Hello friends!

It has been a while since I’ve discovered a good new dystopian series to binge on – and that makes me sad because dystopian used to be my comfort genre for a very long time! There was a time a few years ago when dystopian books were very popular, but I feel like this genre is not as popular as it was. Of course there are some new series that came out recently, but there was something about the “older” dystopian books that made them special and unique.

So today I’m bringing you a recommendation post on some of my favorite dystopian series that influenced my love for fiction. This reading era was very important for me because it taught me a very interesting and unexpected lesson: reading could be very fun! It’s not like I haven’t picked random books before, but the feeling of pure joy and curiosity that I got from reading, not wanting to put down a book and being transported to a new world was news to me!

Needless to say, I devoured these series (and even reread some of them later). So today I want to talk about them and show you what I was reading a few years ago, and maybe you’ll give a chance to the ones you haven’t read yet!

Just a quick disclaimer: I said they’re old, but they are not ancient. The books I’m about to mention were published between 2008 and 2012 – the dystopian golden era to me!

I’m very excited to share some of these beauties with you, and I truly hope you give them a try and decide to pick them up in the future!

Here are the books I want to share with you today! Let’s look at them individually:

1. The Selection series by Kiera Cass

Starting off my favorite, The Selection series by Kiera Cass! There’s no surprise this dystopian series is here since I’ve talked about it a lot. This series has a great story and plot, but I have to say this is in essence a romance book. And by this I mean this is not a dystopian series like The Maze Runner or The Hunger Games because the center of the story is the love story.
So of course, a romance junkie like myself was completely hooked to this story. It’s pure perfection, and I would sell my soul to read this again for the first time!

Synopsis

“For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.”

2. The Maze Runner series by James Dashner

Another dystopian series I loved was The Maze Runner! I’m sure this one needs no introduction since it’s a fairly popular series, so at least I’m sure you’ve watched one of the movies or at least heard about this.
I personally really liked the concept behind this story and how the boys fought and stuck together to survive. It’s a very entertaining story that keeps you hooked for the characters and the mystery. You don’t know what’s going on and why they are in the maze, and since the characters don’t remember anything you are all on the same boat. Throughout the series we start to unravel what is going on, but it takes a while – or 6 books to be exact (trilogy, prequels and a sequel)!
If you watched the movie and think you’re good with this story: I would still say to consider reading the books. The first book is similar to the first movie, but from that point forward the story was changed a lot to fit the movie format. The second and third movies look completely different from the books. Also, there are a few prequels that explain somethings that are not even mentioned in the movies.
It was one of my favorite dystopian series, and I even reread them!

Synopsis

“If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Remember. Survive. Run.”

3. Delirium series by Lauren Oliver

Another great dystopian series I read was the Delirium trilogy! It was not a perfect read by any means, but I had a really fun time reading this! The reason for this series not being perfect for me was because of the slower pace and not being a slow burn romance (which are my favorites!). Still, the concept is very interesting and the story was entertaining to the point I had a hard time putting it down. I would still say this is still a really nice series to binge on!

Synopsis

“In an alternate United States, love has been declared a dangerous disease, and the government forces everyone who reaches eighteen to have a procedure called the Cure. Living with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Portland, Maine, Lena Haloway is very much looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life. She watched love destroy her mother and isn’t about to make the same mistake.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena meets enigmatic Alex, a boy from the “Wilds” who lives under the government’s radar. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?”

4. Matched series by Ally Condy

I’ve picked the Match series also during this time! Again, this wasn’t a perfect book for me as well, but I also enjoyed this and flew through the pages. It’s also on the slower pace side like Delirium, but the story is unique and worth trying!

Synopsis

“Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander’s face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate… until she sees Ky Markham’s face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it’s a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she’s destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can’t stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society’s infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.”

5. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

And last but not least we have The Hunger Games series! At first I was afraid to dive into this trilogy in book form because the movie love triangle made me crazy! “Movie Peeta” annoyed me so much that I had no interest in watching the last two movies, and therefore, I didn’t want to read the books as well. But after giving it a try, I ended up loving this series – including liking “book Peeta” more than “movie Peeta”. The book was incredible, original and inspiring, and definitely became one of my favorites!

Synopsis

“Could you survive on your own in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning?
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weight survival against humanity and life against love.”

And there you have it friends! These were some of the dystopian series that got me into reading. It was very nostalgic coming back to them and today I feel very grateful I found these books at the right time, because this dystopian era was epic!

As always, I hope you found this recommendation post interesting and I hope you found yourself some new books to read. I’m always looking for book recommendations so let me know if you have any for me!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I hope you liked what I had to share with you today. I’ll see you in the next one! 🙂