A tropey, soapy, twist-filled teen romance standalone set in a dystopian world perfect for fans of The Hunger Games films.
THE LAST LOVE STORY
by Katharyn Blair
Avon/HarperCollins Children’s Books, August 2026
ROMANCE IN A DYSTOPIAN WORLD: This accessible read with soapy twists, cliffhangers, and love triangles is just in time for the current dystopian renaissance. Fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent films will love the crackling tension and romance tropes galore!
LONELINESS, AI, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND CENSORSHIP: This book explores questions that matter to teens: the role of AI; friendships and romance during an increasingly isolating digital age; extreme weather; and book banning. It also poses questions about politics and gently critiques extremism, with a message for empathy and finding a middle ground.
LIGHT, SOAPY, AND COMPULSIVELY READABLE: Under 300 pages, with short chapters and accessible writing by Katharyn Blair, television writer for Marvel’s “Loki” and “Daredevil,” this book is a perfect entry point for teen readers. The commercial package will also communicate the romance-forward content.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING: Ripley models social awareness through perspective-taking; relationship skills through teamwork; and responsible decision-making by evaluating ethical responsibility.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: “The Last Love Story is a twisty standalone romance set in a dystopian world, perfect for Divergent and Hunger Games fans who are mostly in it for the swooning. Written by Marvel TV’s Katharyn Blair and edited by Sara Schonfeld, this one will have a commercial package and short cliffhanger chapters, and pubs right on time for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping movie next year.”
Katharyn Blairis the author of The Hushed (A Haunt for Jackals), Unchosen, and The Beckoning Shadow and screenwriter of « Loki » Season 2 and « Daredevil: Born Again. » She’s been a social media coordinator for several films at 20th Century Fox, an intern at her city’s Parks and Recreation Department, a gymnastics coach, and a writing professor at Azusa Pacific University.
