a real page-turner

Meaning

This expression refers to a book that is so exciting, interesting, or fast-paced that you want to keep reading it without stopping. It is typically used for fiction, particularly thrillers, mysteries, or suspense novels. It carries a highly positive connotation of being engrossing.

Examples

• I stayed up until 3 AM reading that novel; it was a real page-turner.

  I stayed up until 3 AM reading that novel; it was a real page-turner.

• Her latest mystery novel is a real page-turner from the very first chapter.

  Her latest mystery novel is a real page-turner from the very first chapter.

• If you need a book for your flight, I highly recommend this thriller—it's a real page-turner.

  If you need a book for your flight, I highly recommend this thriller—it's a real page-turner.

• The biography was surprisingly a real page-turner, full of unexpected drama.

  The biography was surprisingly a real page-turner, full of unexpected drama.

• Critics are praising the new fantasy release as a real page-turner.

  Critics are praising the new fantasy release as a real page-turner.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ This book is a very page-turner.

  ✓ This book is a real page-turner.

  'Page-turner' is a noun, so it should be modified by adjectives like 'real' or 'great', not the adverb 'very'.

• ✗ I am reading a page-turning book.

  ✓ I am reading a page-turner.

  While 'page-turning' exists as an adjective, native speakers almost always use the noun phrase 'a page-turner' instead.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I finished the entire novel in one sitting because it was ___.

  💡 A book that is extremely exciting to read.

  Show answer

  a real page-turner

• If you like thrillers, you'll love this book; it's ___.

  💡 An expression describing a book you can't put down.

  Show answer

  a real page-turner