“What are the best books for Learning French?” We looked at 220 of the top French books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 14 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best French Language” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 200 titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

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Top 14 Books For Learning French

14 .) Contacts: Langue et culture françaises by Jean-Paul Valette & Rebecca Valette

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• Vista Wide

One of the most popular and trusted introductory French programs available, CONTACTS: LANGUE ET CULTURE FRANÇAISES is renowned for its superior grammar sequencing, four-skills presentation and practice, vocabulary control, and supportive pedagogy. More learner friendly than ever, the new ninth edition features an all-new design while maintaining hallmark strengths like logical progression and clear organization, which have successfully served more than half a million CONTACTS users. The program reflects the realities of the contemporary French and Francophone worlds while effectively preparing readers for work, study, and travel abroad with its practical illustrations and activities.

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13 .) En bonne forme by Simone Renaud & Dominique van Hooff

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• Vista Wide

A complete intermediate programme written in French based on the conviction that a solid knowledge of grammar is important. However, students are also given ample opportunity throughout to improve all four skills -reading, writing, listening and speaking. All readings are chosen to illustrate grammar points.

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12 .) Ensemble, C’est Tout

Lists It Appears On:

• Francai Simmersion
• French Your Way

L’action se déroule à Paris, au pied de la tour Eiffel très exactement, et couvre une année. Ce livre raconte la rencontre puis les frictions, la tendresse, l’amitié, les coups de gueule, les réconciliations et tout le reste encore, tout ce qui se passe entre quatre personnes vivant sous un même toit. Quatre personnes qui n’avaient rien en commun au départ et qui n’auraient jamais dû se rencontrer. Un aristocrate bègue, une jeune femme épuisée, une vieille mémé têtue et un cuisinier grossier. Tous sont pleins de bleus, pleins de bosses et tous ont un cœur gros comme ça (non, plus gros encore !)… C’est la théorie des dominos à l’envers. Ces quatre-là s’appuient les uns sur les autres mais au lieu de se faire tomber, ils se relèvent. On appelle ça l’amour.

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11 .) Entre amis by Michael Oates

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• Vista Wide

Entre amis is a performance-oriented program designed to expand students’ interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communicative skills by presenting and rehearsing situations similar to those they will encounter in real life. Based on a progressive approach, Entre amis features thorough coverage of all four-language skills with a strong emphasis on oral communication. The language presented and practiced is always embedded in a French cultural context.

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10 .) Et si c’était vrai

Lists It Appears On:

• Francai Simmersion
• French Your Way

What do you do when you find a stranger in your closet; particularly when she’s surprised that you can even see her — and she can disappear and reappear at whim? What if she then tells you that her body is actually in a coma on the other side of town? Should you have her see a psychiatrist or should you consult one yourself? Or do you take a chance and believe in her, and allow yourself to be swept up in an extraordinary adventure? This is the beginning of the dilemma that Arthur, a young San Francisco architect, is faced with when he discovers Lauren in his apartment. Arthur is the only man who can share Lauren’s secret, the only one who can see her, hear her, and talk to her when no one else so much as senses her presence. So when doctors prepare to end Lauren’s physical care — which would destroy the magical bond she and Arthur cherish — he must find a way to save her. For, after all, it is only her love that can save him. “If Only It Were True” is a heartwarming love story impossible to forget, an adventure that is by turns breathtaking and hilarious — a captivating tale that evokes the essence of romance and our boundless capacity to believe.

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9 .) French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and Culture by

Lists It Appears On:

• Vista Wide
• Vista Wide

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8 .) Larousse French-English Dictionary

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• French Crazy

This newly revised Larousse Concise Dictionary is ideal for the more sophisticated traveler, business person, student, and anyone interested in achieveing greater fluency in contemporary French and English. The clear typographical layout and style, together with detailed treatment of vocabulary allows the user to quickly grasp the important nuances of language and translate and comprehend accurately. Containing 250,000 words, phrases, and translations, it is an ideal companion for both general and professional use.

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7 .) Le Petit Prince

Lists It Appears On:

• Francai Simmersion
• French Your Way

Moral allegory and spiritual autobiography, The Little Prince is the most translated book in the French language. With a timeless charm it tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to travel the universe, learning the vagaries of adult behaviour through a series of extraordinary encounters. His personal odyssey culminates in a voyage to Earth and further adventures.

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6 .) Mastering French Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach by Wolfgang Fischer & Anne-Marie Plouhinec

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• The French Post

This French word-power builder presents more than 5,000 words and phrases with translations into English. The feature that makes this vocabulary book distinctive is the way words are divided into themes, grouped together so that the foreign traveler or language student can find words related by subject. The subject themes include business terms, medical terms, household terms, scientific words and phrases, units of measurement, clothing, food and dining, transportation, art and culture:24 separate themes in all. The new second edition has been expanded and updated with increased vocabulary.

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5 .) Mise en scène: cinéma et lecture by Cheryl Krueger & Elizabeth Dolly Weber & Brigitte G

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• Vista Wide

Mise en scene: Cinema et lecture uniquely motivates students to build and practice their French language skills through the study of film by balancing attention to content, culture, and communication. Using authentic films and readings created for French-speaking audiences, Mise en scene guides students to expand their capacity to use French as they engage independently with these materials and interactively with fellow students and native speakers.

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4 .) Moments Litteraires: An Anthology for Intermediate French by Bette Hirsch & Chantal Thompson

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• Vista Wide

Using a proficiency-oriented approach, Moments litteraires provides intermediate- to advanced-level French students with an excellent introduction to French and francophone literary masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the present day. The selections are carefully chosen for their popular appeal, student interest, and linguistic accessibility. An innovative pre- and post-reading apparatus allows students to increase their proficiency in the four skills as they develop a working knowledge of French literature.

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3 .) Le Petit Nicolas et les Copains by Rene Goscinny

Lists It Appears On:

• Francai Simmersion
• French Your Way
• ILA France

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2 .) Easy French Step-by-step by Myrna Bell Rochester

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• French Crazy
• The French Post

Get up and running with French Easy French Step-by-Step proves that a solid grounding in grammar basics is the key to mastering a second language. You are quickly introduced to grammatical rules and concepts in order of importance, which you can build on as you progress through the book. You will also learn more than 300 verbs, chosen by their frequency of use. Numerous exercises and engaging readings help you quickly build your speaking and comprehension prowess.

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1 .) 501 French Verbs: Fully Conjugated in All the Tenses and Moods in a New Easy-To-Learn Format by Christopher Kendris

Lists It Appears On:

• Fluent U
• French Crazy
• Goodreads

The new, updated edition of this popular book of French verbs and general language guide is now printed in two colors for increased ease of reference. The most important and most commonly used French verbs are presented alphabetically in chart form, one verb per page, and conjugated in all persons and tenses, both active and passive. This thorough guide to the use of verbs features many additional references and tips, including a bilingual list of more than 1,250 additional French verbs, helpful expressions and idioms for travelers, and verb drills and tests with questions answered and explained. French language students will also find an index of English-French verbs, a section on verbs used in French idiomatic expressions, and more than 1,000 additional French regular verbs conjugated like the book’s model verbs.

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The 220+ Additional French Language Books

10 Best Books For Learning To Speak French Sources/Lists