Next Read Club

Books Like The Catcher in the Rye

If you finished The Catcher in the Rye and want more of the same, start here. A restless teenager wanders New York City for a few days, furious at how phony the adult world seems to be.

What tends to stick with readers is its thought-provoking, emotional and coming of age feel. The voice is the whole book, and it's still unmistakable decades later. Below are 7 books that carry that feeling in different ways, matched on shared mood, themes and reading experience. The Catcher in the Rye is a short, easy-paced read (reading level: easy to follow), so we've noted where each pick is quicker, slower or heavier.

Cover of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The book you loved

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

7 books you might enjoy

  1. Cover of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

    1.

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower

    Stephen Chbosky

    Like The Catcher in the Rye, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is emotional. Both carry the #coming-of-age tag. It's an easier read than The Catcher in the Rye.

    Short · Easy pace · Beginner-friendly

    Explore this book →Books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  2. Cover of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    2.

    The Great Gatsby

    F. Scott Fitzgerald

    If it was the thought-provoking and emotional side of The Catcher in the Rye you loved, The Great Gatsby delivers it too. Both carry the #classic tag. The pace is quicker than The Catcher in the Rye's.

    Short · Fast pace · Easy to follow

    Explore this book →Books like The Great Gatsby
  3. Cover of Normal People by Sally Rooney

    3.

    Normal People

    Sally Rooney

    Normal People shares The Catcher in the Rye's emotional appeal. It runs a bit longer than The Catcher in the Rye.

    Medium · Fast pace · Beginner-friendly

    Explore this book →Books like Normal People
  4. Cover of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    4.

    To Kill a Mockingbird

    Harper Lee

    To Kill a Mockingbird shares The Catcher in the Rye's thought-provoking and emotional appeal. Both carry the #classic tag. It runs a bit longer than The Catcher in the Rye.

    Medium · Easy pace · Easy to follow

    Explore this book →Books like To Kill a Mockingbird
  5. Cover of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

    5.

    One Hundred Years of Solitude

    Gabriel Garcia Marquez

    Like The Catcher in the Rye, One Hundred Years of Solitude is thought-provoking and emotional. Both carry the #classic tag. Expect a bigger commitment than The Catcher in the Rye.

    Long · Slow pace · Challenging

    Explore this book →Books like One Hundred Years of Solitude
  6. Cover of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    6.

    The Little Prince

    Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    The Little Prince shares The Catcher in the Rye's emotional appeal. Both carry the #classic tag. It's an easier read than The Catcher in the Rye.

    Short · Easy pace · Beginner-friendly

    Explore this book →Books like The Little Prince
  7. Cover of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

    7.

    Jane Eyre

    Charlotte Bronte

    Like The Catcher in the Rye, Jane Eyre is thought-provoking and emotional. Both carry the #classic tag. Expect a bigger commitment than The Catcher in the Rye.

    Long · Slow pace · Moderate

    Explore this book →Books like Jane Eyre

How to choose

  • Want it easier? The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the gentlest read here.
  • Want something faster-paced? Try The Great Gatsby.
  • Ready for something heavier? One Hundred Years of Solitude is the most demanding pick.

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