A lot of YA dystopias treat trauma like a costume—a dark backstory that makes the hero edgy but functional. The Darkest Minds refuses that.

Let’s be real: the adult villains are cartoonishly evil at times. And the pacing in the middle third (the “zoo” sequence, if you’ve read it) drags more than a cross-country bus with a broken AC. Also, if you’re tired of love triangles… well, there’s a hint of one, though it’s handled more maturely than most.

If you only know the 2018 movie adaptation (which, let’s be honest, flopped hard), do yourself a favor and pick up the book. Here’s why this story still lingers in my brain years later.

★★★★☆ (4/5) Read it if you like: Emotional damage, road trips, and crying over fictional boys named Liam.

Without spoiling the ending, the book’s climax hinges on a devastating choice. Ruby has the power to rewrite memories—to literally erase herself from Liam’s mind to keep him safe.