“Fear doesn’t shut you down; it wakes you up.”
Who doesn’t love Divergent? Whether it was Veronica Roth’s original trilogy or the adaptations on the big screen, the story of Tris Prior and the five factions in a futuristic Chicago helped make the YA dystopian genre dominate popular culture in the 2010s and continues to influence writers even today. With that in mind, join us at What We Reading as we take a look at some of the best books like Divergent. These books all share explorations into identity and feature strong young protagonists against a dystopian backdrop, making them the perfect go-to for any fans of Tris, Four and Caleb!
Who Wrote Divergent?
Veronica Roth is the New York Times bestselling author behind the Divergent series. The series consists of the main trilogy (Divergent (2011), Insurgent (2012) and Allegiant (2013)), a spin-off entry (Four (2014)) and one short story, We Can Be Mended (2018). The series has sold over 35 million copies worldwide. Veronica Roth’s other works include Chosen Ones (2020), Poster Girl (2022) and Arch-Conspirator (2023).
The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) – Suzanne Collins
What list of the best books like Divergent would be complete without Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series? Both books follow strong and capable female protagonists in a dystopian world, with both standing as the most popular young adult books from the 2010s.
Told through the perspective of Katniss Everdeen, a young woman from the poorest district of Panem, readers are introduced to The Hunger Games, an annual tournament where 22 contestants from each district fight to the death. As well as sharing similarly iconic protagonists and settings, themes of initiations and traditions, social hierarchies, control, rebellion and survival all make Divergent and The Hunger Games so intertwined in the YA dystopian world.
Check Out The Hunger Games Books In Order
Legend (Legend #1) – Marie Lu
Marie Lu’s Legend sets up a world where the western side of the United States is now its own state. A state constantly at war with its neighbours. Fifteen-year-old June belongs to one of the most affluent families in the Republic and is being groomed for a decorated career in the military elite. Fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most notorious criminal.
The two engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse after the death of June’s brother, with authorities labelling Day as the prime suspect. However, a shocking turn of events soon reveals the truth behind their connection and exposes how far their Republic is willing to go to protect its secrets.
Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) – Tahereh Mafi
For another book like Divergent that deals with oppression and journeys of self-discovery, Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me series is a great go-to. The first book in the series opens with Juliette, a woman who hasn’t touched anyone for 264 days.
Her touch is lethal, and The Reestablishment has locked her up for murder. But, as the world outside her continues to crumble with food becoming ever harder to come by and discontent is beginning to slide towards war they soon realise she might be exactly what they need. Soon, Juliette must grapple with the choice of becoming a weapon for her oppressive regime or a warrior standing against it.
The Knife Of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) – Patrick Ness
Patrick Ness sets up the fascinating, albeit somewhat terrifying, premise of a world where everyone can hear each other’s thoughts in The Knife of Never Letting Go. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man and is the only child in his town. With all those around him infected with the Noise germ, he hears all they have to think as they do with him. But, when he uncovers a gruesome truth that others have hidden from him, he must flee with only his loyal dog as a companion.
In one of the best books like Divergent for tackling the themes of coming-of-age and growing into adulthood, Todd runs into a most uncommon sight: a girl. With the men from his town in hot pursuit, Todd must figure out who this girl is and why she hasn’t been killed. He needs to unlearn everything he knows to discover his true identity.
The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) – Alexandra Bracken
A Goodreads Choice Award nominee in 2013, Alexandra Bracken’s The Darkest Minds is the perfect book like Divergent for those who loved the factions and close-knit friendships of the trilogy.
On her tenth birthday, Ruby woke up noticing something about her had changed. She is locked in the garage by her parents and sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.”. In this dystopian world, a pandemic has killed the majority of America’s children. Those that remain now have dangerous abilities that they can’t control. As the government attempts to control these survivors, Ruby attempts to East River, a sanctuary where children like her have set up a safe haven. But, even there, all is not as it first seems.
The 100 (The 100 #1) – Kass Morgan
Blurring the YA dystopia feel of Divergent with contemporary space sci-fi, Kass Morgan whisks readers to a future where planet Earth hasn’t been habitable for centuries. Now, authorities are sending a hundred juvenile delinquents to the surface on a potential suicide mission to recolonise it.
Confronting a land ravaged by nuclear war and containing countless potential horrors, the hundred must survive not only each other but also the ghosts from their pasts. With its themes of governance, leadership, survival group dynamics and relationships, there’s plenty in The 100 for fans of Veronica Roth’s books to sink their teeth into.
The Selection (The Selection #1) – Kiera Cass
Another Goodreads-nominated dystopian YA series comes from Kiera Cass in The Selection. For thirty-five girls, the Selection represents the ultimate dream. An opportunity to trade in a mundane existence for a life of fancy gowns and glittery jewels competing for the heart of the handsome Prince Maxon.
For America Singer, the Selection represents more of a nightmare than the chance of a lifetime. She not only leaves behind her secret romance with Aspen but also moves into a palace that faces constant targeting by violent attacks. And yet, the more she interacts with Prince Maxon, the more she begins to question whether climbing this caste-based society may be her goal after all.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Selection
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
