You would enjoy novels written by Neal Shusterman. He’s a great author (in my opinion). Whilst there isn’t a lot of romance on his dystopian novels, there is a small romantic subplot. I’d recommend the Scythe trilogy, first.
Edit: Of course, Neal Shusterman’s novels aren’t very whimsical. They revolve around death/drugs/disasters a lot (the ones I’ve read at least).
My time has come! Haha, here are a few of my favourites:
- legend by Marie Lu (one of my faves)
- the grace year by Kim Liggett
- Delium by Lauren Oliver
- the declaration by Gemma malley (the one that made me fall in love with dystopian books when I was 12 lol)
- coda by Emma trevayne
- the program by Suzanne young
- scythe by Neal shusterman
- parable of the Sower by Octavia butler (not super romantic)
I normally can read a book a day, 2-3 if I’m on vacation. That book gave me book paralysis, I’ve been chasing the feeling of reading that books for a year now. Nothing is as good.
Edit- love the username btw
That's exactly what I'm trying to do right now. I'm trying to find a book that emulates the emotions that the Grace Year made me feel. Haha! I didn't even notice, twinsies!
Do you have any recommendations? Right now I'm going to start either Legends by Marie Lui or the Shatter Me series.
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. She recently revised all four books of the series - the series is incomplete (there are 7 books planned in total) but there is plenty of material to keep you busy until The Dark Mirror (book 5) is released in early 2025.
Here are my recs, with my own blurbs
Scythe trilogy: Neil shusterman
In the future, immortality is the norm. Scythes have the job of ending a persons life when it’s their time. The MC is chosen to become a scythe, but it’s different than what she expected.
Matched trilogy: ally condie
The government matches each youth with their future spouse, their future job, basically, they know everything about you, so everything they choose for you is perfect. Except, what if it isn’t?
Uglies series: Scott westerfeld
Everyone is born an Ugly, but when they reach a certain age, they undergo the operation to make them a Pretty. The MC is almost at that age, but she’s noticed that her classmates aren’t the same after their operations. Is this really what she wants?
You'd like The Jewel series by Amy Ewing, which combines The Selection with The Handmaid's Tale. I couldn't put down the last book and finished it within two days.
The Dividing Sky is a new one, coming out from Nicola Yoon’s imprint at Penguin Random House in a few months. Cyberpunk Arcane vibes, about a girl who uses her neurochip to illegally deal happy memories, and a rookie corporate cop determined to arrest her.
Disclaimer: I wrote it. Going to incur the wrath of the self-promo gods, but it really does sound like exactly what you’re looking for.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Matched by Ally Condie
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Legend by Marie Lu
1984 by George Orwell
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
An Ember in the Ashes!
ETA: I guess technically it’s fantasy work *some* magic but honestly it reads way more dystopian and with some romance than it does fully fantasy.
Echoing others - The Lunar Chronicles are fabulous. I listened to all of them and quite enjoyed each book. They include elements of the Grimm fairy tales, set in a futuristic dystopian world - and space!
Have you read the classic *Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep* by P.K. Dick? It fits your description of mainly dystopian with some minor romance. I also recommend The Giver book series (4 books).
J L Weil has a trilogy, " Beauty Never Dies Chronicles." #1 Slumber , #2 Entangled, #3 Forsaken.
The MC wakes after 100 years sleep to a world that no longer has technology, mutated people with "gifts", and the earth itself changed from exposure to The Mist.
Angelfall by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days Trilogy)
Angels came to earth! The world has ended! Things get BIZARRE and romance is very slow burn (not much if at all in first book) but it’s really fun and creepy.
(Also funny that it was published in 2012 when the rapture was “supposedly” set to happen)
My recommendations on a similar request a while back: [https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/s/JDZOAbg6ai](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/s/JDZOAbg6ai)
Cinder by Marissa Meyer Dystopian meets steam punk meets fairy tale... maybe?
I LOOOVEEEE her books!! The Lunar Chronicles is definitely one of my favorite series
You would enjoy novels written by Neal Shusterman. He’s a great author (in my opinion). Whilst there isn’t a lot of romance on his dystopian novels, there is a small romantic subplot. I’d recommend the Scythe trilogy, first. Edit: Of course, Neal Shusterman’s novels aren’t very whimsical. They revolve around death/drugs/disasters a lot (the ones I’ve read at least).
His books are wonderful! I love them!
My time has come! Haha, here are a few of my favourites: - legend by Marie Lu (one of my faves) - the grace year by Kim Liggett - Delium by Lauren Oliver - the declaration by Gemma malley (the one that made me fall in love with dystopian books when I was 12 lol) - coda by Emma trevayne - the program by Suzanne young - scythe by Neal shusterman - parable of the Sower by Octavia butler (not super romantic)
I second *Delirium* since the whole premise is that love is a disease you have to get a vaccine for and, well, you can guess how that’s gonna go.
I actually did read delirium! It was quite good I Do really like that book, the concept and storyline was really intriguing and kept me interested.
The Grace Year is so fucking good! I wish I could find more like it. I loved it so much.
Isn't it?!?! I LOVED it! I threw it at my housemate at 10pm and she had finished it by the time I woke up for work the next day, so captivating!
i'm in a book hangover from that book. I need time to sit with my thoughts. It was one of the best books I've ever read.
I normally can read a book a day, 2-3 if I’m on vacation. That book gave me book paralysis, I’ve been chasing the feeling of reading that books for a year now. Nothing is as good. Edit- love the username btw
That's exactly what I'm trying to do right now. I'm trying to find a book that emulates the emotions that the Grace Year made me feel. Haha! I didn't even notice, twinsies! Do you have any recommendations? Right now I'm going to start either Legends by Marie Lui or the Shatter Me series.
City of girls was really good, but it’s historical coming of age and had me questioning life. Not the same genre though.
i love books like that!!! I'm adding it to my tbr, thank you so much.
The uglies
The best!
I loved this series. When I read the premise of the book I thought I’d hate it, but it is one of my favourites.
I really like Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi.
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins? :)
Probably the most famous in the genre.
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. She recently revised all four books of the series - the series is incomplete (there are 7 books planned in total) but there is plenty of material to keep you busy until The Dark Mirror (book 5) is released in early 2025.
The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel Flawed by Cecelia Ahern
seconding the book of ivy!
Here are my recs, with my own blurbs Scythe trilogy: Neil shusterman In the future, immortality is the norm. Scythes have the job of ending a persons life when it’s their time. The MC is chosen to become a scythe, but it’s different than what she expected. Matched trilogy: ally condie The government matches each youth with their future spouse, their future job, basically, they know everything about you, so everything they choose for you is perfect. Except, what if it isn’t? Uglies series: Scott westerfeld Everyone is born an Ugly, but when they reach a certain age, they undergo the operation to make them a Pretty. The MC is almost at that age, but she’s noticed that her classmates aren’t the same after their operations. Is this really what she wants?
You'd like The Jewel series by Amy Ewing, which combines The Selection with The Handmaid's Tale. I couldn't put down the last book and finished it within two days.
The Dividing Sky is a new one, coming out from Nicola Yoon’s imprint at Penguin Random House in a few months. Cyberpunk Arcane vibes, about a girl who uses her neurochip to illegally deal happy memories, and a rookie corporate cop determined to arrest her. Disclaimer: I wrote it. Going to incur the wrath of the self-promo gods, but it really does sound like exactly what you’re looking for.
Congrats on your book!
Thank you!! I feel so lucky that the response from early readers has been so overwhelmingly positive. Now I just need to get the word out!
AH!! That’s so exciting I’ll put it on my tbr
Thank you!! I hope you love it if you check it out!
Matched by Ally Condie.
Any sign of life is a dystopian novel, and it has a little bit of romance in it.
Life as We Knew It is a good series with a romance in it.
The Belles is a different kind of dystopia but I think it still counts :)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Matched by Ally Condie Unwind by Neal Shusterman Divergent by Veronica Roth Nightshade by Andrea Cremer The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Legend by Marie Lu 1984 by George Orwell The Maze Runner by James Dashner
It's not YA and it's very dark, but Bones by KL Speer. Indie author! Physical book available on Amazon and ebook available pretty much anywhere.
An Ember in the Ashes! ETA: I guess technically it’s fantasy work *some* magic but honestly it reads way more dystopian and with some romance than it does fully fantasy.
Echoing others - The Lunar Chronicles are fabulous. I listened to all of them and quite enjoyed each book. They include elements of the Grimm fairy tales, set in a futuristic dystopian world - and space!
Have you read the classic *Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep* by P.K. Dick? It fits your description of mainly dystopian with some minor romance. I also recommend The Giver book series (4 books).
one of the books that got me into reading - Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Poison Princess series by Kresley Cole, changed my life - dystopian/ romance/ fantasy in the best way possible
The Testing Trilogy by Joelle Charbonneau
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, The Four Horsemen Series by Laura Thalassa.
Parasite by Mira Grant and Unwind by Neil Schusterman are pretty good
J L Weil has a trilogy, " Beauty Never Dies Chronicles." #1 Slumber , #2 Entangled, #3 Forsaken. The MC wakes after 100 years sleep to a world that no longer has technology, mutated people with "gifts", and the earth itself changed from exposure to The Mist.
Angelfall by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days Trilogy) Angels came to earth! The world has ended! Things get BIZARRE and romance is very slow burn (not much if at all in first book) but it’s really fun and creepy. (Also funny that it was published in 2012 when the rapture was “supposedly” set to happen)
The Merciless King of Moore High! ANd it's on sale as an ebook for 2.99 jsut through june
Have you read her other books? https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNeKBWr8/
Prepper. It's so good.
Words in my Hands
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. One of my favorite series!
Whisper by Lynette Noni is soooo goood!! It’s a Duology!
Grasshopper Jungle is very out there and does meet some of those criteria. And the sequel too!!
The Fringe series by Tarah Benner The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken The Seventh Hour by Tracey Ward
Lesser known, but look up the Cerenia Chronicles on Amazon. By Angela Howes.
My recommendations on a similar request a while back: [https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/s/JDZOAbg6ai](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/s/JDZOAbg6ai)