8 New Dystopian YA Books

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covers of four new dystopian YA novls

Andy Minshew is a cozy mystery and romance writer whose main goal in life is to make their dog proud. They are a Pitch Wars alumnus and an Author Mentor Match R9 mentor. Their debut mystery novel BOARD TO DEATH is forthcoming from Kensington Books. Twitter: @cjconnorwrites | cjconnorwrites.com

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Simon Teen

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the start of a daring new YA dystopian series — perfect for fans of Severance and Black Mirror. In a near-future world where humanity is divided between the glittering virtual reality “upcountry” and the deteriorating physical world “downcountry,” two young soldiers on two parallel missions start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy — and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.

I grew up during the first wave of dystopian YA in the late 2000s—The Hunger Games, Divergent, Feed (just to name a few). And just like the paranormal YA revival in recent years, I’m glad to see them return. These eight dystopian YA novels are some of the best in recent years. Some imagine frightening near futures. Others are set in bleak magical realms. All of them are thought-provoking and well worth the read.

An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew

Tew has been one of my go-tos for dystopian novels ever since her debut The Dividing Sky came out in 2024. This year, she’s back with another standalone set in a troublingly close future. It stars Eden Lowell, who infiltrates a dating competition to get revenge against its wealthy showrunners (and the environmental damage they’ve caused) only to grow close with the boy whose heart she’s supposed to break.

Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi

If you devoured Mafi’s Shatter Me, I have good news. Watch Me is the first in a new series set ten years after Imagine Me, and it just came out this April. It stars Aaron Warner Anderson’s younger brother James as he infiltrates Ark Island and crosses paths with the dangerous, yet conflicted assassin Rosabelle Wolff.

Songlight by Moira Buffini

Elsa and Rye are bound by what they must hide. Both are gifted with songlight in a world that forbids magic and calls those who wield it Unhuman. When Rye makes a shocking choice to protect her, Elsa’s grief attracts the songlight of another girl living hundreds of miles away. Is it fate, or something more tragic?

Songlight‘s sequel Torchfire released this month, so now is the perfect time to start this trilogy.

These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa

After a genocide led by the gods, Crow is one of the few remaining descendants of Death. Crow enters the Tournament of the Gods to avenge their murders. If there’s one thing this brutal realm has taught them, it’s how to survive.

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

In a country ruled by a megacorporation, Inesa discovers her mother’s debt has caught up with her. As punishment, Inesa will be entered in the Lamb’s Gauntlet—a livestreamed assassination. Supposedly, it can only end in her death as payment. But as she’s pursued by the assassin Melinoë, both wonder if there’s a life possible beyond the cruel fates they’ve been given.

Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry

After being sentenced to prison, 18-year-old Eternity Price takes a gambit. She enters Last Chance Live!, a reality show where American death row inmates compete for their freedom. But if she’s voted out by the audience, she loses all chances at parole and will be executed within a week.

This is the Year by Gloria Muñoz

In the wake of her sister Ofelia’s death, Julieta Villareal doesn’t feel there is anything in the world left for her. When she is recruited by a program to establish a sanctuary on the moon, she takes their offer.

Over her senior year, she begins training for the Cometa Initiative and prepares to say goodbye. But Earth is on the brink of environmental collapse, and Julieta feels pulled to stay and care for her community. Is the mission as ground-breaking as she thought, or is it just an escape from human issues?

Snowglobe by Soyoung Park

This last rec is part of a duology, and the conclusion just came out in May. After the world freezes over, the last livable place is the Snowglobe. Only the wealthy can afford its climate-controlled refuge. Everyone else works for the power plant to keep it running, including 16-year-old Jeon Chobahm.

But when she’s recruited as a stand-in for a deceased teen actor Goh Haeri, Jeon is initially distracted by the luxuries she’s never known—until the sinister forces in Haeri’s life come after her.

For more recommendations, check out The Best YA Books of 2025 So Far (including Sunrise on the Reaping, which if you haven’t read yet… what are you doing here? Run to your bookstore posthaste!)

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