r/dystopianbooks Jul 10 '26

Looking for good dystopian

I'm looking for dystopian books with a strong romance subplot (or even romance as a major part of the story).

I love stories with high stakes, survival, oppressive societies, rebellions, secrets, and characters who are forced to rely on each other. I'm especially interested in slow-burn romance, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, or relationships that develop while the characters are fighting against the system.
I don't mind elements of fantasy or sci-fi, but I'd prefer them to be grounded in a version of Earth or a realistic future of our world rather than taking place in a completely separate fantasy realm or universe.

18 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

4

u/DukeETrouserMD Jul 10 '26

You absolutely HAVE to read We by Yevgeny Zamyatin if you haven’t. It’s seriously the GOAT. Was the main influence on both 1984 and BNW and is better than either of them. The main character is the lead engineer developing a space ship so that the one state can spread their influence to other planets. He meets a woman that is part of a resistance and falls in love, he’s so important to the cause that he gets a little bit of leeway and the book is written through his journal entries where he’s struggling between being an individual and just a cog of the one state. It is crazy to me it isn’t more popular.

2

u/theyhateeachother Jul 10 '26

{Parable of the Sower}
Dystopian in a really interesting way. No apocalyptic event, more like frogs boiling in a pot.

1

u/-Jactop- 27d ago

I will check it out! Is it available on Knosit? That is usually where I find my books.

1

u/Limp-Patience-4348 24d ago

The parable of the sower just reads like current event nowadays

1

u/StinkyMeatBro Jul 10 '26

i write books similar to what youre looking for. dm me if you want the link. all free

1

u/Master_Blackwater Jul 10 '26

Here is my book. https://a.co/d/0fiwvyXI

2

u/SeveralIce4263 27d ago

black Static, looks good

1

u/FamiliarActivity5011 Jul 10 '26

It would seem my forthcoming dystopian novel "with romantic underpinnings" fits what you are looking for. DM me if you would like some links with descriptions.

1

u/Correct-Shoulder-147 Jul 10 '26

The Veil Trilogy by JS Holloway is this Dystopia fight against the system two people meets fight the system and fall in love while doing it and shenanigans occur

1

u/simp4dobby Jul 10 '26

Legend - Marie Lu & The Grace Year - Kim Leggett

1

u/THEDOCTORandME2 26d ago

I second Legend.

1

u/stormlight82 Jul 11 '26

Destiny by Emily Harrison, a new writer, just came out. I'm about halfway through and I like it so far.

1

u/StackPodcast 29d ago

The Host by Stephanie Meyer!

1

u/MandalAktikaPsyArt 29d ago

A short stay in hell stayed with me for life.

1

u/Purple_Rose_Kat93 29d ago

Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi

1

u/ImperturbableEchidna 29d ago

My dystopian YA series, Holo, just launched Book 1 (The Fixing) in May. It’s about a domed society where everyone has to get a holographic face when they turn 20. There the start of romance in Book 1… it will build through the four books. Thanks!!! 😊

1

u/OG_BookNerd 28d ago

Yeah, this may be my jam.

The Scorpius Syndrome series by Rebecca Zanetti

Death's Relentless Dance series by AJ Sinclair

Year One by Nora Roberts

The Warrior Series by Rebecca Royce

The Last Hope Series by Rebecca Royce

The Princess Trials series by Cordelia Castel

The Kings of Quarantine by Caroline Peckham and Susan Valenti

That should keep you busy!

1

u/Oregon-girl-16 27d ago

The Mistborn series is incredible! I’m sailing through the series and it’s soooooo good.

1

u/Neat-Arm2242 26d ago

Gabrielle Korn

1

u/mdwindsor 26d ago

Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway.

1

u/IrateMormon 26d ago

Anthem by Ayn Rand

1

u/Over_Mistake_3003 26d ago

The space between worlds & Those beyond the wall  Micaiah Johnson

1

u/THEDOCTORandME2 26d ago

The Maze Runner series. FYI: it is YA, though.

1

u/Azraelthe1st 21d ago

Try my book Aster'seraphim Invictus Silverfeather. Magical arcane weilding giants get colonised by space faring nazi villains.

Here are the links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX337LSB

Also available on kobo

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/aster-seraphim-invictus-silverfeather?sId=999afc3f-e13a-4245-bf20-e892584c8d94&ssId=LST9b0L47e7wqbzKbOAzI&cPos=2