read a novel
/riːd ə ˈnɑːvəl/
Meaning
To read a long, written story about imaginary characters and events. It is a common way to talk about reading fiction for pleasure rather than studying textbooks or reading the news.
Examples
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I like to read a novel in bed before I fall asleep.
I like to read a novel in bed before I fall asleep.
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She wants to read a novel by her favorite Japanese author this weekend.
She wants to read a novel by her favorite Japanese author this weekend.
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It takes me about a week to read a novel from start to finish.
It takes me about a week to read a novel from start to finish.
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Instead of watching TV, he prefers to read a novel in the evening.
Instead of watching TV, he prefers to read a novel in the evening.
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Our book club chose to read a novel about historical mystery this month.
Our book club chose to read a novel about historical mystery this month.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I am reading a history novel about the war.
✓ I am reading a history book. / I am reading a historical novel.
'Novel' specifically refers to fiction. If it is non-fiction (like real history), use 'book' instead, or use 'historical novel' if it is a fictional story set in the past.
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✗ She readed a novel last week.
✓ She read a novel last week.
The past tense of 'read' is spelled the same ('read') but pronounced like the color 'red'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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I bought a new fiction book because I wanted to ___.
💡 This phrase refers to reading a long fictional story.
Show answer
read a novel
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It's peaceful to sit by the fireplace and ___.
💡 Use the verb 'read' and a word for a fictional book.
Show answer
read a novel