Books similar to Divergent

Looking for books like Divergent to satisfy your craving for dystopian adventures? If you've finished Veronica Roth's gripping series about Tris Prior's journey through a faction-divided Chicago, you're probably eager to find more books similar to Divergent that capture that same mix of high-stakes action, complex characters, and thought-provoking social commentary. As someone who fell deep into the world of dystopian fiction after reading Divergent, I've spent countless hours searching for books that deliver the same heart-pounding excitement and emotional depth. Today, I'll share five carefully selected books that share the core elements that made Divergent so compelling. Just a heads-up, this post contains affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!)

Books Similar to Divergent

Book Cover

Uglies

Scott Westerfeld

In Scott Westerfeld's Uglies, you'll find the same gripping exploration of identity and societal control that made Divergent so compelling. The parallels to Divergent are striking: both feature heroines who must decide whether to conform to their society's rigid expectations or fight for individual freedom. Both novels tackle themes of a search for meaning and the price of perfection.

Buy on Bookshop Buy on Libro.fm

How it's similar to Divergent

Subgenre

Romance
Sci-Fi

Tone

Dark/Serious
Suspenseful/Thrilling

Narrative

Character-Driven
Dialogue-Heavy
Lyrical/Descriptive
Multi-Perspective
Plot-Driven

Character Tropes

The Hero
The Lover
The Mentor
The Outsider
The Rebel

Plot Tropes

Love
Sacrifice
Survival
The Hero's Journey
The Journey

Setting Tropes

Big City
Dystopia
Mysterious Location

Conflict Tropes

Betrayal and Revenge
Death or Threat of Death
Dysfunctional Families
Good vs. Evil
Identity Crisis
Man vs. Self

Theme Tropes

Coming of Age
Friendship
Grief and Loss
Search for Meaning
Book Cover

All Our Yesterdays

Cristin Terrill

All Our Yesterdays captures the same intensity and high stakes that Divergent readers love, but with a thrilling time-travel twist. The book shares Divergent's core themes of sacrifice and impossible choices, featuring a strong female lead who, similar to Tris, must battle against a corrupt system.

Buy on Bookshop Buy on Libro.fm

How it's similar to Divergent

Subgenre

Literary Fiction
Mystery/Thriller
Romance
Sci-Fi

Tone

Dark/Serious
Suspenseful/Thrilling

Narrative

Character-Driven
Dialogue-Heavy
Lyrical/Descriptive
Multi-Perspective
Plot-Driven

Character Tropes

The Hero
The Lover
The Outsider
The Rebel

Plot Tropes

Love
Sacrifice
Survival
The Hero's Journey
The Journey

Setting Tropes

Dystopia
Mysterious Location

Conflict Tropes

Betrayal and Revenge
Death or Threat of Death
Dysfunctional Families
Good vs. Evil
Identity Crisis
Man vs. Self

Theme Tropes

Coming of Age
Friendship
Grief and Loss
Search for Meaning
Book Cover

The Maze Runner

James Dashner

The Maze Runner shares Divergent's DNA of young people trapped in a mysterious system designed to test and sort them. You'll find the same sense of urgency and mystery that kept you turning pages in Divergent as the characters uncover disturbing truths about their world. Both books explore themes of sacrifice, search for meaning, and identity crisis.

Buy on Bookshop

How it's similar to Divergent

Subgenre

Mystery/Thriller
Sci-Fi

Tone

Dark/Serious
Suspenseful/Thrilling

Narrative

Character-Driven
Dialogue-Heavy
Multi-Perspective
Plot-Driven

Character Tropes

The Hero
The Mentor
The Outsider
The Rebel

Plot Tropes

Love
Sacrifice
Survival
The Hero's Journey
The Journey

Setting Tropes

Dystopia
Mysterious Location
Nature
Ruined World

Conflict Tropes

Betrayal and Revenge
Death or Threat of Death
Good vs. Evil
Identity Crisis
Man vs. Self

Theme Tropes

Coming of Age
Friendship
Grief and Loss
Search for Meaning
Book Cover

Legend

Marie Lu

Marie Lu's Legend echoes Divergent's exploration of a divided society, this time through the lens of a militaristic future society. Both books feature strong characters questioning their beliefs about their society, government, and themselves, while wrestling with loyalty and justice in a world of strict social hierarchies.

How it's similar to Divergent

Subgenre

Mystery/Thriller
Sci-Fi

Tone

Dark/Serious
Suspenseful/Thrilling

Narrative

Character-Driven
Dialogue-Heavy
Lyrical/Descriptive
Multi-Perspective
Plot-Driven

Character Tropes

The Anti-Hero
The Hero
The Lover
The Mentor
The Outsider
The Rebel

Plot Tropes

Enemies to Lovers
Love
Sacrifice
Survival
The Hero's Journey
The Journey

Setting Tropes

Big City
Dystopia
Mysterious Location

Conflict Tropes

Betrayal and Revenge
Death or Threat of Death
Dysfunctional Families
Good vs. Evil
Identity Crisis
Man vs. Self

Theme Tropes

Coming of Age
Friendship
Grief and Loss
Search for Meaning
Book Cover

Incarceron

Catherine Fisher

Incarceron offers Divergent fans another unique take on a controlled society, featuring a massive prison that's become its own living ecosystem. Incarceron shares Divergent's themes of surveillance, control, and the search for meaning in a world of forced artifice.

Buy on Bookshop Buy on Libro.fm

How it's similar to Divergent

Subgenre

Fantasy
Mystery/Thriller
Sci-Fi

Tone

Dark/Serious
Suspenseful/Thrilling

Narrative

Character-Driven
Dialogue-Heavy
Lyrical/Descriptive
Multi-Perspective
Plot-Driven

Character Tropes

The Anti-Hero
The Hero
The Mentor
The Outsider
The Rebel

Plot Tropes

Love
Sacrifice
Survival
The Hero's Journey
The Journey

Setting Tropes

Dystopia
Mysterious Location
Ruined World

Conflict Tropes

Betrayal and Revenge
Death or Threat of Death
Dysfunctional Families
Good vs. Evil
Identity Crisis
Man vs. Self

Theme Tropes

Coming of Age
Friendship
Grief and Loss
Search for Meaning