Books like The Great Gatsby

If you liked The Great Gatsby, read Of Mice and Men, Their Eyes Were Watching God, or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Literary Fiction · 1070L · grades 10–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of American Dream, wealth and class, and obsession. The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 10–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Great Gatsby

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Why each is a match

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Of Mice and Men630L
Shares themes of American Dream, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Literary Fiction). Amazon →
Their Eyes Were Watching God1080L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (1080L vs 1070L). Amazon →
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time1090L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (1090L vs 1070L). Amazon →
Pride and Prejudice1100L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (1100L vs 1070L). Amazon →
A Separate Peace1110L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (1110L vs 1070L). Amazon →
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn980L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (980L vs 1070L). Amazon →
The Awakening960L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (960L vs 1070L). Amazon →
Invisible Man950L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (950L vs 1070L). Amazon →
The Joy Luck Club930L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (930L vs 1070L). Amazon →
Purple Hibiscus920L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (920L vs 1070L). Amazon →

Books like The Great Gatsby for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

  • The Pearl by John Steinbeck · 1010L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (1010L vs 1070L).
  • Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes · 910L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (910L vs 1070L).
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee · 870L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (870L vs 1070L).
  • A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines · 750L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (8–12).
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare · grades 8–12 — Shares themes of illusion and reality, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (8–12).

Books like The Great Gatsby for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

  • The Pearl by John Steinbeck · 1010L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (1010L vs 1070L).
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison · 920L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (920L vs 1070L).
  • Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes · 910L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (910L vs 1070L).
  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe · 890L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (890L vs 1070L).
  • Beloved by Toni Morrison · 870L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (870L vs 1070L).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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