CEFR B2 · Upper-intermediate
Read Upper-intermediate Classics in English (B2)
1155 books graded at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate) — learn English by reading the stories worth reading at exactly your level. Tap any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration, and save the vocabulary you meet. Start with a free sample.
What are the best B2 books to read in English?
The best B2 books to read in English are well-known classics whose own language sits at that level — start with Thirty Degrees Cattywonkus, Thirteen Years of a Busy Woman's Life and Thieves' Wit: An Everyday Detective Story. Each is the complete book, labelled CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate), with tap-to-translate, narration and saved vocabulary, so you read a real story while building the English you actually meet in it.
- 1,155
- books
Level B2ClassicsThe AndersonsIn modest Brighton lodgings, determined Felix Anderson vows to rise from humble beginnings and provide a better life for his sister and friend, despite family estrangements and pas…
Level B2ClassicsThe Alchemist's SecretAn aging widower clings to hope as he makes his nightly trek to the post office, waiting for a letter from his long-lost daughter Sallie who vanished fifteen years ago.
Level B2ClassicsThe Affable StrangerA man finds liberation by pouring his worries into a book, freeing himself from life's burdens and embracing the carefree rhythms of nature during harvest time.
Level B2ClassicsThe Adventures of a SuburbaniteA couple escapes city flats for a country house, but Isobel struggles with the eerie silence of solitude and longs for the comforting presence of neighbors—real or imagined.
Level B2ClassicsThe Actress' Daughter: A NovelOn a stormy Christmas Eve, the stern and unyielding Miss Jerusha Skamp battles a lazy maid and a mischievous cat while maintaining strict order in her rigid New England household,…
Level B2ClassicsThe $30,000 Bequest, and Other StoriesIn a close-knit Western town, a humble bookkeeper and his wife receive news of a $30,000 inheritance—with strict conditions that test their resolve and dreams, sparking hope, secre…
Level B2ClassicsThe "Genius"In a bustling Midwestern town, Eugene Witla grows up under the watchful eye of his hardworking family, navigating the hopes and struggles of American life in the late 19th century.
Level B2ClassicsThat Unfortunate Marriage, Vol. 2After months away, May returns home to find her grandmother's health fading and old friends tangled in new intrigues; amidst whispered rumors and unspoken feelings, she must naviga…
Level B2ClassicsThat Mother-in-Law of MineA newlywed man’s idyllic honeymoon is disrupted when his charming wife’s mother joins their summer trip—and threatens to haunt their married life forever.
Level B2ClassicsThat Awful Letter: A Comedy for GirlsWhen a city girl learns her father wants to invite a rustic cousin to visit, she panics—worried the country girl’s manners and clothes will ruin her chances with high society.
Level B2ClassicsThankful's InheritanceCaught in a fierce storm on a treacherous coastal road, a widow embarks on a daunting journey to claim her late uncle’s inheritance in the remote village of East Wellmouth, where t…
Level B2ClassicsTh' Barrel OrganAs autumn deepens over the wild Forest of Rossendale, a solitary wanderer climbs moorland paths to a remote quarryman’s cottage, where rustic tales and the serene beauty of nature…
Level B2ClassicsTensionAuntie Iris’s sudden success as a published author sparks excitement and chaos in a genteel household, revealing family tensions and social awkwardness beneath the surface.
Level B2ClassicsTen Nights in a Bar RoomIn a newly opened tavern, a hopeful landlord welcomes guests while his young son tends the bar, unaware of the temptations and tragic consequences brewing within.
Level B2ClassicsTea-Table TalkIn a lively salon of contrasting voices, a Woman of the World, a Minor Poet, a Girton Girl, and a Philosopher debate the nature of love and the art of love-letters, revealing the h…
Level B2ClassicsTaught by experienceIn a strict country household, rebellious housemaid Fanny clashes with her mistress over Sabbath rules, challenging the boundaries of duty and freedom, while her timid friend Kate…
Level B2ClassicsTartarin of TarasconIn a sun-soaked town obsessed with hunting, Tartarin emerges as an unlikely hero whose exotic garden and vast arsenal hint at grand adventures.
Level B2ClassicsTarnished SilverIn a grand coastal estate, young Julius chafes under his father's ambition to seize every inch of land, especially the stubborn fisherman's cottage that mars their view.
Level B2ClassicsTarA storyteller wrestles with the elusive nature of truth as he attempts to recount his Midwestern childhood, blending memory and imagination to reveal the bittersweet innocence of y…
Level B2ClassicsTales of the RoadStep into the demanding world of traveling salesmen, where quick wit, patience, and persuasion fuel the engine of commerce.
Level B2ClassicsTales of Two CountriesDeep within the eternal mountains, workers brave the treacherous tunnels of the Simplon, confronting nature’s fierce resistance and their own fears.
Level B2ClassicsTales from the VeldIn the rugged Cape Colony, Uncle Abe spins extraordinary tales of frontier life, superstition, and a mysterious bark with deadly powers—blurring the line between fact and folklore…
Level B2ClassicsTales and Sketches: Part 3 from Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierA middle-aged man wrestles with his conscience and commerce in a series of vivid dreams sparked by a curious iron soldier figurine, exploring the clash between business interests a…
Level B2ClassicsTable d'HôteA domestic power struggle unfolds when Mr.
Level B2ClassicsSworn to silenceAline Rodney faces isolation and secrets when forbidden from joining her family's picnic, locked away and left to confront the mysteries that bind her.
Level B2ClassicsSweet Cicely — or Josiah Allen as a PoliticianA devoted family eagerly prepares for the visit of sweet Cicely, a beloved niece whose purity and charm captivate all.
Level B2ClassicsSusan Clegg and a Man in the HouseSusan Clegg navigates life alone after her father's death, skeptical about men despite multiple proposals and unexpected suitors returning once wealth is discovered.
Level B2ClassicsSusan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. LathropTwo neighbors and close friends, Susan Clegg and Mrs.
Level B2ClassicsSunshine Sketches of a Little TownStep into the quirky rhythms of small-town life where a sharp-witted observer chronicles the joys, struggles, and eccentricities of its residents with warmth and humor.
Level B2ClassicsSundry AccountsIn a small town where a man’s haunted past keeps his home ablaze with light through the night, secrets and eerie legends intertwine with the lives of unforgettable local characters…
Level B2ClassicsSuffered in vainDive into a collection of gripping love stories filled with wholesome passion and thrilling action, where every tale promises heartfelt drama and captivating twists far from the or…
Level B2ClassicsStrangers and WayfarersIn a wintry New England journey, a timid mail carrier armed with caution and an elderly passenger wrapped in shawls face the biting cold and quiet roads, weaving tales of old peril…
Level B2ClassicsStrange watersWhen the government commandeers the freighter Aurora for ocean service, little Tim Donahue faces a wrenching change from his life as a humble fireman, caught between loyalty to his…
Level B2ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Vol. 2 (of 2)A young trader’s son is swept away by a typhoon to a strange land where beauty dictates power, and the people fear his unusual appearance.
Level B2ClassicsStory of Chester Lawrence: Being the Completed Account of One who Played an Important Part in "Piney Ridge Cottage"As a lone passenger aboard a rain-soaked ship departing New York, Chester Lawrence finds unexpected camaraderie with fellow Mormon missionaries bound for distant lands.
Level B2ClassicsStories of the Foot-hillsIn a rugged foothill valley, Lysander Sproul navigates land disputes, stubborn neighbors, and the harsh realities of ranch life, where every acre and alliance is hard-won amid the…
Level B2ClassicsStories of Red HanrahanOn Samhain Eve, Red Hanrahan, a fiery-haired schoolmaster, sets out on a urgent journey to reunite with his sweetheart Mary Lavelle, whose mother has just died and whose future han…
Level B2ClassicsStories from the PentameroneA melancholy princess who never laughs embarks on a quest to break a mysterious curse, aided by magical fairies and enchanted gifts, as she seeks the elusive Prince of Round-Field…
Level B2ClassicsStories from the Greek TragediansA loyal wife offers her own life to save her husband from death, setting in motion a divine struggle between gods and fate.
Level B2ClassicsStories from the Chap-Book: Being a Miscellany of Curious and Interesting Tales, Histories, &c; Newly Composed by Many Celebrated Writers and Very Delightful to Read.An elderly couple grapples with the haunting memories of their lost daughters on a stormy night, as the boundaries between grief and the supernatural blur beneath the moonlit sky.
Level B2ClassicsStories from TagoreA curious young girl befriends a gentle fruit seller from Kabul, sparking a tender connection that bridges their worlds.
Level B2ClassicsStories from Northern MythsBefore the earth existed, fiery sparks meet icy mists, birthing giants and gods in a world of cosmic battles and creation.
Level B2ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: ScandinavianA wealthy parish leader navigates the joys and sorrows of fatherhood, facing profound loss and seeking redemption in a tale of faith, family, and the enduring hope for a true bless…
Level B2ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: Polish, Greek, Belgian, HungarianAn aging soldier, weathered by battles and wanderings, seeks solace as the new lighthouse keeper on a remote, rocky island where isolation and duty converge amid treacherous waters…
Level B2ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: ItalianAs Italy braces for the army's advance on Rome, a young patriot defies his family's fears and sets out to witness history firsthand, igniting a clash of ideals and emotions within…
Level B2ClassicsStories by English Authors: Germany (Selected by Scribners)A young woman arrives alone at a Swiss hotel, tuning the piano with a passion that surprises onlookers and sparks curiosity.
Level B2ClassicsStories by American Authors, Volume 6A young man recently released from prison returns to his small village, where suspicion and sympathy mingle as he struggles to rebuild his life amid wary neighbors and old ties.
Level B2ClassicsStories and SketchesIn a rural farming village, a mysterious, aged-looking boy named Terry Dolan carries the weight of a harsh past from Ireland while battling loneliness and fear in his new home, whe…