Page-turner
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.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| professional | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when an informal, emphatic recommendation feels natural
Careful The playful exaggeration will sound out of place in a formal review.
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everyday
Fits when suspense holds the reader's attention
Careful Gripping can describe films or events too, so it does not specifically promise a book.
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everyday
Fits when the work commands unusually strong attention
Careful Riveting may overstate the appeal of a simply enjoyable, fast-moving book.
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professional
Fits when sustained interest matters more than speed
Careful Absorbing suits quiet concentration, while a page-turner implies an urge to keep going.
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professional
Fits when the content exerts a persuasive or emotional pull
Careful Compelling does not necessarily mean the plot moves quickly from page to page.
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literary
Fits when enchantment or wonder creates the fascination
Careful Spellbinding brings a magical flavor that a tense procedural may not have.
Opposites 3
- bore
- slog
- dud
Common phrases 3
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an absolute page-turner
An absolute page-turner kept the whole book club awake past midnight.
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a real page-turner
A real page-turner emerged from what first looked like a quiet family drama.
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page-turner ending
The page-turner ending tied the two timelines together with satisfying precision.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated