I was lucky enough to be a teenager during the dystopian craze. Back in 2008, when The Hunger Games was released, there was a wave of dystopian books being published. Divergent, Matched, The Maze Runner, and more marked an exciting time for young adult readers. Ever since then, I have been chasing the high that was the 2000s-2010s. There have been a couple of dystopian books released in the past couple of years that I have been adding to my TBR list with this goal in mind.
But of course, like every other book that I am dying to read, these books sit on my TBR for years, never to be touched. But lucky for my lengthy TBR, I am in a reading mood. This means my desire to read all of these dystopian books released in recent years has come back.
So, if you are also looking for some more recent dystopian books, keep reading! I am going to focus on dystopian books released in the past five years, 2018-2023.
Recently Released Dystopian Books
Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling
Title: Camp Zero
Author: Michelle Min Sterling
Publish Date: April 4, 2023
Publisher: Atria Books
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In the world of Camp Zero, only some have survived the effects of climate change. Rose and her mother are a part of this group and have found themselves at a camp in northern Canada. However, the longer they stay at this camp the weirder things get. They begin to think that there is something up with the architect that lives and works at the camp as well as a mysterious group of woman soldiers working nearby at a former climate research center.
We have all witnessed the drastic changes our planet is going through, so I know this book will hit close to home. This book has been on my TBR since its release this month, and I can’t wait to read it.
Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
Title: Hell Followed With Us
Author: Andrew Joseph White
Publish Date: June 7, 2022
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
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Benji, a trans teenager, has finally escaped the cult that raised him, which happened to be the cult that caused the destruction of the world’s population. Once free, he finds solace with a group of teens from the local LGBTQ+ center. Here he learns that the cult he escaped from infected him with a bioweapon that will eventually turn him into a monster.
This is a dystopian story mixed with urban fantasy and science fiction, which makes me so excited to read it. Some of the best genres are mixed together!
The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings
Title: The Women Could Fly
Autor: Megan Giddings
Publish Date: August 9, 2022
Publisher: Amistad
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After Josephine’s mother disappears, she hears all sorts of theories as to where she has gone, even that her mother was a witch. However, this theory is scary in a world where witches are real and put on trial for that type of behavior. Fourteen years later, Jo is finally ready to move on with her life. However, she can’t because the government has ruled that any woman not married by 30 must be registered and watched constantly by authorities. Being 28, Jo’s autonomy is on the line, and she feels like she is losing control of her life.
This book sounds so fascinating and a little scary. This is definitely going to be one of those books I will think about long after I finish the last page.
The Farm by Joanne Ramos
Title: The Farm
Author: Joanne Ramos
Publish Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Random House
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There is a farm where people get paid to go to, full of private chefs, wellness coaches, and more. It sounds like a dream except for the fact that for 9 months, you are owned by said farm, where your only task is to create the perfect baby for a paying customer. Jane was so happy when she was selected for this as the payout for this job is life-changing. However, the longer she stays on the farm, the more she wants to reconnect with those outside, like her daughter. However, leaving the farm would mean losing the money.
Honestly, I have no idea if this would be a book I would enjoy, but I am willing to try. It could either be really interesting or the complete opposite, which is what I am getting from the reviews on Goodreads. I guess I will have to see for myself.
The Book of M by Peng Shepherd
Title: The Book of M
Author: Peng Shepherd
Publish Date: June 5, 2018
Publisher: William Morrow
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Suddenly, people are beginning to lose their shadows and with this, all of their memories. This is dubbed, the Forgetting. Ory and Max are trying to avoid this by staying hidden in an abandoned hotel in the woods. However, one day Max loses her shadow as well, which causes her to run away. Desperate to hold on to the last memories together, Ory follows after her.
I have always had a fascination with worlds like this. Desolate cities with strange diseases spreading. It’s probably because all of The Walking Dead I have watched. Anyway, this sounds like it will be a fun read.
I am so excited to read these dystopian books! Plus, there are so many more out there, I am going to be adding to my TBR forever.
I wish we could have another wave, I want more iconic stories that carved the way for my reading taste today. But something tells me it wouldn’t feel the same anyway. The nostalgia is what makes them good.