Top Ten Tuesday (16)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted each week by The Broke and the Bookish and combines a love of lists with a love of books. This week's top is: Top Ten Read-a-Likes. We're allowed to choose the book and then give our top picks for similar books. I, of course, chose The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I love the series, but more importantly, it is what got me here, loving books and blogging about them. On my search to find more books like The Hunger Games, I discovered a whole new world of book blogs that I had no idea even existed. So now that I've been here just a little while, I'm going to make my own list. And hopefully I can introduce somebody out there to a few new books they might end up loving as well. So here's my list of books for fans looking for something to read after The Hunger Games.

• Battle Royale by Koushun Takami - While maybe not a must read for every Hunger Games fan, I think many should look into it. This is the ultimate read-a-like as there are endless comparisons between these two books but they are actually very different. Both begin with a group of kids forced to fight to the death, but the stories branch off from there. Unless you are totally against excessive violence in books (be prepared for much more gore), I think you should check this one out yourself and see what all the talk is about.
• Divergent/Insurgent by Veronica Roth - The next big thing for YA dystopian novels after The Hunger Games. Besides being a dystopian trilogy, it also has a female protagonist that is more likely to listen to her own instincts and beliefs than to listen to what others tell her she should do. She's loyal, strong, and brave. If you loved The Hunger Games, don't miss it. Plus, the end of Insurgent was insane so the last one is sure to be epic!
• Matched/Crossed by Ally Condie - These are a bit more romance than dystopian and do have a different feel. But I loved them both and think that if you liked The Hunger Games and the relationship between Katniss and Peeta and Gale, you should check out Matched.
• Legend by Marie Lu -Legend offers an unlikely team between two teenagers that work together to uncover the truths about their world and government. If you liked the government conspiracy parts of The Hunger Games, I think you'll love this one.
• Delirium/Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver - I love Delirium. The book is so different from anything I've read with a world that believes love is a disease and there is a cure for it. With both of these books being dystopian trilogies and with the strong influence of love and what it means in both, if you liked one, check out the other.
• Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin - This one is a bit more science-fiction than dystopian, but it still has a feel similar to The Hunger Games. There is death, a world run by a very controlling but distant man, secrets, conspiracies, and very dark themes. It's a very good read.
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner - This was actually not a favorite of mine but has plenty of other fans, so I wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from reading it. It is another dystopian world, created by disease this time, with a male protagonist and his friends trying to find answers. Plus, they are stuck in a maze playing a game run by outsiders. Especially if you are a male fan of The Hunger Games, I recommend you check this series out.
• Something Like Normal by Trish Doller - This is definitely a far cry from the dystopian genre and Katniss' world, but I loved them both and so maybe you will too. Something Like Normal follows Travis as he struggles to live back home after a tour in Afghanistan. He lost his best friend to the war, suffers from nightmares, and desperately wants to just feel normal again. There are a few similarities between Katniss and Travis.
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - This one is in the fantasy genre but is really good. A female protagonist with powers she doesn't understand saves her best friend in battle and is then taken away to be the one thing that can save their country and win them the war. A familiar sounding premise, but so very different. Read it, I loved it!
• Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen - While this one doesn't fit in the dystopian genre, it does have a strong female protagonist living in a world dominated by men, relationship issues dealing with trust and past loss, and lots of weapons and fighting. Plus, it's got Robin Hood. Read it, it's good.

Okay, there is my list. I hope you like it and find something on here you want to check out. I know they aren't all dystopian novels, but I think most people are fans of multiple genres and like to read different kinds of books. If you liked The Hunger Games and any of these other books, let me know! Also, leave me a link so I can see your list of read-a-likes. There's almost nothing I like more than finding new books to read!