A Reader’s Guide for Surviving Dystopia

Would you survive living in a dystopia? Let these dystopian YA novels serve as your survival guides.

Tips to Survive Dystopia from The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold:

  • Hide in an abandoned bookstore 

  • Fall in love with the dangerous out-of-towner 

The Last Bookstore on Earth

The Last Bookstore on Earth

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Two teen girls fall in love and fight for survival in an abandoned bookstore weeks before another cataclysmic storm threatens to bring about the end of the world in this unforgettable YA debut. Perfect for fans of Station Eleven and The Last of Us.

“A thoroughly original, intimate, and sometimes harrowing meditation on survival, forgiveness, and learning how to love again at the almost end of the world.”Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Tips to Survive Dystopia from The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew:

  • Don’t trust the Company 

  • Lose your memories with a handsome stranger 

The Dividing Sky

The Dividing Sky

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY AND KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • “A high-stakes story packed with slow-burn pining and plentiful tension.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

A cunning teen memory merchant falls for the handsome rookie officer on her tail in this swoony dystopian romance that’s “one to watch” (Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of The Isles of the Gods).

Tips to Survive Dystopia from the Snowglobe duology by Soyoung Park, Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort:

  • Become a celebrity 

  • Take control of the cameras 

Snowglobe

Snowglobe

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The groundbreaking Korean phenomenon that Entertainment Weekly called “The Hunger Games meets Squid Game”—now in English for the first time!

COSMOPOLITAN BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR • A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

“An immersive and utterly addictive dark dystopian thriller . . . with the eerie, desperate, and exhilarating vibes of Snowpiercer and The Hunger Games.” —Susan Lee, author of Seoulmates

In a world of constant winter, only the citizens of the climate-controlled city of Snowglobe can escape the bitter cold—but this perfect society is hiding dark and dangerous secrets within its frozen heart.

Snowglobe 2

Snowglobe 2

By Soyoung Park

Coming 05.06.25

The groundbreaking Korean phenomenon that Entertainment Weekly called “The Hunger Games meets Squid Game” continues with even more dark secrets and shocking surprises. The temperature is rising and the truth at the center of Chobahm’s frozen world will be revealed in the final installment of this epic dystopian saga.

Tips to Survive Dystopia from the HappyHead duology by Josh Silver:

  • Make friends in all the wrong places 

  • Survive the tests 

HappyHead

HappyHead

A bold new dystopian thriller about an experimental mental health retreat center for young adults where everything is not what it seems—and one boy who will risk everything to escape.

Dead Happy

Dead Happy

The experiment continues in the dark and disturbingly thrilling conclusion to the HappyHead duology where Seb will find the secret to escaping is more heart-wrenching than he ever imagined.

Tips to Survive Dystopia from the Nubia duology by Omar Epps and Clarence A. Haynes:

  • Trust your power 

  • Learn your history 

Nubia: The Awakening

Nubia: The Awakening

From beloved actor and producer Omar Epps and writer Clarence A. Haynes comes the biggest epic fantasy of the year. A powerful saga of three teens, the children of refugees from a fallen African utopia, who must navigate their newfound powers in a climate-ravaged New York City. Perfect for fans of Black Panther and Children of Blood and Bone.

Nubia: The Reckoning

Nubia: The Reckoning

The sequel to Nubia: The Awakening, the epic fantasy from actor and producer Omar Epps and writer Clarence A. Haynes, is now in paperback! A powerful saga of three teens, the children of refugees from a fallen African utopia, who must navigate their newfound powers in a climate-ravaged New York City.

So what do you think? Would you survive living in a dystopia? If you need to brush up on your survival skills, discover more dystopian novels here, then get social with us at @getunderlined!

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