Page-turner
n.joyful, energeticeveryday
What it means
A book whose momentum makes readers eager to continue.
Reach for it when recommending a story for its compelling pace and pull
The mystery became a page-turner before the first train reached the coast.
Choose between these
6- playful
when an informal, emphatic recommendation feels natural
not when The playful exaggeration will sound out of place in a formal review.
- everyday
when suspense holds the reader's attention
not when Gripping can describe films or events too, so it does not specifically promise a book.
- everyday
when the work commands unusually strong attention
not when Riveting may overstate the appeal of a simply enjoyable, fast-moving book.
- professional
when sustained interest matters more than speed
not when Absorbing suits quiet concentration, while a page-turner implies an urge to keep going.
- professional
when the content exerts a persuasive or emotional pull
not when Compelling does not necessarily mean the plot moves quickly from page to page.
- literary
when enchantment or wonder creates the fascination
not when Spellbinding brings a magical flavor that a tense procedural may not have.
Said against
3- bore
- slog
- dud
It naturally appears in
3- an absolute page-turner
An absolute page-turner kept the whole book club awake past midnight.
- a real page-turner
A real page-turner emerged from what first looked like a quiet family drama.
- page-turner ending
The page-turner ending tied the two timelines together with satisfying precision.