Looking For A New Dystopian Fix? Give These Books Like Divergent A Read

In this story, our main character, Emeline, is Defective, so she works diligently and quietly under Illum's banishment to keep her family safe. Secretly, she dreams of something different than sorting old art, then gets her chance when she’s chosen as a Mate to help in the procreation of the earth. 

She’s put into a Courting process to be the Mate of none other than an Illum named Collin. But although Emeline is pleasantly surprised, she finds herself drawn to the leader of a rebellion, Hal.

With its release just a few months ago, Conform is the newest book on this list. Even better, its sequel and prequel come out this year—and there’s still more to come! It’s definitely on my list of reads to try out in 2026 (cause hey, you’re not the only one who needs more good dystopian books like Divergent to read).

The love-struck protagonist of this story, America Singer, lives at the near bottom of her world’s (also a future United States) caste system. She’s already in love with a boy in the caste below her, but when the chance comes to help her family by entering the Selection, a bachelorette-esque competition to pick Prince Maxon’s princess wife, America must decide between desire and duty.

For me, this book was a perfect dystopian read that leans into that classic romance subplot. It still has the smart female lead, looming tension, and class hierarchy, but if you enjoy light love-triangle romances over gore-filled action-adventure, pick this book up next. It’s a really fun, easy read with likeable characters, an interesting story, and lots of cute budding romance.

In the futuristic Republic of America, a deadly plague wreaks havoc on the Poor Sectors, while the Rich Sectors remain healthy and educated. The wealthy 15-year-old June Iparis has always been a competent intellectual prodigy, but is secretly unraveling after the sudden murder of her older brother, Metias.

The poor Daniel “Day” Wing is the same age as June, but he’s the Republic’s most wanted criminal. His forte lies in street smarts, protecting his family, and surviving as the suspected murderer of Metias himself. The two teenagers' worlds collide as June seeks to avenge her brother and Day searches for a way to cure his brother from the plague.

Like many of the other recommendations on this list of books similar to Divergent, Legend is set in a future time in which our present world is described as their history. I really enjoyed Marie Lu’s masterful worldbuilding, and this book’s take on futuristic societies might be my favorite yet.

The world in Wool is toxic, so humanity has created an underground Silo where everything is carefully run. The Deputy Sheriff of the Silo steps down from his position to enter the outside world; now, enter Juliette, a mechanic, who takes his place.

Soon enough after joining, she’s led to wonder if the truth those in the Silo take for granted might not be what it seems. What if their underground world doesn’t actually promise true safety, or even freedom?

Good news: Wool is one of the books on this list that has a highly rated screen adaptation! You can find it under the name Silo on Apple TV—if you haven’t already watched.

The book opens with the main character, Thomas, waking up in the Glade with no memory of his past. The Glade is a safe community full of boys like him, and few venture out into the mysterious Maze that surrounds it. Few, that is, except for Thomas. He’s intent on solving the Maze's puzzle, which could lead to their freedom... If the Maze doesn’t kill them all first. 

The Maze Runner had me intrigued from the discombobulating first chapter to the cliffhanger at the end of the first book, and honestly, I couldn’t wait to continue reading the series. 

Just like all the best young adult novels of its time, it hooks you with a question of “what’s going on?” and doesn’t let go.

In a futuristic America, now called Panem, twelve Districts suffer in enforced poverty while those in the Capitol enjoy lives of luxury. As punishment for their past rebellion, every year each District offers up two teenagers to compete in a battle to the death known as the Hunger Games, which is televised as entertainment for the Capitol.

After volunteering as tribute, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen from District Twelve promises her sister that she’ll win and come home alive. However, much stands between Katniss and victory—if winning the Hunger Games could be called a victory at all.

The games, ironically, are entertaining and intriguing. Which leads me to the best (and in many ways, most unfortunate) part of this story: the truth it tells. Just watching the news or perusing the latest pop culture provides plenty of parallels between Panem and our world. 

The main character, Bernard, is a lower-class citizen in a technologically advanced, futuristic London run by the World State, which experimentally modifies and sorts its people based on intelligence.

Lenina, another important character, appears to be the ideal citizen. But when they meet John, “the Savage,” who grew up differently outside the control of the World State, Bernard and Lenina begin to question the world they’ve always known. Is a life full of cheap happiness and harmony worth it, at the cost of individuality?

If you have a taste for older literature and want to dive deeper into the dystopian genre and see where it all started, be sure to read this book. I promise you won’t regret it!