My Top Books for Learning English
Reading is an incredible way to learn English. You not only learn grammar and sentence structure but you also increase your vocabulary and learn English expressions and phrasal verbs as well.
Even if you set your goal to read 1 page of a book per day, you can easily read 2 books per year.
Set a goal with either the number of pages you want to read per day or the amount of time you want to read per day, like 10 minutes per day. You will be amazed. I encourage you to keep a separate notebook and write down new expressions or phrases that you learn, to help you better retain the information and maximize what you learn.
I’ve compiled a list of my top books and organized them by reading level & Interest:
Top English Grammar books
If you know me, you know I’m not a huge fan of grammar books, but I included two of my favorite ones, because maybe you like learning with English grammar.
English Grammar Demystified is a great overview of English grammar and I feel like it’s easy to follow. I actually used this same book but to study Italian.
The Practice makes Perfect books have a variety of English grammar books all the way from basic to advanced as well as for ESL learnings. The lessons are structured well and you will benefit from this book as well.
Top Beginner English - Children’s Books
These are books that my mom read to me as a child and now I read to my kids! They are great basic yet entertaining books that will help you learn quickly.
The Berenstain Bears books by Stan & Jan Berenstain are about a family of bears who live in a tree house. The books are filled with valuable lessons written in a creative way.
The Essential Guide to American English Pronunciation (with free audio) is my third book to help you speak American English more naturally and natively. Included with your purchase is the audio by Camille to help you pronounce English more natively.
Curious George books by H.A. Rey are about a very curious monkey who also gets himself into trouble. They are funny books. My kids always laugh.
The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be by Joanna Gaines is a book about how everyone is important and has an important role. It’s beautifully illustrated as well.
Top Intermediate English
As you grow in your English you will want content with more complex words and phrases. As you “level up” in your English, you will be able to read longer stories and understand them!
110 Real Life English Conversations is my second book to help you speak American English more naturally and natively. Included with your purchase is the audio with 27 voice actors of all 110 dialogues!
“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.”
The Hobbit is a classic in my book, pun intended 😉 I really enjoyed this fictional tale of adventure and overcoming your fears to discover yourself in the world. In a similar way as The Alchemist it combines wisdom and life lessons into the fictional narrative. It’ll make you want to go against your fears and travel on an unknown adventure.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney are highly entertaining. I read them out loud to my 7 year old and he laughs a lot. You will learn a lot of slang in these books too.
Short Travel Stories for English Learners helps you learn English through story. When we read vocabulary and phrases within the context of story, we are much more likely to remember it.
I have an Extended English Version and Parallel English Versions. The Audiobook read by Camille is included as well!
Short stories in English by Olly Richards is a great compilation of books for the intermediate English level specifically targeting language learners.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis is an amazing tale of the adventure of three kids where magic meets reality, good versus evil. You won’t be able to put this book down.
The Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury is one of the best series I have ever read. I could NOT put it down. It’s a series based on the lives of 5 siblings and their parents set in midwest America.
Top Advanced English
As you grow in your English you will want content with more complex words and phrases. As you “level up” in your English, you will be able to read longer stories and understand them!
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert was such a fun read for me. The author follows the life of a recently divorced woman who adventures to Italy, Bali, and India.
The Alchemist written by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho and made famous throughout the world is a classic must read. This masterpiece tells the story of a Shepherd Santiago who is searching for some hidden treasure. He combines wisdom and magic to tell this tale.
The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers is another book that I could not put down. Francine writes about Roman, an extremely wealthy and successful LA artist who is haunted by his past demons.
My Favorite English Cookbook
If you love cooking, why not combine your love with your learning! You’ll be eating better and speaking better English in no time! 🙂
I adore Angela Liddon’s vegan cookbooks, Oh She Glows. They have changed the way I cook using pretty common ingredients to create extremely delicious recipes. I have THREE of her cookbooks and I have yet to try a recipe that has let me down.
My Favorite Self-Help Books
Grow as a person and grow in your English language skills with some of my favorite books and audiobooks that have helped me grow!
“The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just over four thousand weeks.”
This book is amazing! It has put our limited life / time in perspective like no other book I have read. It has made me rethink my hyper-productive mentality and how I can enjoy more of my limited life on the beautiful earth. I have to credit Luca Lampariello for recommending it to me. Highly Recommended!
Hal is a great teacher and gave me a lot to think about. He uses real world stories to show unwavering faith + extraordinary effort = miracles.
I also really enjoyed Think and Make it happen by Augusto Curry. He writes about how to conquer anxiety, overcome negative thoughts, and discovering your true potential.
Brene Brown is an incredible author and her book The Power of Vulnerability is actually an audiobook compiling some of her best teachings. It’s worth a listen and will help your English comprehension!
Do it Afraid by Joyce Meyer was also a book that motivated me to overcome my fears and step out with confidence even being afraid.
The Little book of Lykke by Meik Wiking was such a fun read. There is actually a collection of these short books that is worth the read. The idea is to share the secrets of happiness from the happiest people in the world. These are also so cute to set out on your coffee table.
Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis is a book that encourages you to stop believing lies and live up to your full potential. It motivated me to keep walking in faith.
My Favorite Autobiographies
I also LOVE autobiographies and learning more about people’s stories. Here are a couple of my favorites.
I loved this autobiography by Jessica Simpson, an American Icon singer/actress turned millionaire through her fashion line. She goes into the details of her life, her struggles with alcohol and abusive boyfriends. It captured my attention the whole way through.
You won’t be able to put this book down. I met Dan Baumann years ago when he spoke at an event and he became a dear family friend. His true story is one of radical love in the midst of harsh persecution and suffering.
We also did a series together on my channel called “Big Life Questions“
Lessons—my path to a meaningful life by Gisel Bundchen, Brazilian supermodel was such a great book for me. I actually read it in Portuguese and loved to get the ‘behind the scenes’ of her life both as a model and married to an extremely famous football player, Tom Brady. It’s worth the read.
My Favorite Travel Books
I LOVE TO TRAVEL! You can probably guess that if you follow me on social media 🙂 These are some of my favorite books that transport me to other places around the globe.
Bernard sets out from Istanbul WALKING TO CHINA! What an incredible journey, right!? I love his honesty about his fears and the real experiences good and bad along the route.
This book was super funny! Chris sold everything and moved to Andalusia Spain and talks about his adventures and misadventures adapting to Spanish Life.
Short Travel Stories for English Learners helps you learn English through story. When we read vocabulary and phrases within the context of story, we are much more likely to remember it.
I have an Extended English Version and Parallel English Versions. The Audiobook read by Camille is included as well!
“A deliciously entertaining account of expatriate life in a small village just outside Verona, Italy.”
Summary
This is a great list to get you started and beyond! I hope you ENJOY these books and can find something interesting for you. I will try to continually update this list so be sure to check back for more!
Happy Reading! ~Camille
NOTE: These are Amazon affiliate links to products I recommend. There is no extra cost to you by click them. I earn a small percentage of each purchase directly through these links. By clicking these links you help me so I can keep making English content. Thank you so much! ~Camille
