How to Write about a Book in English

How to Write about a Book in English (A Complete Guide with Structure, Vocabulary & Examples)

Some books entertain us for a weekend. Others stay with us for a lifetime. And then there are those special books that quietly change the way we think, feel, and see the world. But when it’s time to write about a book in English, many learners freeze. They know the story. They have opinions. They even have strong feelings about it. Yet when they sit down to write, everything suddenly becomes… complicated. What should you include? How should you organise your ideas? How do you sound natural, clear, and intelligent — not like a walking dictionary?

In this lesson, you will learn how to write about a book in a clear, confident, and elegant way — for Cambridge exams (B2 First, C1 Advanced), school or university, or your own blog or reading journal.

By the end, you will know exactly what structure to use, what to write in each paragraph and which phrases and vocabulary will make your writing sound natural and polished.

Let’s begin.

First, what kind of text are you writing?

Before you write a single word, ask yourself one simple question: Am I writing a summary, a review, or an opinion text?

• A summary tells what the book is about.
• A review describes the book and gives your opinion.
• An opinion text or essay focuses mainly on your ideas and interpretation.

In Cambridge exams and most real-life situations, you are usually asked to write a review or an opinion-based text about a book. This guide will focus on that.

The perfect structure (simple, classic, and effective)

A good text about a book usually follows this structure:

1. Introduction – basic information and a general comment
2. Short summary of the story – only the main idea, no spoilers
3. Description of key elements – characters, themes, setting, style
4. Your opinion and evaluation – what you liked, disliked, and why
5. Conclusion – final impression and recommendation

This structure works in exams, in blogs, and in real life. Like a good old-fashioned suit, it never goes out of style.

How to write a strong introduction

Your introduction should:

• mention the title and author
• say what kind of book it is
• give a general idea of what it is about

Useful patterns:

“[Title] by [author] is a novel/book/story that tells the story of…”

“The book deals with themes such as…”

“‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho is a novel about a young shepherd named Santiago who travels in search of his dream. The book deals with themes such as destiny, courage, and the importance of following one’s heart.”

You can also start with a general sentence:

“Some books are easy to forget. Others stay with us long after we turn the last page.”

How to write the summary (without destroying the story)

A good summary is short, clear and focused on the main idea. Never tell the whole story. Never spoil the ending.

Useful phrases:

The story is about…

The novel tells the story of…

The main character is…

The plot revolves around…

The story is set in…

“The story follows a young man who leaves his simple life to search for something more meaningful. During his journey, he meets several people who help him understand what he truly wants in life.”

Writing about the characters

Characters are the heart of most stories. When writing about them, you can discuss whether they are realistic, complex, or relatable, how they change throughout the story, and which ones are interesting, likeable, or disappointing.

Useful vocabulary:

• well-developed
• believable
• complex
• likeable/unlikeable
• relatable

Useful phrases:

• The main character is presented as…
• At the beginning of the story…, but later…
• One of the most interesting characters is…

“The main character is not perfect, which makes him realistic and easy to relate to. At the beginning of the story, he seems unsure of himself, but as the story develops, he becomes more confident and determined.”

How to Write about a Book in English

Writing about themes and ideas

Themes are the big ideas of the book: love, friendship, freedom, ambition, growing up, loneliness, power, identity…

Useful phrases:

• The book explores the theme of…
• One of the main messages of the book is…
• The author shows that…
• The novel makes the reader think about…

“One of the main themes of the book is the importance of following your dreams, even when it is difficult or frightening.”

How to give your opinion

This is where your voice appears.

Useful phrases:

• In my opinion,…
• I found the book…
• What I liked most was…
• What disappointed me was…
• I was particularly impressed by…
• It was a real page-turner.
• I couldn’t put it down.
• I had mixed feelings about…

“I found the book inspiring and very easy to read. What I liked most was its simple but powerful message. However, I felt that some parts of the story were a bit predictable.”

How to write a good conclusion

Your conclusion should repeat your general opinion and say who you would recommend the book to

Useful phrases:

• Overall, I would say that…
• I would definitely recommend this book to…
• This is a book that stays with you long after you finish it.
• If you are looking for…, this book is for you.

“Overall, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thoughtful and inspiring stories. It is the kind of book that stays in your mind long after you finish it.”

How to Write about a Book in English

A complete model text

“‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho is a novel about a young shepherd who travels in search of his dream. The story is set in different countries and follows his journey of self-discovery.

The main character is simple but very likeable, and the people he meets along the way each teach him an important lesson about life. One of the main themes of the book is the importance of following your dreams and listening to your heart.

In my opinion, the book is inspiring and easy to read. Although the story is simple, its message is powerful. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something meaningful and motivating.”

Tips

• Don’t try to sound too complicated. Clear English is good English.
• Don’t retell the whole story. This is not a police report.
• Always include your opinion — that’s what makes the text human and interesting.

A good book deserves a good reader. And a good reader deserves the words to talk about it well.

Learn collocations related to books here

Learn how to write a book review here

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