CEFR B2 · Upper-intermediate
Read Upper-intermediate Classics in English (B2)
243 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 The Mansion of Mystery: Being a Certain Case of Importance, Taken from the Note-book of Adam Adams, Investigator and Detective, The Manor School and The Mandarin's Fan. 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.
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Level B2Science FictionThe MathematiciansAlien invaders with wings and tails conquer Earth, enslaving humanity with their superior intellect and power.
Level B2Science FictionThe Marrying ManA space traveler navigates the loneliness of near-light-speed journeys, where time dilates and his wives age decades in his absence—each marriage a risky investment in love and lif…
Level B2MysteryThe Man Who FlewIn a society where murder is nearly extinct, a telepathic detective faces an impossible crime: a wife shot in a locked, sealed apartment with no apparent way in or out.
Level B2Science FictionThe Man Who Ended WarA mysterious declaration demands worldwide disarmament within a year or faces the destruction of every battleship—challenging governments to confront a radical new peace threat or…
Level B2Science FictionThe Lord of Death and the Queen of LifeFour men aboard the Sky Cube venture toward Mercury, harnessing the mysterious electricity of the ether to power their extraordinary craft.
Level B2Science FictionThe Little Man Who Wasn't QuiteIn the shadowy depths of skid row, a weary man revisits the world of misfits and lost souls, drawn into the haunting company of Wino Jones and the enigmatic Stanley—figures who blu…
Level B2Science FictionThe Last GentlemanAfter nuclear bombs devastate a small community, survivors face eerie silence, creeping lethargy, and the haunting uncertainty of what comes next in a world shadowed by war and cen…
Level B2Science FictionThe Land of the Changing SunTwo strangers awaken in a sinking balloon over a vast, sunlit ocean, facing a desperate plunge toward a mysterious rocky island.
Level B2Science FictionThe Lamps of the AngelsIn a future where humanity has conquered the solar system, a space captain returns home with precious gifts from distant planets, sparking reflections on family, tradition, and the…
Level B2Science FictionThe Invisible EnemySent to fight in a war he barely understands, a fifteen-year-old boy faces an invisible enemy while grappling with fading memories and uncertain purpose.
Level B2Science FictionThe ImpersonatorAwakening with no memory but a familiar identity, a man named Paul Chandler navigates a tense global council debating desperate measures to halt an encroaching ice age.
Level B2Science FictionThe Imitation of EarthStranded on a fiery, alien world, a man awakens transformed—no longer human but a sprawling, sentient plant navigating a volatile landscape beneath twin suns.
Level B2Science FictionThe Heads of ApexA desperate soldier of fortune answers a mysterious advertisement, plunging into a secretive mission led by a shadowy, wheelchair-bound man with an uncanny presence.
Level B2Science FictionThe Harris-Ingram ExperimentAn artist torn between family expectations and his passion embarks on a journey with his wealthy industrialist family, exploring love, travel, and an ambitious social experiment bl…
Level B2MysteryThe Happy HomicideIn a courtroom where a murder trial hinges on a bizarre machine that reanimates the victim's brain recordings, John Bork faces charges for killing his wife—while the corpse itself…
Level B2Science FictionThe Great White Queen: A Tale of Treasure and TreasonAn orphaned youth escapes a dull future as a clerk to embark on a perilous journey through an uncharted land, where he encounters mysteries and the elusive Great White Queen.
Level B2Science FictionThe Great War SyndicateTensions between the United States and Great Britain ignite when a disputed fishing vessel seizure sparks a fierce naval clash, plunging the nations toward war.
Level B2Science FictionThe Great Dome on MercuryTrapped beneath a colossal dome on Mercury, Earthmen battle a catastrophic air leak threatening their fragile sanctuary against the planet’s lethal vacuum and scorching sun, racing…
Level B2Science FictionThe Galleon's Gold; or, Frank Reade, Jr.'s Deep Sea Search.A determined antiquarian and a seasoned captain unite to uncover a legendary Spanish treasure lost beneath the sea, following cryptic clues from a cursed dungeon and the wreck of t…
Level B2Science FictionThe Furious RoseIn a dystopian future where executions are routine and emotions are controlled by state-mandated lighting, a weary Federal Executioner confronts mysterious disruptions and a persis…
Level B2Science FictionThe FugitivesJeff Engel is thrust into a strange, alien world where humans are the outsiders, hunted and feared.
Level B2Science FictionThe Frightened PlanetA lone Cro-Magnon man named Karn flees tribal enemies into a forest where he encounters a mysterious, otherworldly craft and its strange, fragile occupants—hairless, small men and…
Level B2Science FictionThe FreelancerIn a dystopian future where even words are copyrighted, freelance Monitor Jeb battles oppressive laws and a loveless marriage as he hunts for violations—and a way to survive the co…
Level B2Science FictionThe Flying CuspidorsIn 2056, Hotlips Grogan, a top trumpet player on a gambling ship orbiting Earth, struggles with mysterious trouble linked to a captivating new band member.
Level B2Science FictionThe Floating Island of MadnessIn the vast Arabian Desert, secret agents from multiple nations chase a mysterious figure whose sudden, impossible speed hints at a shadowy power threatening global stability.
Level B2Science FictionThe Fastest Gun DeadIn a dusty frontier town, a feared gunslinger known as Dirty Jake battles his past and a reputation as the fastest draw west of the Pecos, while struggling for respect and a fresh…
Level B2MysteryThe Face and the MaskIn the heart of Paris, Lurine’s daily routine and secret strolls bring her into contact with the enigmatic Jean, whose mysterious requests and shadowy charm threaten to unravel her…
Level B2Science FictionThe Ethical WayIn a future where humans are rescued from self-destruction to become slaves for a galactic race, ethical debates clash with profit and survival.
Level B2Science FictionThe EmancipatrixA team of explorers uses telepathy to investigate distant worlds, but conflicting visions of justice and governance threaten to unravel their mission—and their relationships.
Level B2Science FictionThe Dragon SlayersIn a futuristic Venusian jungle, workers struggle under strict rules to harvest a vital resource while facing deadly creatures and a menacing dragon.
Level B2Science FictionThe Downhill Side of ThirtyIn a future where government bans sex and tobacco for those over thirty-five to preserve health, Chuck Dane struggles with desire, rebellion, and the oppressive controls of a tight…
Level B2Science FictionThe Double SpyIn a world where secret codes and mysterious powers collide, a seemingly unremarkable man becomes an electrifying performer in New York’s Times Square, dazzling crowds with impossi…
Level B2Science FictionThe Devolutionist and the EmancipatrixFour explorers return from an astonishing journey to Mercury and Venus, where they uncover advanced civilizations and telepathic powers.
Level B2Science FictionThe Dark OtherA man obsessed with capturing pure, undefinable horror in his writing finds himself drawn into dark conversations and mysterious moods by the shores of Lake Michigan, where reality…
Level B2Science FictionThe Crystal Sceptre: A Story of AdventureCaught in a fierce storm, a desperate balloonist is hurled into an unknown land where strange, half-human creatures observe him with wary curiosity.
Level B2Science FictionThe Conquest of America: A Romance of Disaster and Victory, U.S.A., 1921 A.D.As a victorious Germany invades an unprepared America after World War I, cities burn and battles rage from New York to Boston, forcing a desperate fight for survival and patriotism…
Level B2Science FictionThe City in the CloudsBeneath Rio’s dazzling sky, a powerful millionaire prepares to leave paradise for the shadowy intrigues of London.
Level B2Science FictionThe Celestial HammerlockA space promoter mistakenly lands his troupe of wrestlers on a pacifist asteroid where violence is banned and gym workouts mean gentle flower sniffing.
Level B2Science FictionThe BrainA scientist is flown with a mysterious cargo of termites to Cephalon, a dazzling, uncharted city in the desert that defies maps and understanding.
Level B2Science FictionThe Blue GermAfter a mysterious concussion caused by a seemingly magical black cat, a scientist unlocks a groundbreaking discovery: the transformation of one germ into another.
Level B2Science FictionThe Bell ToneA scientist discovers a mysterious bell-like tone emitted by ants, unlocking a powerful communication system that transmits thoughts across distances.
Level B2Science FictionThe Beast of SpaceIn the shadowy caves of Asteroid Moira, a lone prospector and his telepathic spacehound uncover a mysterious cache of abandoned ships and a chilling signal from a captive girl—spar…
Level B2Science FictionThe Bacillus of Beauty: A Romance of To-dayIn the bustling heart of New York, a man returns to find the woman he loved transformed beyond recognition, plunging him into a surreal mystery where beauty and identity blur in a…
Level B2Science FictionThe Automatic Maid-of-All-Work: A Possible Tale of the Near FutureIn a near-future household, an inventor unveils his creation: an automatic maid-of-all-work powered by electricity, designed to handle every chore from lighting fires to making bre…
Level B2Science FictionThe Animated PinupA pragmatic agent is pulled from his comfortable evening by an anxious illustrator whose mysterious troubles challenge his down-to-earth worldview, thrusting him into a strange, un…
Level B2Science FictionThe AmateursIn a future where society mandates assisted death at a prescribed age, a man faces his final days in a luxurious palace offering personalized, theatrical farewells.
Level B2Science FictionThe Alternate PlanA man faces a radical surgery that could strip him of his identity and voice, but he refuses to surrender.
Level B2Science FictionThe Affair of the BrainsIn a universe shadowed by cunning space-pirates and deadly rivalries, a fearless adventurer known as Hawk Carse prepares to confront the sinister genius Ku Sui at a perilous rendez…