I think you can start with easy ones, and then move on to a higher level... so my list will be like this: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald(actually this is my own first English novel, too : ) The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Flipped (I love the MOVIE!!! ) The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan(I love this cuz it is a representative cross-cultural novel, focusing on cultural difference between China(East) and the US (West) as well as American dreams.. ) H.P series : ) and of course Jane Austin's novels !!! Classical, just pick the one you like! : o plus if you prefer short ones, I recommend Alice Munro and Raymond Carver's short stories!!! A piece of advice, start with the one you had already read in your native language! Good luck : )