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

By Lily Braun-Arnold

A 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

Don’t trust the Company
Lose your memories with a handsome stranger

The Dividing Sky

By Jill Tew

Coming 06.24.25

A 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).

Become a celebrity
Take control of the cameras

Snowglobe

By Soyoung Park

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!

A 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

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.

Make friends in all the wrong places
Survive the tests

HappyHead

By Josh Silver

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

By Josh Silver

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.

Trust your power
Learn your history

Nubia: The Awakening

By Omar Epps, Clarence A. Haynes

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

By Omar Epps, Clarence A. Haynes

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.

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

By Lily Braun-Arnold

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

By Jill Tew

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

By Soyoung Park

Snowglobe 2

By Soyoung Park

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

Make friends in all the wrong places

Survive the tests

HappyHead

By Josh Silver

Dead Happy

By Josh Silver

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

Trust your power

Learn your history

Nubia: The Awakening

By Omar Epps, Clarence A. Haynes

Nubia: The Reckoning

By Omar Epps, Clarence A. Haynes

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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