The intermediate plateau is real: you understand a lot, but you feel stuck, and textbooks start to feel boring. In my experience, short stories are the best way out. Over the years I’ve tested dozens of Italian short stories with my students, and the titles below are the ones that worked best in my private classes with intermediate learners, including the graded readers I write myself.
In short
- Best for A2/B1: Incontri in Sicilia, Viaggio in Sicilia, Il gatto scomparso, Un fine settimana a Napoli.
- Best for B1: Mediterraneo, Gioielli, Caffè e Firenze, Cioccolato, Amore e Torino.
- Best for B1/B2: 7 Romance Short Stories in Italian, Delitto in crociera, Mani d’oro.
- Not a story, but great for intermediate readers: my magazine Piazzetta Italiana, with audio.
- Choose a story slightly above your level: challenging, but not frustrating.
| Book | Level | Genre | Author / publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Un fine settimana a Napoli | A2 to B1 | travel and food, Naples | CDL Edizioni |
| Il mistero di Veronica | A2 to B2 | romance and mystery, Milan | |
| Delitto in crociera | B1 to B2 | mystery, cruise ship | |
| Spaghetti al veleno | A2 to B2 | mystery, Milan | |
| Mani d’oro | B1 to B2 | mystery, Treviso | |
| Le avventure di Pinocchio | B1 to B2 | classic, Tuscany | Carlo Collodi (adapted) |
| Incontri in Sicilia ⭐ | A2 to B1 | travel and family roots, Sicily | Serena Capilli |
| Viaggio in Sicilia ⭐ | A2 to B1 | travel and friendship, Taormina | Serena Capilli |
| Mediterraneo ⭐ | B1 | mystery, Puglia | Serena Capilli |
| Gioielli, Caffè e Firenze ⭐ | B1+ | romance and craftsmanship, Florence | Serena Capilli |
| Cioccolato, Amore e Torino ⭐ | B1+ | love and creativity, Turin | Serena Capilli |
| 7 Romance Short Stories in Italian ⭐ | B1 to B2 | seven love stories | Serena Capilli |
| Modelle, pistole e mozzarelle | A2 to B1 | mystery, Milan | Alma Edizioni |
| Il gatto scomparso | A2 to B1 | comedy, family | Loescher |
My graded readers for intermediate learners
Of course I’m biased, but I wrote these books exactly for the learners I teach: adults who are past the basics and want to read real stories set in Italy. Every chapter comes with a vocabulary list, exercises and audio, so you can read and listen at the same time.
For A2/B1 learners
For B1/B2 learners
Gioielli, Caffè e Firenze
Level B1+
Marie moves to Florence, where jewelry making leads to a new life.
Cioccolato, Amore e Torino
Level B1+
Marie’s journey continues in Turin, between love, creativity and chocolate.
7 Romance Short Stories in Italian
Level B1/B2
Seven stories about love and everyday life, full of natural conversations.
Bonus: Piazzetta Italiana, my magazine for learners
Level: A2 to B1
Format: digital magazine with audio
Not a short story, but the perfect companion to your reading: articles about Italian culture, travel, food and everyday life, written in modern, accessible Italian for learners, with audio and vocabulary support.
Other Italian short stories I recommend
These are stories by other authors and publishers that my intermediate students have enjoyed. Some links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Modelle, pistole e mozzarelle
Level: A2 to B1
Genre: mystery, Milan
Detective Esposito searches for a missing model in Milan. A light crime story that builds vocabulary while keeping you hooked.
Il gatto scomparso
Level: A2 to B1
Genre: comedy, family
Marketed as A1, but in my experience better for A2/B1 learners because of the vocabulary. A funny story about a missing cat named Gippi and his family’s adventures looking for him.
Un fine settimana a Napoli
Level: A2 to B1
Genre: travel and food, Naples
Hans, a German student, comes to Naples for a pastry course, but unexpected events change his plans. Each chapter includes audio, a visual dictionary and vocabulary activities, plus insights into the history and traditions of Naples.
Il mistero di Veronica
Level: A2 to B2
Genre: romance and mystery, Milan
Veronica lives in Milan and focuses on her career, until she meets Massimo, a young artist, on a train. Love blossoms, but she hides a secret he’s determined to uncover. Each chapter ends with vocabulary and grammar exercises.
Delitto in crociera
Level: B1 to B2
Genre: mystery, cruise ship
Lorenzo, bored with his life, becomes an entertainer on a Mediterranean cruise ship, until a disappearance drags him into a mystery. Each chapter includes cultural notes and comprehension activities. Audio available.
Spaghetti al veleno
Level: A2 to B2
Genre: mystery, Milan
When a guest dies of poisoning in a Milan restaurant, Valentina, a waitress, investigates to clear her colleague’s name. Each chapter has cultural notes and exercises, and the audio is free.
Mani d’oro
Level: B1 to B2
Genre: mystery, Treviso
Set in Treviso, this mystery follows the murder of a fashion house director: a story of love, rivalry and family secrets, packed with cultural insights, comprehension tasks and audio.
Le avventure di Pinocchio
Level: B1 to B2
Genre: classic, Tuscany
Carlo Collodi’s classic tale of the wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy, in a version adapted for learners. A great way to read one of the most famous Italian books ever written.
How to use Italian short stories to overcome the intermediate plateau
This is the method I use with my students:
- Choose the right level. Pick stories slightly above your level: challenging, but not frustrating.
- Read for context, not for every word. Don’t run to the dictionary. Let the story give you the meaning and focus on overall comprehension.
- Focus on chunks, not single words. Underline useful expressions and practice them in your own sentences.
- Re-read. Short stories are easy to revisit, and repetition is what makes vocabulary and grammar stick.
- Let grammar come naturally. Reading in context, you absorb verb tenses, sentence structure and prepositions without endless drills.
- Talk and write about what you read. Retell the story out loud (even to yourself), discuss it with a teacher or partner, or summarize each chapter in writing.
- Enjoy it. Motivation is everything at the intermediate plateau. Choose stories you actually want to read.
More in my guide on how to learn Italian with short stories.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Italian short stories for intermediate learners?
Graded readers written for A2 to B2 learners, with vocabulary support and audio. Good options include Incontri in Sicilia, Viaggio in Sicilia, Mediterraneo, Gioielli, Caffè e Firenze and, from other publishers, Il gatto scomparso and Un fine settimana a Napoli.
What level is “intermediate” in Italian?
Intermediate usually means B1 and B2 on the CEFR scale. A2/B1 learners are lower intermediate: they can handle short stories with simple past tenses and everyday vocabulary.
How do I get past the intermediate plateau in Italian?
Read a lot at the right level, re-read, and use what you read: retell stories, write summaries and discuss them with a teacher. Short stories are perfect for this.
Should I read Italian stories with audio?
Yes. Reading and listening at the same time trains your ear and your pronunciation, and helps you understand much more.
Read more: Best Italian short stories for beginners (A1/A2) · Italian magazines for learners · the best Italian podcasts
