5 Books To Read If You're Looking For The Next Hunger Games

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Jennifer Lawrence, who's an actor known for standing up to gender inequality in the workplace, may owe her stardom to Suzanne Collins and "The Hunger Games" series. It's a role she took on at just 20 years old, and one that helped define her career in showbiz. Fans of the series will forever associate her with the iconic Katniss Everdeen, and many loyal followers of the series are excited to see her return to Panem for "Sunrise on the Reaping," which is set to release in late 2026.

While all of this is very exciting for dedicated fans of the dystopian series, it still feels quite far away. During the wait, bibliophiles may find it the perfect time to revisit Collins' original novels. But if you've already been there and done that, exploring dystopian novels by other authors can offer fresh perspectives on some of the genre's most compelling themes.

And no, this list isn't here to rehash the famous "Divergent" series or recycle the same titles we recommended to scratch the "Hunger Games" itch after the release of "Sunrise on the Reaping." Instead, we're building on those earlier recommendations, highlighting novels that expand on the dystopian genre, with some offering completely new takes. Each selection in this list was chosen to recapture the tension, emotional roller coaster, and sense of discovery that Collins' series delivered. We hope these books will give our readers the same adrenaline rush they got when they first opened "The Hunger Games."

If you're not up to read a whole series, "The Grace Year" by Kim Liggett is a gripping standalone dystopian novel that blends survival, fear, and emotional intensity into a single story. While this is another YA book, its tone, explored themes, and intensity skew older, making it another compelling read for readers of any age. Liggett tells the story of teenage girls being cast out of the homes and communities they grew up in under the belief that girlhood makes them a threat to society. Forced to survive isolated and in the wilderness until they're deemed "safe" and no longer a threat, the girls will slowly realize that perhaps they aren't the danger after all.

The book boasts a 5-star rating from nearly 60% of Amazon reviewers; and Sabaa Tahir, author of "An Ember in the Ashes," praised it as "a remarkable and timely story of the bonds between women, the cost of breaking those bonds, and the courage it takes to defy a patriarchy intent on crushing feminine strength" (via Amazon). There were a countless number of reviews that stated the story reminded them of "The Hunger Games," with many saying it was the perfect mix of Suzanne Collins' series and "The Handmaid's Tale."

Fans of "The Hunger Games" will love Liggett's original novel for the high-stakes survival scenario, simmering tension, and sharp critique of systems that like to pit people against one another for entertainment.

This book may be one of our most unique picks for this list. Originally published in Korean, the translated version of Soyoung Park's "Snowglobe" was released in early 2024. Entertainment Weekly described it as "'The Hunger Games' meets 'Squid Game.'" Just like Suzanne Collins' series, "Snowglobe" is also a YA book that even adults can enjoy.

The story is set in a frozen future where only one domed city offers warmth and luxury to the lucky ones living in it. Everyone else outside the dome must try their best to survive some brutal conditions while watching the lives of the privileged unfold from far away. Park explores a dystopian society obsessed with stark class inequality and control over the powerless.

Reviewers have raved about the uniqueness of the plot. Though some readers have said that the book has similar vibes to "The Hunger Games," it ultimately stands apart thanks to its distinct concept and tone. A Goodreads reviewer was beyond impressed with the book and said, "I've found a book that fills ['The Hunger Games'-]sized hole in my heart."

Pierce Brown's "Red Rising" is the very first book of a six-part series and sits at the No. 1 spot for best-selling dystopian fiction on Amazon Best Sellers. The book has more than 80,000 Amazon reviews and still maintains a 4.6-star average rating, already boasting a huge fandom. Many "Hunger Games" fans describe Brown's bestseller as significantly more violent than Suzanne Collins' series, with some going as far as to saying the "Red Rising" series is in its very own league, and comparisons to "The Hunger Games" don't fully capture its intensity. That said, a smaller group of readers noted that the series can feel less emotionally grounded than Collins' work.

Darrow is a low-born laborer who discovers the future he's worked so hard for was never truly meant for him. To challenge the society that deceived him, he enters a deadly contest that forces him to confront how far he's willing to go to claim power. Reviewers fell in love with the story's protagonist, and often described him as a hero who is deeply flawed but also compelling. After reading the book, author Scott Sigler kept it short and sweet: "Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow" (via Amazon).

Author John Gwynne was recommended the book by his sons, and admitted he regretted not reading it sooner. In his Goodreads review of the book, he shared, "It is one of those books you read and everything feels effortless, but also brilliant. It's the drive, the incredible storytelling, the immersive world and the characters that sink deep. It's perfection."

Another YA book to make it on this list is "Immortal Consequences" by I.V. Marie. Published in July 2025, this debut novel is the first of the "Souls of Blackwood Academy" series. While this book may be about the afterlife, it features many elements that make dystopian stories such a compelling read: oppressive power structures, forced competition, and characters who are constantly pushed to their wits' end.

There's no doubt Suzanne Collins' series had a major impact on Marie and her writing style; in fact, in an interview with The Nerd Daily, Marie said that "The Hunger Games" was the book that made her want to become a writer. But Marie's "Immortal Consequences" places far less emphasis on romance and prioritizes telling the story of the high-stakes competition, power dynamics, and the struggle for survival. The story is told from the perspectives of six different teens fighting for the chance to rest for eternity.

A Goodreads reviewer who gave the book a 5-star rating simply said, "To put it bluntly, it's like ['Hunger Games'] on magical steroids in the afterlife." Another reviewer described the book as "['The Hunger Games'] but set in Hogwarts" (via Goodreads). Many other reviewers deemed the book a top read of the year.

"Alchemised" by SenLinYu is another must-read for fans of dystopian stories like "The Hunger Games." Many readers were surprised at how much they ended up loving this book, and an Amazon reviewer even said that they "don't remember the last time [that they] gave a [5-star] rating, but here it is." They then go on to say that, "This book took my breath away. The last time I felt this way was after I finished ['The Hunger Games'] series."

SenLinYu's book is the perfect transitional book for all of the millennials who grew up reading "The Hunger Games" in the 2000s and 2010s. In "Alchemised," SenLinYu delicately and intricately tells the story of Helena's journey, while the urgency and intensity weaved into the storytelling holds so much emotional weight. A brutal war has reshaped the world Helena has known, she's been stripped of her freedom, and now uncertainty fills her day-to-day life. Trapped and powerless, Helena must fight a psychological battle where the only way to survive is to remember the truth.

"Alchemised" is perfect for resonating with readers who may feel that they've outgrown "The Hunger Games," but would love to read more high-stakes dystopian novels.

For this list, the last thing we were looking to do is reintroduce books we had already covered in our earlier "Hunger Games" recommendations. We also wanted to stray as far away as possible from books that were repeatedly recommended simply because they share surface-level similarities to Suzanne Collins' series; as well as plots that are too reliant on the romance factor of a protagonist's story. We fell in love with Katniss Everdeen for her resilient and resistance, not her love story! So we set out in search of dystopian books that explore themes of complex power dynamics, survival under extreme conditions, and the emotional toll of living in a heavily oppressed society.

As always, we started with books we had already read. From there, we conducted our usual research on Reddit threads, #BookTok on TikTok, Instagram, and blogs focused on introducing and reviewing books. Once a solid shortlist was formed, we dove into each title and examined the themes and tone. As always, we paid special attention to how well readers responded to the story's overall plot, characters, and emotional impact. Books that didn't meet our review expectations were set aside, as it's always a priority for us to introduce books with strong plots, emotionally rich characters, and staying power.