My Top 7 Book Recommendations for A2 Spanish Readers
In this post, you’ll discover the 7 best A2 Spanish books to build confidence and enjoy reading without a dictionary by your side.
Picture this: you’re in a bookstore, and a Spanish book display catches your eye. You love to read; you love Spanish, so you browse the books and pick one up.
What happens next?
Spoiler alert:
Your fate as a Spanish reader hinges on your choice of books!
Did you make the same mistake I did when I picked my first Spanish book? (And pick a Latin American classic like 100 Years of Solitude?) Not exactly the best Spanish book for beginners. I know.
If so, then your first reading experience in Spanish might look like mine:
Hours with a dictionary in hand. Not 100 years, but close.
Even worse, it might be your last reading experience in Spanish.
And, as someone who went on to read many, many incredible novels by Spanish-speaking authors and start a Spanish language book club, I can tell you one thing:
Giving up on reading Spanish? ¡Qué lástima!
Here’s the good news: you get to choose your adventure.
Fifteen years after I read my first Spanish novel, the book market has exploded.
Leveled readers in Spanish? Not just for kids anymore. You’ll find interesting and engaging books to read at your level.
Are you starting to say your first sentences in Spanish? Or ordering food at a restaurant?
Then, you may be at that exciting A2 stage, where you pick up the language quickly. (Not sure about that? Read this post to help you pinpoint your Spanish level.)
As a reader with A2 Spanish skills, you have a lot to be excited about.
Pick up a leveled reader, and you’re sure to have one of those “I can do this!” moments. Your Spanish vocabulary will expand with every book you read, and before you know it, you’ll be diving into Spanish novels.
¡Hola! I’m Dominique,
I’m a Spanish coach who has spent 15+ years helping adults go from hesitant readers to confident Spanish speakers. I run a signature intermediate Spanish book immersion program. And these are the exact A2 books I recommend to adults in my programs for A2 learners.
What you’ll learn:
Which A2 Spanish books are worth your time
How to avoid picking titles that are too hard (or too easy)
The 7 best A2 readers I personally recommend
Ready to discover some great books in Spanish?
Read on for a list of 7 engaging books designed for adults with a high basic level--the kind I wish I had 15 years ago. These are the exact titles I hand-picked for adults in my Spanish program for beginners. You’ll love the simple, straightforward language and engaging plots.
(If these still seem too hard, check out this post on A1 leveled readers here.)
1. Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners - Improving Mindfulness and Emotional Well-Being
This unique collection lets you do more than just ditch Spanish reading stress. Pick it up and you’ll give your emotional intelligence a workout and maybe make yourself more resilient to stress while you’re at it.
Inside, you’ll find 40 short stories in the sweet spot for A2 Spanish readers like you. Read a story and expose yourself to everyday vocabulary in simple language you’ll understand while you explore calming narratives about friendship, patience, and self-acceptance en español.
Each story includes English support, comprehension questions, and even breathing exercises to keep you focused and motivated.
If you’re looking for an uplifting way to practice Spanish while also giving your mind a break, this collection will make reading at the A2 level both enjoyable and rewarding.
2. La chica del bar by Estefanía Quevedo
Excerpt: “Felipe es un tipo normal con un trabajo normal. Él va todos los días al bar ‘El unicornio azul’. …Un día ve a una chica hermosa sentada en la barra del bar. Ella no habla mucho, no bebe alcohol y no usa teléfono móvil…”
Who is the girl at the bar? What is she looking for? Part of the Short Stories in Spanish series, this book is designed to help you push your Spanish towards intermediate--while giving you a great story to read. Additional resources that will help you make this book a fun and effective part of your Spanish practice include illustrations created by a professional artist, a playlist of songs inspired by the story and adapted to your level, and instructions on how to get the most from the book as a Spanish-learner.
Master the preterit and imperfect tenses with clear grammar lessons, engaging assignments, and active listening so that you can vividly share your past experiences in Spanish.
3. La profe de español by Juan Fernández
Strange business is afoot at the language school where María, the Spanish teacher, works. When she doesn't turn up for work on Monday morning, her students suspect foul play. Join the Spanish students on their search to find María, enjoy the story, and get a boost for your Spanish. No more learning isolated grammar and memorizing meaningless vocabulary lists—get ready for immersion and contextual learning that will help you memorize more expressions in Spanish. Pre-intermediate (A2) Spanish learners will get the most from this book.
4. Año nuevo, vida nueva by Juan Fernández
Another incredibly designed book by author/teacher Juan Fernández Año nuevo, vida nueva takes place in London, where the author lived and taught for 20 years.
Follow Brian, a young man who has made some resolutions for the New Year in hopes of turning his life around: lose weight, give up smoking, learn Spanish, find a new job, and, most importantly, forget his Spanish ex-girlfriend forever.
This book is for you if you’re approaching a lower-intermediate level. You’ll read a story you don’t want to put down and consolidate your foundation as you push yourself with a slightly more challenging read.
5. Pre-Intermediate's Bundle A2 by Paco Ardit
This is the follow-up series to the Beginner Bundle by the same author. As you reach a high beginner or pre-intermediate level of Spanish, you can reach for these accessible and engaging Spanish novels. What impresses me most about this series is how Ardit finds a way to help you learn the structures and expressions you need to push yourself toward an intermediate level of Spanish through stories.
In this bundle, you’ll find titles such as, Laura no está, Porteño Stand-up, Un Yankee en Buenos Aires, Pasaje de ida, and El Hacker.
6. Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners by Olly Richards
By Olly Richards, language-learning legend and creator of the creator of the StoryLearning® method, these eight engaging stories in a range of genres from crime to science fiction to historical fiction will be an exciting addition to your Spanish learner’s bookshelf. As you read, you’ll be immersed in the language and find yourself reinforcing your knowledge of the 1000 most frequent words in Spanish. You’ll also discover conversational expressions through authentic dialogues and learn conversational expressions so you can improve your spoken Spanish even without having a conversation. These stories are interesting, exciting, and fun and will help you with your Spanish. Still, students at the pre-intermediate or early intermediate levels will get more from these stories than beginners. That’s why I’m including Short Stories in Spanish closer to the end of this list.
7. Spanish Novel for Upper-Beginners: Enigma en La Playa byMaría Danader
Here’s another book for Spanish learners by María Danader, complete with a free audio download, vocabulary index, and bilingual summaries that we’ve come to know and love her for.
As you unfold the “mystery on the beach” in this novel, you’ll also be learning specific vocabulary and structures you’ll need to push yourself toward intermediate --or to get ready for your upcoming trip to a Spanish-speaking country.
This particular book is perfect for upper beginners as it is packed with common verbs like preferir, gustar, querer and simple idiomatic expressions like ir a + infinitive, ser, and estar. It’s the perfect companion to my Spanish for Beginners Course because it helps you take all those structures and grammar you need to push your Spanish toward intermediate and revisit them while you immerse yourself in an engaging story.
Discover what to learn, how to learn it, and in what order with this FREE Spanish starter kit for beginners.
Still Have Questions about Finding Great A2 Spanish Books? Read on.
These are some questions adults in my programs ask me about getting started reading in Spanish. And my answers as someone who’s been there.
What books should I read with A2 Spanish?
As an A2 Spanish learner, you’ll get much more out of leveled readers. Or more simply put, books written for learners at your stage.
You’ll get that sweet spot of simple grammar and authentic, everyday language, and engaging plots you actually understand. That way, you get the real book lover’s page-turning experience. Not a struggle with the Spanish-English dictionary!
Spanish books always seem too easy or too difficult. What to do?
First, it’s important to know whether you’re really at A2 or already closer to B1. That nuance matters: an A2 learner usually needs shorter sentences, clear vocabulary, and leveled readers.
My quick tip: to click the preview on Amazon or Goodreads and see if you can follow a page or two without constant dictionary use. If it feels comfortable but not too easy, you’ve found your match.
And if none of the books in this post seem right for you?
Check out one of my other Spanish reading resources to see if there’s a better match:
What are my personal favorite books for A2 learners?
Out of the seven titles for A2 readers above that I recommend, I do have a few favorites:
Book: Pre-Intermediate's Bundle A2 by Paco Ardit
Why I recommend this book: It’s got lots of variety and unique stories from Buenos Aires, even though the Spanish used is very standard Latin American Spanish.
Book: Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners - Improving Mindfulness and Emotional Well-Being
Why I recommend this book: I happen to like this topic in English, so it’s interesting to learn new vocabulary to talk about mental health in Spanish. But there is a whole line of these books with different topics, so I encourage you to explore!
Here’s what I hope you take with you as an A2 Spanish reader:
Today, you’re coming away in a strong place to keep reading in Spanish. Now you know:
Why picking the right A2 Spanish book keeps you motivated
How to spot books that are too easy or too hard
7 of my top A2 book recommendations for learners
How to use previews and leveled readers to find your “just right” book
That regular reading at A2 builds confidence for B1 and beyond
But above all, I hope you found the perfect book for you.
So, did you pick a book that will challenge you just a little, or one that feels like an old friend here to reassure you?
Go for a book you love to read, whether you stay in your comfort zone or take the leap. Either way, find something that will keep you turning the pages and excited for the next chapter.
Read in Spanish every day. Immerse yourself in the language, soak up new vocabulary. You’ll notice how your Spanish grows.
Maybe you’ll catch spoken words faster because you’ve “seen” them already. Maybe a phrase from your book will slip into your next Spanish conversation.
Keep reading, keep practicing your Spanish, and I promise you:
You will surprise yourself.
Discover 7 must-read books for intermediate Spanish learners to boost fluency, overcome the plateau, and immerse yourself in engaging Spanish stories.