How to Write an Interesting Summary of Your Book

June 23, 2023

By Joe Yamulla -

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Nothing breaks my heart like a poorly written book summary. I’ve had the privilege of working with many independent authors and I have firsthand exposure to the level of commitment, passion, and vulnerability that goes into writing a book. Every step of the publishing process requires tremendous effort. An effective summary should reflect that. Unfortunately, far too many authors either:

Do not understand the significance of an effective summary.
Do not know how to effectively write a good book summary that sells their story.

I understand the challenge. After all, how can you describe an entire book in one paragraph? It’s not an easy task. Hopefully, this post will provide you with tips for how to write a summary of a book that will make a curious reader buy it on the spot!

Table of Contents:
• Identify your core message
• Showcase your characters
• Keep it short and simple
• Create multiple versions
• Avoid using hard-to-read words
• Publish your next book with BookBaby

This is your chance to sell your story to readers, and in a brief summary, you don’t have a lot of words to do it. It’s up to you to share the main idea with clarity and purpose. Once written, your book summary becomes a lasting resource that can be used for promotional activity and advertising. This is important information that cannot be overlooked if you are serious about selling books, so it’s important to get it right.

Identify your core message

Nobody understands the main idea of a book like the author who wrote it. On the other hand, many authors find it challenging to express that central theme succinctly. A book may be your life’s work, and there is so much to say when describing it. But that is not the point of a book summary. A summary should be a brief yet interesting reflection of the main ideas in your book.

So, don’t waste time and get right to the point. After reading your book summary, a reader should have zero doubts about the content or context of your book. This might demand a type of creativity that requires you to step out of your comfort zone. You effectively have to stop thinking like a writer and start thinking like a businessperson! Summarizing your source material is more akin to an elevator pitch than it is to storytelling.

In just a few sentences, a reader should know exactly what they are getting into. They should know, for example, that the novel is a coming-of-age saga about a young man’s growth after tragically losing his mentor. Or maybe it is a spicy enemies-to-lovers romance novel. Whatever the genre, leave no doubt about the book’s central theme.

Showcase your characters

Who is this story about and what are they getting themselves into? An effective summary clearly establishes the main characters who are thrust into adventure and action. A good example comes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel, The Hobbit. The summary states:

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

In this brief summary, we are introduced to three influential characters: Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and Gollum. We now know that Bilbo leaves his tranquil, comfortable life to embark on a dangerous, magical adventure that will require him to overcome his fears and become a hero. He is going to face a dangerous dragon and confront evil forces. This one paragraph details the crux of a story of fantasy and adventure.

Keep it short and simple

This is where most authors struggle. Fleshing out characters, sharing important details, and world-building is in a writer’s DNA! There is a time and a place for long and elaborate prose, and a book summary is not it. This is the place to stick to the main points of your story.

Let’s look at another example. If you’ve read any of my other posts, you are aware of my being a big fan of Harry Potter. With her epic seven-book saga, J.K. Rowling has sold millions of copies and inspired a magical movement with films, video games, theme parks, and more. And yet, the summary of the very first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is articulated in one powerful paragraph

Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That’s because he’s being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he’s really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

J.K. Rowling’s breakaway best-seller is captured in just four sentences. It took four sentences to introduce the foundation of a story that became a global phenomenon! There are thousands of pages dedicated to building Rowling’s wizarding world. It’s not the summary’s place to reflect every magical detail of the story. Instead, the summary clearly establishes the main character (Harry) and the major point (learning he is a wizard and now must realize his destiny).

Create multiple versions

Brevity is important when considering how to write a summary of your book. This can be a challenge: the fear of leaving out juicy and compelling details is real. So, why not write multiple versions?

If you write multiple versions of a book summary, you can experiment with different creative approaches that convey the plot in a condensed manner. Although each version will ultimately do the same thing (present the main idea and main characters), there are subtle differences in style to explore.

This means using different introductory sentences and key points while summarizing the source material. For example, we can revisit Harry Potter.

Version 1

Version 2

All Harry Potter knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley — a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry’s room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn’t had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry — and anyone who reads about him — will find unforgettable.

For it’s there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that’s been waiting for him… if Harry can survive the encounter.

Both versions convey the same message about the plot and protagonist. Version 1 is written more directly while version 2 makes you wait just a bit longer to get to the good part — realizing that Harry is a wizard. J.K. Rowling uses both summaries for the book across several retail outlets.

Even if you only use one summary for your book across all retailers, it’s a good idea to hold onto the other versions. You can always make changes to your book metadata and summaries and use them in your book marketing and promotional material. Plus, writing multiple versions makes the creative process easier. You can weigh your options and receive feedback on the best portrayal of the story.

Avoid using hard-to-read words

Here is the final piece of advice for writing a good book summary, and it’s in line with everything else in this post: keep it simple. You might have an elaborate understanding of the English vernacular, but there is no reason to confuse readers — there is value in simplicity. Avoid confusion by using strategic but relatable language.

Publish your next book with BookBaby

Set your book up for success! Once you’ve written and summarized your story — now that you know how to write a summary of your book — call 877-961-6878 to speak with a BookBaby publishing specialist or go to www.bookbaby.com to see all of our self-publishing packages and author services. At BookBaby, we value every aspect of the self-publishing process, and we can’t wait to help you get your book into the hands of readers!