Using a questionnaire study, this research examines the perceived reading wants and needs of two groups of high-school students, one with L1 English and FL Spanish in the US, and the other with L1 Spanish and FL English in Spain. The results suggest that the perceived wants in FL Spanish are considerably greater than those in FL English, while the perceived needs are marginally higher far FL English. Par the English and Spanish L1s, the perceived wants and needs are remarkably similar in distribution, especially the needs, and the perceived wants in both cases far outweigh the perceived needs. In pedagogical terms, teachers and educators need in take seriously into considerations student reading needs and wants across the curriculum in first, second, and foreign languages in order to see not only improvements in terms of reading competency but also to instil and promote the desire in read.