The Ultimate List Of Amazing Adjectives To Describe A Book

If you’re wondering how to describe a book but can’t find the right words, you’ve come to the right place.

Doing it well is an art and can lead to more sales.

So today, we’re breaking down adjectives to describe books to make them as appealing as possible.

We’ve broken it down by genre, but don’t be afraid to play with words.

The more compelling the adjectives, the more likely people will pick up the title.

Let’s get to it.

Why You Need This List of Words to Describe Books

Authors love words and love writing. But not all authors are great copywriters. Copywriting is a unique skill set and requires choosing and combining words in a pithy, descriptive, and enticing way.   

Even if you are a great copywriter, having a list of book-focused adjectives at your fingertips is always handy. Remember…

• Vibrant language sells books, no matter the genre.
• When writing back cover descriptions, you need to paint a picture to appeal to potential buyers.
• If you’re self-publishing, you’ll write sales copy for Amazon and other online book retailers.
• If you write about books or review them, you need fresh ideas to make your content stand out.

Keep this list in a place you can easily access, and allow the words to spark your imagination and creativity. One relevant word can lead you to a flood of ideas to describe your book or another author’s.

The Ultimate List Of Adjectives To Describe A Book 

We’ve taken the legwork out of word research and curated a list of adjectives describing books in various genres. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in this list – well, look again!

The words you’re searching for are here, waiting for you to claim them. 

Book Adjectives for Action and Adventure

Good action and adventure books keep you on the edge of your seat. In most cases, the protagonist must vanquish a dangerous foe and overcome considerable obstacles thrown in their way.

Sometimes it’s to save the world; other times, the goal is to save themselves.   

1. Adventurous
2. Awesome 
3. Bold
4. Breathtaking
5. Brisk
6. Current
7. Dangerous
8. Daring
9. Dauntless
10. Deceitful
11. Dynamic
12. Exciting
13. Exhilarating
14. Fast-paced
15. Feasible
16. Frantic
17. Gripping
18. Heart-pounding
19. High-stakes
20. Huge
21. Impossible
22. Intense
23. Lethal
24. Lively
25. Loud
26. Massive
27. Nail-biting
28. Page-turning
29. Quick
30. Rapid
31. Stirring
32. Secretive
33. Shocking
34. Teeming
35. Terrific
36. Violent

Book Adjectives for Classics

They’ve been around for decades, yet they’re still “required reading.” Why? Because they’re timeless, had a huge impact on society, or pushed literary limits. 

1. Acclaimed
2. Advanced
3. Brilliant
4. Classic
5. Clear
6. Deep
7. Definitive
8. Descriptive
9. Epic
10. Exceptional
11. Extraordinary
12. Farcical
13. Fictional
14. Inventive
15. Lyrical
16. Masterful
17. Meandering
18. Meditative
19. Nuanced
20.  Ponderous
21. Rhetorical
22. Scholastic
23. Skilled
24. Sophisticated
25. Successful
26. Superb
27. Timeless
28. Universal
29. Unprecedented
30. Quintessential

Book Adjectives for Comic Book / Graphic Novel

As their names suggest, comic books and graphic novels use illustrations and typography to tell stories. Dialogue is usually presented in “word bubbles.”

1. Artistic
2. Bright
3. Colorful
4. Comic
5. Creative
6. Dark
7. Fantastical
8. Fun
9. Illustrated
10. Imaginative
11. Paradoxical
12. Richly
13. Saturated
14. Sequential
15. Series
16. Silly
17. Spellbinding
18. Vibrant
19. Vivid

Book Adjectives for Detective and Mystery

Detective and mystery novels revolve around crimes and inexplicable events. Memorable and beloved ones usually incorporate elements of humor, wit, and problem-solving. 

1. Amusing
2. Believable
3. Bizarre
4. Captivating
5. Charming
6. Coherent
7. Convoluted
8. Engrossing
9. Haunting
10. Inquisitive
11. Mysterious
12. Popular
13. Quizzical
14. Satisfying
15. Surprising
16. Thrilling
17. Unpredictable

Book Adjectives for Fantasy

Fantasy books are about the unknown, the mythical, and the supernatural. Some take place in wholly made-up worlds. Others are set in our world with added mystical elements.

1. Allegorical
2. Bionic
3. Boundless
4. Compelling
5. Decadent
6. Engaging
7. Faustian
8. Gothic
9. Gritty
10. Hallucinatory
11. Heroic
12. Intriguing
13. Magical
14. Medieval
15. Penetrating
16. Original
17. Otherworldly
18. Remarkable
19. Savage
20. Somber
21. Stunning
22. Swashbuckling
23. Tactile
24. Transcendent
25. Unconventional
26. Unusual

Book Adjectives for Historical Fiction

Do you love period dramas and history? Then you’re the perfect candidate for historical fiction. Combining historical events with imagined dialogue, historical fiction is an engaging way to interact with the past. 

1. Ageless
2. Ambitious
3. Animating
4. Brash
5. Colloquial
6. Compassionate (i.e., a compassionate take)
7. Credulous
8. Cultural
9. Cumulative
10. Entertaining
11. Fanciful
12. Far-Reaching
13. Figurative
14. Flexible
15. Forgiving 
16. Historical
17. Infused
18. Intuitive
19. Pioneering
20. Playful
21. Realistic
22. Satirical
23. Smart
24. Sound
25. Surreal
26. Tasteful

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Book Adjectives for Horror

Horror books are meant to scare and terrify! If you enjoy jump scares, surprises, and a tinge of discomfort, horror is the genre for you.

1. Alarming
2. Agoraphobic
3. Austere
4. Burly
5. Crazy
6. Damaged
7. Enraged
8. Fidgety
9. Ghastly
10. Ghostly
11. Grotesque
12. Heinous
13. Horrific
14. Iconical
15. Jarring
16. Jeering
17. Jinxed
18. Jesting
19. Knockout
20. Macabre
21. Maniacal
22. Obscure
23. Ominous
24. Prankish
25. Quirky
26. Rackety
27. Rueful
28. Ruthless
29. Riled
30. Scared
31. Sickly
32. Skewed
33. Smarmy
34. Tactical
35. Ugly
36. Vexing
37. Zymolytic

Book Adjectives for Literary Fiction

Today’s literary fiction novels are tomorrow’s classics. They’re well-written, lyrical stories with evocative themes that usually include social and cultural commentary. 

1. Astute
2. Cogent
3. Coming-of-age
4. Conversational
5. Current
6. Delightful
7. Diverse
8. Diverting
9. Dramatic
10. Elevating
11. Enticing
12. Expressive
13. Fluid
14. Insightful
15. Ironic
16. Literal
17. Modern
18. Noticeable
19. Odd
20. Peaceful
21. Praised
22. Prequel
23. Pure
24. Rich
25. Sensory
26. Serious
27. Spectacular
28. Symbolic
29. Triumphant
30. Vaunted

Book Adjectives for Romance

Romance novels are all about love and happy endings. Book snobs often turn their noses up at romance titles, but they’re the most-read books on today’s novel market.

1. Addictive
2. Amorous
3. Chivalrous
4. Dashing
5. Dreamy
6. Enchanting
7. Endearing
8. Erotic
9. Exotic
10. Fairy-tale
11. Fun
12. Glamorous
13. Happy
14. Knowing
15. Kinky
16. Lovey-dovey
17. Loving
18. Mushy
19. Passionate
20. Picturesque
21. Quixotic
22. Sensual
23. Soapy
24. Soppy
25. Starry-eyed
26. Sublime
27. Sweet
28. Traditional
29. Whimsical

Book Adjectives for Science Fiction

Science fiction books challenge us to imagine the world in a new light. While they’re similar to fantasy titles, most sci-fi works incorporate technology and futuristic themes.

1. Accomplished
2. Alien
3. Atmospheric
4. Brave
5. Cerebral
6. Daunting
7. Deserted
8. Dreary
9. Edgy
10. Electrifying
11. Forward-thinking
12. Fresh
13. Impassioned
14. Ironic
15. Mesmerizing
16. Narrative
17. Nifty
18. Novel
19. Offbeat
20. Potent
21. Provocative
22. Revelatory
23. Transfixing
24. Ultramodern
25. Utopian

Book Adjectives for Suspense and Thrillers

If you like a mental puzzle, then thrillers and suspense books are for you. Cliffhangers and emotional manipulation are the mainstays of the genre.

1. Anxious
2. Audacious
3. Bewitching
4. Breathless
5. Cascading
6. Chilling
7. Commanding
8. Complicated
9. Dreary
10. Enthralling
11. Fiery
12. Frenzied
13. Futuristic
14. Idiosyncratic
15. Ironic
16. Luminous
17. Riveting
18. Refined
19. Rousing
20. Scary
21. Shadowy
22. Sneaky
23. Spirited
24. Tantalizing
25. Tense
26. Thought-provoking
27. Trippy
28. Visionary

Book Adjectives for Women’s Fiction

Women’s fiction focuses on female issues. Some people mistake it for romance. And while there are romantic elements in some women’s fiction novels, issues related to confidence, sexism, health — both physical and mental — and friendship are also common themes.

1. Amused
2. Astonishing
3. Attractive
4. Beautiful
5. Biting
6. Contemplative
7. Cooperative
8. Defiant
9. Dazzling
10. Eager
11. Elated
12. Elegant
13. Encouraging
14. Fancy
15. Fierce
16. Gleaming
17. Gorgeous
18. Graceful
19. Jolly
20. Magnificent
21. Melancholy
22. Proud
23. Reassured
24. Refreshing
25. Thankful
26. Victorious
27. Vivacious
28. Wonderful
29. Zany

Book Adjectives for Biography / Autobiography / Memoir

Biographies and autobiographies tell the stories of individual lives. The former is when someone else writes the book; autobiographies are written by the subject.

Memoirs are always written by the subject, are more personal, and don’t necessarily chronicle every moment. Instead, they focus on significant moments and convey messages and ideas the writer wants to convey.

1. Absorbing
2. Autobiographical
3. Biographical
4. Candid
5. Childlike
6. Descriptive
7. Devious
8. Educational
9. Emancipated
10. Empowering
11. Factual
12. First-person
13. Funny
14. Histrionic
15. Humorous
16. Influential
17. Inspiring
18. Introspective
19. Memorable
20. Personal
21. Profound
22. Resourceful
23. Revealing
24. Vulnerable

Writing book descriptions is an essential part of book marketing. Using the right adjectives has the power to boost sales. So take your time and choose your words wisely!