books you should read BEFORE you're 20

The books that made me feel seen as a teenager.

Mar 04, 2025

All over the internet, we see the famous “books you should read in your 20s” or “things you should do in your 20s” but I think we lack to give advice to people younger than 20. I know I personally needed much advice during my teen years and some book recs would have helped, so here it is my recommendations to everyone younger than 20 (and older too because you should read these books at some point in your life):

1. Catcher In The Rye - J.D. Salinger

There is a reason why so many English teachers force kids to read this book in high school. Catcher In The Rye is one of the easiest classics to read because its narration is so raw and relatable to teens. The reader follows Holden Caulfield's coming of age in a post-war modern world, except he just doesn't want to grow up. He tries to escape adulthood but because that is impossible, he faces a few problems along the way. The book takes place mainly in New York City in the 1950s. You can’t help but feel the post-WWII feel of the story and this fear of the world. Despite being an old book, it is impossible not to relate to the main character as teen angst is timeless.

2. Perks Of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

At this point, I expect you to have AT LEAST seen the movie. If you haven’t yet, just skip to the book and watch the film later.

I can’t put into words how beautiful and tragic this story is. The book follows Charlie, the main character, starting his freshman year of high school in a new school where he is forced to find new friends. Because of his shyness, he struggles with that at first but then ends up finding a group of seniors who accept him for who he is. The problem is that Charlie keeps everything to himself and doesn’t share much, leading him to write letters to this unknown person telling him how he really feels. Those letters are basically to the reader and are a way for us to follow Charlie’s thoughts and feelings. This book talks about all the weirdness of being in high school and never really fitting in, while still having a deeper story behind it all.

3. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Sáenz

This one is one of the most wholesome books I have ever read. It is a super easy and light read that still has the depth of “the secrets of the universe.” It feels like a big lesson on friendship, love, sexuality, family, and (this one hits personally hard for me) being an immigrant. Ari and Dante are complete opposites in personality, yet they find a way to discover life and come of age together. Unlike the last two books I mentioned, this one brings topics that are not usually talked about in teen books in a casual way. It explores “embarrassing” feelings in such a beautiful and positive light that you can’t help but see a bit of yourself or others in the characters.

4. Bonjour Tristesse - Françoise Sagan

Yes. Finally, a book written by a woman. Or better, a teen girl.

I kid you not, the author wrote and published this book at the ripe age of 18. It feels like it was written by a young person but not in an unprofessional and naive way. It just feels real to what an 18-year-old girl would write. It’s angsty, melancholic, and sexual. I bet Sabrina Carpenter would love this one. It is about Cécile, a teen girl spending a happy summer away with her widowed father and his girlfriend—until Anne arrives. Anne is a woman full of personality who is set to get everything she wants, creating a female competition with Cécile. It talks about feminine relationships with a tone of admiration and hate at the same time. For me, the book is basically about Cécile and Anne, but there is so much more than that.

5. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

This one is really for all ages but I think there is a benefit in reading this book in the middle of college apps and confusion about what you want out of life. The Alchemist has nothing to do with high school or being a teenager. It is about life and the universe. It is almost a guide that says everything is going to be ok because you still have so much ahead. Life is a winding road and as a teenager, you still have to go through a lot of roadblocks to get your final destination. You will see that through the eyes of Santiago, a shepherd from Spain looking for a treasure. It is a super short and light read that will make you feel wiser about life. After I read this book I finally decided what major I wanted to study in college so that might somehow help you out too.

Thank you so much for reading this far and being part of my substack journey! I can’t explain how much I love this app and this type of content. Let me know if you have any other book recs.