Best Review Book for Nursing School (2026): 5 Compared

Nursing students hunting for the best review book for nursing school face a wall of similar-looking titles, and picking the wrong one costs study time. We compared five review books by how directly they serve a nursing student, what is inside, the edition date, page count, stated reading age and value, using only what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Nursing Success Bundle by MyNurseNotes	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Saunders NCLEX-PN Review by Silvestri	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Lippincott Q&A Review by Billings	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
4	ReMar Quick Facts by Callion	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Kaplan NCLEX-RN Review by Kaplan	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Nursing Success Bundle by MyNurseNotes

MyNurseNotes.com·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 407-page set of handwritten-style notes for nursing students who want concise visual review, with a stated reading age of 18 years and up.

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Pros

• 407 pages of handwritten-style notes, published January 1, 2024.
• Concise format the description pitches at visual learners and on-the-go review.
• Stated reading age of 18 years and up matches nursing students.

Cons

• No practice question count is stated in the listing.
• Notes format, not a full Q&A review with rationales.
• Published by the author's own imprint rather than an established test-prep publisher.

2

Saunders NCLEX-PN Review by Silvestri

Linda Anne Silvestri PhD RN ANEF FAAN·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 1112-page, 9th-edition comprehensive review for the NCLEX-PN with more than 4,600 practice questions and an Evolve companion website.

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Pros

• More than 4,600 practice questions in the text and on Evolve.
• 9th edition published April 10, 2024, the newest edition date here.
• Detailed rationales for correct and incorrect answers, plus test-taking strategies.

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• Written for the NCLEX-PN, not the NCLEX-RN.
• 1112 pages is a bigger commitment than the 170-page ReMar.

3

Lippincott Q&A Review by Billings

Diane Billings·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 1152-page, 14th-edition Q&A review for the NCLEX-RN with 6 comprehensive exams and thousands of NCLEX-style questions.

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Pros

• 1152 pages, 14th edition, the most pages of any pick here.
• 6 comprehensive exams with detailed rationales for answers.
• Thousands of NCLEX-style questions aligned to the NCSBN test plan.

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• Published March 7, 2023, older than the April 2024 Saunders edition.
• Q&A format suits practice-heavy study, not readers wanting full content lessons.

4

ReMar Quick Facts by Callion

Regina M. Callion MSN RN·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 170-page quick-facts book on med-surg and pharmacology for nursing students who want condensed review, with a stated reading age of 15 years and up.

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Pros

• 170 pages, the most condensed pick here.
• Covers med-surg and pharmacology for Next-Gen exams.
• Stated reading age of 15 years and up.

Cons

• Narrow scope: med-surg and pharmacology only, not full NCLEX content.
• The description calls it a pre-sale resource, so check the listing for the final edition.
• No practice question count is stated in the listing.

5

Kaplan NCLEX-RN Review by Kaplan

Kaplan Nursing·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 744-page, 9th-edition content review guide for the NCLEX-RN organized around the NCLEX test plan.

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Pros

• 744 pages organized around the NCLEX test plan.
• 9th edition with Kaplan's Decision Tree strategy.
• Concise outlines and quick-reference tables for efficient review.

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• Published March 7, 2023, older than the 2024 picks.
• No practice question count is stated in the listing.

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More picks to compare

• Saunders Clinical Judgment by SilvestriFor students who want 1,200 practice questions on clinical judgment and test-taking strategies.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a nursing student, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age where one is given. Two of the five listings state a reading age: the Nursing Success Bundle at 18 years and up and the ReMar Quick Facts at 15 years and up. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best review book for nursing school

Match the book to the exam

The Saunders Comprehensive Review is written for the NCLEX-PN, while the Lippincott Q&A Review and the Kaplan Content Review Guide are written for the NCLEX-RN. Pick the book written for the exam you will take. For subject-specific review, see our best review book for pharmacology.

Check the edition date before you buy

For test prep books, the edition date matters. The Saunders here is the 9th edition published April 10, 2024; the Lippincott is the 14th edition and the Kaplan is the 9th edition, both published March 7, 2023. Confirm the edition on the listing before you buy. For certification-specific picks, see our best review books for FNP certification.

Decide how much practice you need

Question counts vary widely: the Saunders lists more than 4,600 practice questions, the Lippincott lists thousands of NCLEX-style questions across 6 comprehensive exams, and the ReMar Quick Facts lists no question count at all. If you learn by doing questions, pick a Q&A-heavy book; if you want condensed notes, the 170-page ReMar or the 407-page Nursing Success Bundle fit.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and publication date on the listing: the picks here range from March 7, 2023 to April 10, 2024.
• Confirm which exam the book targets: the Saunders is written for the NCLEX-PN, the Lippincott and Kaplan for the NCLEX-RN.
• Check whether a companion website or answer key is included: the Saunders and Lippincott describe companion websites, the others do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book should a PN student start with?

The Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination, 9th edition, is written for the NCLEX-PN and lists more than 4,600 practice questions.

Do any of these books list a reading age?

Two do: the Nursing Success Bundle lists a reading age of 18 years and up, and the ReMar Quick Facts lists 15 years and up. The other three list no reading age.

Which edition of the Kaplan guide is listed here?

The 9th edition, published March 7, 2023, with 744 pages.

Still deciding? Our top pickNursing Success Bundle by MyNurseNotes

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Related lists

See every licensing and certification list and all test prep lists. Also see our best review book for med surg certification. Also see our best review book for PANRE.

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