"When I was in fifth grade, I was an avid reader—so one of my elementary school teachers bought me a pin that said, “I read banned books.” I proudly attached the pin to my pink backpack and went on my merry way. The book in question? The only one I was aware of at the time: Of Mice and Men.
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Now, 15 years later, I know a lot more banned books. And yes, I still proudly read them (though I’ve since lost my beloved pin). Of course, I know that not everyone shares my penchant for reading old, classic books about American culture and history; I do know that people looooooove Colleen Hoover and ACOTAR. Turns out, both CoHo and Sarah J. Maas’s books—and more beloved series—are being banned this year. If Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies is on a viral book ban list, that’s how you know we’re super cooked! In the meantime, you might as well stock up on some of your favorite titles. Here are nine unexpected books you didn’t know are at risk of no longer being accessible in schools, libraries, and book clubs, according to PEN America.
In A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre is whisked away into the dangerous, alluring world of the Fae by the High Lord of the Spring Court. Throughout her adventures, she’ll fall in love, lose her heart, face her demons, and learn what she is truly capable of. The world of A Court of Thorns and Roses is expanded in book five with Nesta’s story, and there’s more of Prythian to come.
The cold is returning in Winterfell, a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime. In the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister forces are brewing outside the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. The fate of the Starks and their allies hangs perilously in the balance as they attempt to win the deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.
A National Book Award finalist, A Little Life follows four college classmates after they graduate and move to New York City in pursuit of fame and fortune. The four men’s relationships are tinged with addiction, pride, and success, and each of them is tied to each other through their connection to the enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by unspeakable childhood trauma. A Little Life is a hymn to brotherly bonds and the families we make for ourselves.
Set in a wealthy town in California, Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies follows three women at different crossroads in their adult lives. Funny and passionate Madeline is a force to be reckoned with—she rarely forgives anyone. Celeste is undeniably beautiful, but she’s paying the price in her family for the illusion of perfection. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny. When a dead body shows up after a party, all three women become increasingly suspicious and vigilant.
Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. In Panem, the shining Capital is cruel and ruthless, keeping the surrounding 12 districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. When 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps in to take her sister’s place in the games, she is sure she is going to die—but without really meaning to, she becomes a contender.
If you didn’t know, now you know: the iconic Gossip Girl TV series that we’ve all rewatched hundreds of times was based on a bestselling novel by Cecily von Ziegesar. Upper East Side it-girl Serena van der Woodsen is back from a mysterious stint at boarding school, and her entire class is shaken by her return. With an anonymous gossip columnist reporting the students’ every move, no one’s secrets are safe.
If you were on the internet in 2017, I know you remember this iconic book of poetry posted all over everyone’s stories. Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey is about survival—focusing on four different types of pain through four consecutive chapters, the book explores the experiences of violence, love, abuse, loss, and femininity.
Casey McQuiston is one of the nation’s most beloved queer romance writers—now, her most popular book is being banned. First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a Prince this side of the Atlantic—he works for his mother, President Ellen Claremont, as a marketer. Unfortunately, this means he has to interact with his longtime nemesis, Prince Henry. When the two are forced to fake a friendship for the media, suddenly, the two become more than friends.
No—even CoHo isn’t safe from impending book bans. Dean Holder both captivates and terrifies 17-year-old Sky. He’s a guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her that she’s never had before. Sky knows Holder is nothing but trouble, but she struggles to keep him at a distance and finally caves to his pursuit. As soon as Sky and Holder are dating, he flips on a dime, and she realizes the dark truth about him that will change her life forever.
Emma Ginsberg, Associate Editor
Emma is a writer, editor, and podcast producer who has been creating at The Everygirl since 2021. She writes for all sections on the site, edits the Entertainment and Community sections, and helps produce The Everygirl Podcast. With a degree in American Studies, Emma is especially passionate about evaluating the impact pop culture and internet culture have on the day-to-day lives of real women.