If you've just finished devouring Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and find yourself desperately craving more dystopian romance, dangerous powers, and fierce heroines who don't know their own strength, you're in the right place. Juliette's journey from a girl who feared her lethal touch to a powerful leader has left countless readers emotionally wrecked in the best possible way; and now you need something to fill that void.
Whether it was the lyrical prose, the swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance, or watching a broken girl discover she's so much more than a weapon, the Shatter Me series hits different. The good news? There are plenty of YA fantasy and dystopian books waiting to give you those same heart-racing, tear-inducing feels.
We've curated six books perfect for fans of Shatter Me; each featuring heroines with extraordinary (and often terrifying) abilities, forbidden romances that will make your heart ache, and worlds where rebellion is the only option. From deadly touches to dangerous minds, these recommendations capture everything you loved about Juliette's story whilst offering fresh new worlds to lose yourself in.
1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
A Heroine Whose Gift Is Killing
In the Seven Kingdoms, certain people are born with a Grace; an extreme skill that sets them apart. For Katsa, that Grace is the ability to kill. Since she was eight years old, she's been able to take a man's life with her bare hands, and her uncle the king has exploited this, using her as his personal enforcer and weapon of intimidation.
Sound familiar? Like Juliette, Katsa has spent her life being used for her dangerous abilities, forced to hurt others at someone else's command. She's been made to believe she's nothing more than a monster, a tool for violence. But when she meets Prince Po; a Graced fighter with secrets of his own; Katsa begins to question everything she's been told about herself and her power.
What unfolds is an epic adventure across kingdoms, a slow-burn romance that will have you turning pages late into the night, and a powerful story about a woman learning that her "curse" might actually be something far more complex than she ever imagined.
Why Shatter Me Fans Will Love It
Deadly touch, deadly girl - Katsa's killing Grace mirrors Juliette's lethal touch, and both heroines struggle with being seen as weapons rather than people
Used as a weapon - Like Juliette under Anderson's control, Katsa has been exploited by her uncle, forced to do terrible things against her will
Swoon-worthy slow-burn romance - The relationship between Katsa and Po builds beautifully, full of banter, respect, and genuine partnership
Learning to redefine her power - Katsa's journey to understand that her Grace might be more than just killing parallels Juliette's discovery of her true abilities
Fierce feminist themes - A heroine who refuses to be controlled, challenges expectations, and fights for her own autonomy
Lush fantasy world-building - Seven Kingdoms filled with intrigue, adventure, and memorable characters
2. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Superpowers, Government Camps, and Fighting to Survive
When a mysterious disease kills most of America's children and leaves the survivors with frightening supernatural abilities, the government's response is to round up these dangerous kids and lock them away in brutal "rehabilitation camps." Ruby is one of them; and her power is so terrifying that she's managed to hide its true nature for years, knowing that if anyone discovered what she could really do, she'd be killed.
When Ruby finally escapes, she joins a group of fellow runaways searching for a safe haven. But in a world where children are hunted and feared, safety is an illusion; and Ruby must decide whether to embrace her monstrous abilities or let them destroy her.
This is a heart-pounding dystopian thriller that perfectly captures what made Shatter Me so compelling: a girl with a power she can't control, a touch that can destroy, and a world that wants to use her as a weapon.
Why Shatter Me Fans Will Love It
Powers she can't control - Ruby's abilities, like Juliette's, are unpredictable and frightening, making her a danger to everyone she loves
Government imprisonment - Both heroines spend time locked away, isolated because of what they can do
A touch that destroys - Ruby's power affects people's minds through contact, echoing Juliette's lethal touch
Found family on the run - The group dynamics and fierce loyalty mirror the relationships Juliette builds at Omega Point
Fear of being a monster - Ruby's internal struggle with her identity will resonate deeply with anyone who connected with Juliette's self-doubt
Action-packed rebellion - Non-stop tension as kids with powers fight back against those who would control them
3. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
In a World Where Love Is a Disease
Imagine a world where love has been classified as a disease; amor deliria nervosa; and everyone must undergo a procedure at eighteen to be "cured" of it forever. No more heartbreak, no more passion, no more feeling. In this controlled society, Lena has spent her whole life looking forward to her cure, desperate to be safe from the dangerous emotions that drove her mother to suicide.
But ninety-five days before her procedure, Lena meets Alex; a boy from the Wilds who has never been cured; and everything she's been taught begins to unravel. Suddenly, the feelings she's supposed to fear are the most alive she's ever felt.
Lauren Oliver's gorgeous, lyrical prose creates a haunting dystopian world where the most dangerous thing you can do is fall in love. For readers who connected with Shatter Me's poetic writing style and forbidden romance, Delirium delivers beautifully.
Why Shatter Me Fans Will Love It
Lyrical, emotional prose - Oliver's writing is just as beautiful and distinctive as Mafi's, full of metaphor and feeling
Forbidden romance at its finest - The relationship between Lena and Alex is desperate, dangerous, and utterly consuming
A totalitarian world - Like the Reestablishment, Lena's government controls every aspect of citizens' lives
Transformation of the heroine - Watching Lena awaken to the lies she's been told mirrors Juliette's journey from prisoner to revolutionary
The power of love as rebellion - In both series, love becomes an act of defiance against oppressive systems
Heart-wrenching cliffhangers - Be prepared; this trilogy will put your emotions through the wringer
4. This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
From the Author of Shatter Me - A New Epic Fantasy
If you fell in love with Tahereh Mafi's writing in Shatter Me, you absolutely need to read her Persian mythology-inspired fantasy series. This Woven Kingdom follows Alizeh, the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom, who has spent her life hiding in plain sight, working as a servant whilst concealing her true identity and extraordinary abilities.
Enter Kamran, the crown prince who has heard prophecies foretelling that a servant girl will bring about the death of his king. When he encounters Alizeh; a girl with strange, ice-blue eyes who haunts his thoughts; he could never imagine that she is the very threat he's been warned about.
This is Mafi at her most lush and romantic, weaving a tale of clashing empires, forbidden attraction, and a heroine destined for greatness who must first survive a world that wants to destroy her.
Why Shatter Me Fans Will Love It
Same author, same gorgeous prose - Mafi's distinctive lyrical style is on full display, even more richly developed
Hidden identity and dangerous secrets - Like Juliette, Alizeh must conceal what she truly is to survive
Forbidden romance - The tension between Alizeh and Kamran crackles with that enemies-to-lovers energy fans crave
A heroine seen as a threat - Both Alizeh and Juliette are feared for powers they didn't choose
Court intrigue and political machinations - Complex plotting and betrayals that will keep you guessing
Stunning world-building - A magical realm inspired by Persian mythology, complete with Jinn, prophecies, and ancient magic
5. Legend by Marie Lu
A Criminal and a Prodigy- Enemies Destined to Collide
In what was once the western United States, now a dark military nation called the Republic, two teenagers occupy opposite ends of society. June is a prodigy, the only person in the Republic's history to score a perfect result on her Trial; destined for military greatness. Day is the country's most wanted criminal, a legendary figure who strikes against the government from the shadows.
When June's brother is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect, she's determined to hunt him down. But as June infiltrates the slums and gets closer to her target, she begins to uncover truths about her beloved Republic that will change everything she believes.
Told in dual perspectives, Legend is a fast-paced dystopian romance where enemies become something far more complicated, and both protagonists must question everything they've been taught.
Why Shatter Me Fans Will Love It
Dual perspectives - Getting inside both characters' heads deepens the romance and raises the stakes
Enemies-to-lovers done brilliantly - June and Day's relationship evolves from hunter and hunted to something beautifully complex
Class divide and rebellion - The stark contrast between the privileged and the oppressed mirrors Shatter Me's exploration of power
Two exceptional protagonists - Both June and Day are remarkable in their own ways, equally matched and compelling
Non-stop action - Marie Lu's pacing is relentless, making this an absolute page-turner
A corrupt government hiding dark secrets - The Republic, like the Reestablishment, will stop at nothing to maintain control
6. Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
A Gift That Brings Only Pain
From the author of Divergent comes a galaxy-spanning story of two young people from enemy nations, each burdened with powers they never asked for. Cyra Noavek's "currentgift" causes her constant, excruciating pain; and gives her the ability to transfer that agony to anyone she touches. Her tyrannical brother has turned her into his personal weapon, using her to torture his enemies.
Akos Kereseth is from a peaceful nation, captured and forced to serve Cyra because his own gift; the ability to disrupt others' powers; is the only thing that can ease her suffering. Thrown together as enemies, Cyra and Akos must navigate a web of political intrigue, family betrayal, and their own complicated feelings for each other.
For readers who loved watching Juliette struggle with a power that hurts both herself and others, Cyra's journey will hit all the same emotional beats.
Why Shatter Me Fans Will Love It
A gift that causes pain - Cyra's power hurts her constantly and makes her dangerous to touch, directly paralleling Juliette's curse
Used as a weapon by family - Like Juliette under Anderson, Cyra is exploited by her brother to inflict suffering
His touch is the only relief - The dynamic where Akos can ease Cyra's pain echoes Aaron's immunity to Juliette
Enemies-to-lovers across warring nations - Political tension and personal attraction create a slow-burn romance
Complex morality - Both protagonists must navigate impossible choices in a brutal world
Epic sci-fi fantasy world-building - A galaxy of planets, unique powers, and rich cultures to explore
Your Next Obsession Awaits
Each of these six books captures something essential about what made the Shatter Me series so unforgettable; whether it's a heroine learning to embrace her dangerous gifts, a forbidden romance that defies all odds, or a dystopian world crying out for revolution.
If you loved Juliette and Warner's enemies-to-lovers journey, Graceling and Legend will give you that same delicious tension. If it was Mafi's lyrical prose that captured your heart, Delirium and This Woven Kingdom offer equally beautiful writing. And if you connected most deeply with Juliette's struggle to see herself as more than a weapon, The Darkest Minds and Carve the Mark explore those same themes of identity, power, and self-acceptance.
So which will you read first? Your next book hangover is waiting.
Looking for more YA fantasy and romantasy recommendations? Browse our full collection of book guides for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance, dystopian fiction, and heroines with extraordinary powers here.
