The YA Books Everyone Lied About Reading in High School

By Paige Sutton February 24, 2025

We all have that one book we pretended to read for English class, right? Whether it was because the movie version was “good enough” or we were too busy texting our friends to crack open the spine, these books have been passed off as required reading for generations. But let’s be real—how many of us actually read them? Time to spill the tea on the YA classics we’ve all lied about—and maybe even secretly loved anyway.

The Classics We All Pretended to Read

1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
What it’s about: Holden Caulfield’s disillusionment with the adult world and his search for authenticity in the midst of adolescent chaos.
Why we lied: It’s the book you were supposed to “get” in high school, the symbol of teen angst and rebellion. But did anyone actually read all those pages of Holden’s existential musings, or did we just skip to the SparkNotes and pretend we got it?
Why we secretly love it: Holden might have been whiny, but his confusion and raw vulnerability made him the reluctant voice of every teenager who ever felt a little lost in the world. Even if we didn’t read it cover to cover, we felt that “I’m not like other people” vibe.

2. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
What it’s about: A dystopian society where people are bred for specific roles and happiness is manufactured.
Why we lied: It’s the book that teachers always threw on the syllabus to get us thinking about societal control and consumerism. But let’s face it—did anyone actually finish it, or did we just watch the film adaptations to save time?
Why we secretly love it: The world Huxley created is as unsettling as it is fascinating. Even if you barely skimmed the chapters, you probably walked away thinking, yeah, we’re all a little too reliant on technology.

3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
What it’s about: Nick Carraway’s observations of the dazzling, tragic world of Jay Gatsby and his obsession with Daisy Buchanan.
Why we lied: This is the quintessential “book you had to say you read because it was on every high school syllabus.” Let’s be honest—half of us just faked it by reading the plot summary and pulling a few quotes about Gatsby’s parties.
Why we secretly love it: Even if we didn’t read it in high school, the allure of Gatsby’s world still calls to us. The themes of desire, wealth, and the American Dream are timeless—whether or not we read the entire book.

The Required Reading We Glossed Over

1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
What it’s about: A group of boys stranded on an island descend into savagery.
Why we lied: There was always that one kid in class who couldn’t stop talking about how “deep” it was, but let’s face it—we were too busy texting or browsing Reddit to pay attention.
Why we secretly love it: The story’s dark commentary on human nature is still thought-provoking, even if we pretended we understood the deeper meaning. Plus, the imagery of those boys turning into savage “hunters” sticks with you forever.

2. 1984 by George Orwell
What it’s about: Winston Smith’s struggle against a totalitarian regime where “Big Brother” watches everyone.
Why we lied: If we’re being honest, most of us didn’t make it past the first few chapters without giving up and resorting to those damn summaries.
Why we secretly love it: We all know the Big Brother references by heart. The book’s exploration of surveillance and government control feels eerily relevant today, making it a classic worth revisiting as an adult.

3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
What it’s about: The friendship between two disenfranchised migrant workers, George and Lennie, during the Great Depression.
Why we lied: It’s short, it’s simple—but there’s a reason we all hated being assigned this one. The plot is emotional and heavy, and let’s be real—we were more interested in texting than facing the harsh realities of the Great Depression.
Why we secretly love it: The tragedy of George and Lennie’s friendship resonates long after the last page is turned. It’s heart-wrenching, and despite our teenage protestations, we couldn’t help but get caught up in their bond.

The YA Books We All “Claimed” to Read for Fun

1. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
What it’s about: Bella Swan falls for the mysterious vampire Edward Cullen, caught in a world of forbidden love and supernatural danger.
Why we lied: Let’s be honest—everyone read Twilight, even if we didn’t admit it. The obsession was real. But most of us claimed we were “too cool” for it, even though we’d devoured every book and had the Team Edward or Team Jacob debate on lock.
Why we secretly love it: It was a cultural phenomenon. The angst, the passion, the glittering vampires—it was impossible not to be swept up in the madness. We might’ve pretended it wasn’t cool, but deep down, we were all living for that slow-burn romance.

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
What it’s about: Harry Potter, a young wizard, discovers his magical heritage and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Why we lied: We all acted like we were “too old” for Harry Potter once the books hit peak popularity—but who didn’t secretly read at least one or two of the books, right?
Why we secretly love it: Harry’s world is so rich, so compelling, that it transcends any age. The magic, the friendships, the triumph over evil—it still gives us chills.

Why Do We Lie About These Books?

Fear of Judgement:
We wanted to appear “above” the crowd, especially when it came to books deemed “too popular” or “too mainstream.”
Peer Pressure:
Some of these books were assigned reading, and we didn’t want to be the one who couldn’t recite the ending—or admit we didn’t get past the first chapter.
Reluctance to Join the Hype:
Everyone loves a good underdog. The more a book gets hyped, the more we try to distance ourselves from it. But deep down, we know we were there, reading in secret.

Honorable Mentions

The Giver by Lois Lowry: A futuristic dystopia with a lot of philosophical weight.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: The poignant and heartbreaking diary of a young Jewish girl during WWII.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Its themes of justice and race were sometimes lost on us in high school—but we get it now.

The Verdict on YA Books We Lied About Reading

It’s time to fess up: We all pretended to read these YA books at some point. But here’s the truth—they’re all classics for a reason. Whether it’s because they spoke to us when we were teens or because they still hit hard as adults, these books remain essential to the YA experience. So maybe we lied about reading them in high school, but we can admit now—we love them just as much as everyone else.

PS here’s a big list of best YA books.