Want to Read Better? This Tool Shows You How
Have you ever read a novel that just flowed, where every sentence felt effortless and every paragraph pulled you deeper into the story?
That ease is rarely accidental. Behind it lies clarity, structure, and rhythm. The kind of craftsmanship that’s hard to describe but easy to feel.
At Eternal Reads, we celebrate books that make us feel this way — curated across all genres, always timeless in their impact. But what if you could see what makes great writing work? What if you had a tool to help train your eye?
That’s where something unexpected comes in: a reading-focused writing tool.
Using Reader Reaction to Understand Great Writing
As the founder of WordCountAI.com, I originally built the tool for writers—to help them privately test their drafts. But over time, I found it useful as a reader, too.
The “Reader Reaction” feature simulates how a casual reader might experience a piece of writing:
Does the text flow naturally?
Are some parts confusing?
What sentences slow down the pacing?
Which parts are strongest, and why?
I started pasting in excerpts from favorite books, essays, and short stories. And what came back helped me notice the invisible work great authors do:
The balance between clarity and style, the careful sentence construction, the momentum in each paragraph.
For instance, when I ran a passage from Beloved by Toni Morrison through the tool, I saw how the rhythm of her sentences added emotional weight. The tool surfaced how much was communicated not just through what was said, but how it was said.
It gave me a deeper respect for the craft behind the books we recommend in reviews like The Best Short Books for Quick Reads, Top Books for First-Time Readers, and our roundup of Must-Read Nonfiction Titles.
A Tool for Readers Who Want to See More
You don’t need to be a writer to benefit.
Even as a reader, using a tool like this makes the invisible more visible:
Why does this passage resonate?
Why did that sentence feel clunky?
How do good writers guide your eye?
If you’re curious about what makes good writing work, try it out with a paragraph from your current read.
Want to test it on a passage from a gripping thriller? Try something from our Best Thriller Books or explore a scene from one of our Dark Romance Novels.
And if you’re looking for inspiration, explore our growing library of timeless literary gems — from Books That Will Make You Question Life’s Meaning to Psychological Thrillers Better Than The Silent Patient. Curated reads that will captivate your imagination — and now, maybe, sharpen your eye too.
-Hakan
Founder, EternalReads.com