Book · 2025
Sunrise on the Reaping
by Suzanne Collins
Haymitch Abernathy's Hunger Games — the 50th, with twice the tributes and a victory that costs him everything.
Catalogue record: Open Library
What does Reddit think of Sunrise on the Reaping?
The prequel readers wanted. The strongest praise in the sample is comparative: "Sunrise on the Reaping was so good and by far my favorite Hunger Games book" (↑48), and a YAlit thread puts it first with "and it's not even close" (↑90). The pitch in the threads is the premise — "the story when Haymitch Abernathy was chosen for the 50th Hunger Games and how he won" (↑48) — which matters because the books' audience already knows how that victory ends. The most-upvoted mention in the sample is not about the book but about the fanbase: a RomanceBooks comment says the fandom "devolved into a toxic mess since Sunrise On The Reaping released" (↑202). A Fantasy thread notes the Snow characterization scene readers keep citing (↑51).
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Haymitch's games as the premise — the known ending, the unknown cost
- · "By far my favorite Hunger Games book" — the comparative praise
- · Fandom drama around the release as a separate conversation
- · The prequel as the series' most-recommended entry in this sample
Common praise
- + Readers rank it against the whole series and put it first: "by far my favorite Hunger Games book" (↑48).
- + The YAlit verdict is one line and no runner-up: "Sunrise on the Reaping and it's not even close" (↑90).
- + The Haymitch premise gets recommended as the draw — the 50th Games and how he won (↑48).
Common criticism
- − The most-upvoted mention in the sample is about the fanbase turning toxic after the release, not the book (↑202) — engagement with the text is thinner than the enthusiasm.
- − One Fantasy comment reduces a scene to "President Snow went full incel" (↑51) — the only displayed pushback, and it's aimed at a scene, not the whole book.
Who it's for
Read the original trilogy years ago and drifted off? The threads pitch this as the book that brings you back — the best entry by several readers' accounting (↑48, ↑90). Want the backstory the main series only gestured at? This is Haymitch's 50th Games, told in full (↑48). If you need the book to be discussed on its own terms rather than as fandom fuel, the sample here is thinner on that than the enthusiasm suggests.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Sunrise on the Reaping?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“The Hunger Games fanbase has devolved into a toxic mess since Sunrise On The Reaping released. It used to be my go-to fandom for the chill but the new fans have no etiquette or respect for different opinions whatsoever and the main sub is just miserable.
“Sunrise on the Reaping and it's not even close
“I just read the new Hunger Games prequel and it had a whole scene where President Snow went full incel over Lucy Grey when he found out Haymitch has a Covey girlfriend back in 12. Sunrise on the Reaping was all pretty heavy handed (good book overall), but this scene was too much.
“I know this is a very “mainstream” response but Sunrise on the Reaping was so good and by far my favorite Hunger Games book.
“Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid. hugely anticipated and lived up to it honorable mention - sunrise on the reaping by Suzanne Collins. Didn't super like this but i'm all glad the fandom gets extra material, even if it was for the movie. honorable mention - among the burning flowers by Samantha S…
“The Hunger Games is a classic for sure, I loved Sunrise on the Reaping. The Scythe is really good too. I personally like a bit of romance so I enjoyed The Selection, Matched and Shatter Me (although a lot of people find these books to be overrated; it really depends on your reading taste).:D
“I gave *Lud-in-the-Mist* 5 stars but it has an average of 3.85; I think it's too twee and classics-inclined for a lot of SFF readers, maybe? It's definitely quaint, but I... er, didn't care lol. I gave *Sunrise on the Reaping* 3 stars despite its average of 4.51 because I really think it's Collins'…
“Sunrise on the Reaping!!
“Could be controversial but Sunrise on the Reaping!
“I just finished Sunrise on the Reaping (if you like the Hunger Games novels). Straight up broke my heart. I haven’t had a book make me cry in AGES.
“Sunrise on the Reaping. I was ugly crying by chapter 5. It didn't stop until I finished it
“Best: 1. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins: the best Hunger Games book to date, a really good study of how authoritarianism rules by controlling the story, not merely the people, and a devastating tragedy to boot. 2. Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell: my favorite of the 3 Arthur books by C…
“*Sunrise on the Reaping* by Suzanne Collins. Twice. >!and I think it’s my favorite in the series!<
“Most recently, *Sunrise on the Reaping*.
“Sunrise on the Reaping. I won't say anything because it is still so new.
Convinced? Pick up Sunrise on the Reaping
What else does r/suggestmeabook read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
Sunrise on the Reaping — frequently asked
What does Reddit think of Sunrise on the Reaping?+
Strongly positive in the displayed excerpts. A r/suggestmeabook reader calls it "by far my favorite Hunger Games book" (↑48), and the YAlit verdict is "Sunrise on the Reaping and it's not even close" (↑90). The caveat in the sample: the most-upvoted mention is about the fanbase getting toxic after the release (↑202), so the loudest conversation isn't always about the book itself.
Do I need to reread The Hunger Games before Sunrise on the Reaping?+
No, according to the threads. The premise gets recommended standalone — "the story when Haymitch Abernathy was chosen for the 50th Hunger Games and how he won" (↑48) — and readers frame it as a favorite on its own, not as homework. Knowing who Haymitch becomes adds the shadow, but the excerpts don't treat the earlier books as a prerequisite.
Is Sunrise on the Reaping better than the original Hunger Games books?+
Several readers in the sample say yes: "by far my favorite Hunger Games book" (↑48) and "it's not even close" (↑90). That's comparative praise from people who read the whole series, not newcomers. The one thing the threads don't do is argue the point — no displayed excerpt pushes back on the ranking.