Best Dystopian Books for Handmaid’s Tale Fans (2026): 5 Compared

Finishing The Handmaid’s Tale leaves a particular ache: the hunger for another story about power, control and resistance. The best dystopian books for Handmaid’s Tale fans below were compared on fit for that reader, what each edition contains, value, and the reading age or level each listing states.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Handmaid's Tale Box Set by Atwood	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	XX by Chadwick	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	The Chaperone by Hendrix	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
4	The Quickening by Riley	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Veil of Anarchy by Chapman	9.3/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Handmaid's Tale Box Set by Atwood

Margaret Atwood·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

This box set holds the two companion novels behind the whole list, per the listing; it suits readers who want to start at the source.

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Pros

• Holds both companion novels in one box set, per the listing.
• Published November 3, 2020 by Vintage.
• The listing describes a totalitarian regime and one woman's will to survive.

Cons

• No print length is stated.
• The description centers on enslavement and loss of freedom; preview for sensitive readers.
• No reading age or grade level is stated.

2

XX by Chadwick

Angela Chadwick·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

This 384 page dystopian thriller is pitched at the Handmaid's Tale-shaped hole, per its listing; it suits readers who want a topical feminist dystopia.

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Pros

• Print length is 384 pages.
• Published October 4, 2018 by Little, Brown.
• The listing calls it a pacy dystopian thriller.

Cons

• The description centers on fertility and a child's future; preview for sensitive readers.
• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• No series position is stated.

3

The Chaperone by Hendrix

M Hendrix·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

This novel follows Stella under the watch of her chaperone in a controlling society; it suits YA readers who want a Handmaid's Tale-like world with hope.

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Pros

• Described as a Handmaid's Tale for YA, per the listing.
• Reading age 14 to 18 years and grade level 8 to 12 are stated.
• Published June 6, 2023 by Sourcebooks.

Cons

• The description centers on controlling rules for young women; preview for sensitive readers.
• The reading age skews younger than the adult picks here.
• No series position is stated.

4

The Quickening by Riley

Talulah Riley·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

This 352 page novel imagines a world where women hold power and men's freedoms are limited; it suits readers who want the premise flipped.

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Pros

• Print length is 352 pages.
• A role-reversed dystopia centered on Dana Mayer's manifesto.
• Published by Hodder & Stoughton.

Cons

• The description centers on punishment and reparations; preview for sensitive readers.
• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• No series position is stated.

5

Veil of Anarchy by Chapman

Vannetta Chapman·9.3/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

This novel follows a police chief holding a town together after the satellites fall; it suits series readers who want post-collapse survival.

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Pros

• Listed as Book 2 of 6 in the Kessler Effect series.
• Published November 17, 2022.
• The description centers on law and order after a collapse.

Cons

• As Book 2 of 6, it is a poor entry point for new readers.
• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• The listing gives a print length of 218 pages, fewer than the 352 page Quickening.

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More picks to compare

• K. A. Riley Dystopian NovelFor YA readers who want a dystopian series, Book 1 of 5.Check on Amazon
• Burn this City by PoppyFor readers who want a resistance story, Book 1 of 3.Check on Amazon
• This Tale is Forbidden by CrosbyFor Handmaid's Tale fans, per the title, with a reading age of 12 and up.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. One of the five picks lists a reading age and a grade level; the other four state neither. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best dystopian books for Handmaid’s Tale fans

Start with the source, then branch out

The box set holds the two companion novels this whole list orbits, so it is the natural first buy. From there, XX is the adult feminist dystopia most directly pitched at the Handmaid’s Tale-shaped hole, per its listing. Readers who want still more dystopia can browse best dystopian books.

Match the tone to the reader

The Chaperone is described as a Handmaid’s Tale for YA, with a reading age of 14 to 18 years, so it suits younger readers. The Quickening flips the premise into a world where women hold power, and Veil of Anarchy is Book 2 of 6, so series readers should start earlier in the series. For romance-leaning dystopia, see best dystopian romance books.

Before you buy

• Confirm the edition and publication date on the listing, since box sets and reprints vary.
• For a series, buy Book 1 first and confirm the series number on the listing.
• Check the stated reading age and grade level against the reader, especially for YA-crossover picks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I read The Handmaid’s Tale before The Testaments?

The box set pairs the two companion novels, and The Testaments is set more than fifteen years after the first book, per its description. Reading them in order keeps the story clear.

Which of these books suits a teen reader?

The Chaperone lists a reading age of 14 to 18 years and a grade level of 8 to 12, and it is described as a Handmaid’s Tale for YA. The other four picks state no reading age.

Are any of these part of a series?

Veil of Anarchy is listed as Book 2 of 6 in the Kessler Effect series, so start with Book 1. The other listings state no series position, and the box set holds two companion novels.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Handmaid's Tale Box Set by Atwood

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