Although I tend to read more nonfiction than fiction these days, I decided to dive into finding the best novels out there that have climate themes as a backdrop or central focal point to the plot. If you like to read novels and are looking for some gripping reads, this list represents an array of dystopian, climatey fiction to sink into, perhaps while you are escaping the summer heat at the pool, beach, or campground. Just a quick reminder that if you click on one of the links, I may make a commission at no additional charge to you. The links below will take you to Amazon. If you prefer to support independent bookstores, check out my curated lists on Bookshop.com.
Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins
Picture a future where Southern California is transformed into a dry, barren, place. Gold Fame Citrus follows two young “Mojavs” named Luz and Ray who become squatters in the abandoned mansion of a former Hollywood starlet. There’s a love story in there as these two characters take a child under their wing as they navigate dystopia. This book has tons of accolades and was named a Best Book of the Year in 2016 by NPR, Vanity Fair, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews and many others.
Maddaddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood
Orange World & Other Stories by Karen Russell
How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo MBA
Parable Series by Octavia Butler
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nzagamatsu
Road out of Winter by Alison Stan
I love books with feisty teenage protagonists. If you do, too, then Road Out of Winter might be a good beach read for you. Like most of the other books on this list, the novel is set in a speculative future where weather is unpredictable and has caused all kinds of calamity. We follow Wylodine, a teenage girl left behind in Ohio while her family heads west. She’s charged with tending the family’s illegal marijuana farm, except Spring has decided not to return. Faced with an epic Winter with no hope for growth, Wylodine packs up her weed seeds and sets out on a journey to find her family. Except you know it’s not going to be easy for her, especially when others find out she knows how to make things grow.
Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Deluge by Stephen Barkley
