat who survives a tragic accident, along with her sister and uncle, leaving them isolated from their town. Family secrets begin to unravel when their cousin Charles shows up unannounced, hoping to take what's left of their family's fortune. Merricat is an entertaining narrator, and I always enjoy a good surprise twist!

If you’re interested in reading a book in English alongside other English learners and me, consider joining my book club! We’re starting a new book in October, and we’d love to have you. Contact me for more details. Happy reading!