The Tax Deductions Every Small Business Owner Should Know About

Kristin O'Keeffe Merrick
Mar 29, 2021
Computer Desk with flowers and notebooks

Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we dive into the tax deductions that can help save you money when you file your taxes.

Who doesn't love a good tax deduction, amiright? As a small business owner, you should LOVE them, but oftentimes small business owners who try to navigate their own tax journey can overlook expenses that are tax deductible. It is fairly easy to identify your obvious business expenses (payroll, rent, printer paper) as tax deductions, but there are some less obvious deductions I want to highlight for you. Also, one of the best ways to identify more deductions is to ensure that you have a smart, savvy tax preparer who can uncover all the deductions for you. When hiring a tax professional, make sure you ask if they have experience working with other small businesses in your industry. Some will specialize in specific industries, so ask your network who they use.

Or, to make it easy on yourself, reach out to Block Advisors. Block Advisors small business certified tax pros have experience helping small businesses in a wide range of industries, from real estate and development to salons and consulting. And chances are good they've helped a business just like yours.

Below I will outline different types of deductions that may not be on your radar:

Arnel Hasanovic for Unsplash

Home Office: We all have a home office now, don't we? If you're an employee of a company, this deduction is no longer available to you. But to the self-employed small business owner, this deduction can be quite valuable! Let's clarify this deduction. First, the home office deduction applies to taxpayers who use part of their home exclusively and regularly for trade or business purposes. "Regular use" means that the location is your main place of business, like where you meet clients or customers during the course of a business day. "Exclusive use" means that there can be NO personal use of the space at any time during the tax year. For example, my home office is my bedroom. I could not claim my home office as a deduction, nor would I try to meet clients here. That would be weird. How much is this deduction worth? You'll take the square footage of the space as a percentage of the total home. Then, multiply that percentage times your home expenses: rent or mortgage interest, utilities, insurance, etc. It can really add up! There are other rules and options with this deduction, so I highly recommend speaking to a tax professional before you claim this as a deduction.

Business Use of Your Vehicle: Again, if you're an employee, this deduction is not available to you. But if you're self-employed, this one can be huge. To deduct the business use of your car, there are two methods: the standard mileage rate and the actual expense method. With the standard mileage rate, you'll track your business miles driven, then multiply by a cents-per-mile amount to arrive at the tax deduction. That's 56 cents per mile for 2021.

With the actual expense method, you'll track your business miles as a portion of your total mileage for the year. Then, you multiply that business-use percentage times all of your vehicle costs like gas, oil changes, repairs, and insurance.

"Notice that with either method, you MUST track the miles driven for business – it's not enough just to keep your gas receipts," says Marcie Rahn, Enrolled Agent and Master Tax Advisor at Block Advisors. "There is no vehicle use deduction without a mileage log. And the IRS doesn't just want to know the miles driven, but also the date and business purpose of the trip. So, keep good records throughout the year. You'll make yourself crazy trying to reconstruct your mileage history at the end of the year! There are some great apps out there to help you track your driving with a simple swipe."

Katie Harp for Unsplash

Health Insurance and Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenses: If you are self-employed, you can deduct the costs of your personal health insurance premiums. However, you need to meet certain criteria: 1) Your business must be claiming a profit, not a loss, for the tax year. 2) You must be ineligible for an employer's health plan, including your spouse's plan*. 3) You can claim premiums only for the months when you were not eligible for an employer's plan. Since health insurance can be quite expensive, this deduction can make a big difference.

Retirement Contributions: This is one of my favorite tax deductions because it also serves as a tool to prepare for your future — double win! This is not the piece where I break down the types of retirement plans that are available to you as a business owner, but know that contributions to your own retirement plan and contributions you have made to your employees' plans are tax deductible. "Plans like SEP-IRA's can be funded until April 15, so this is one of the few ways you can actually change your tax outcome after the tax year has ended," says Rahn. "You really want to work with a tax professional to help you squeeze the most savings out of this deduction."

Depreciation: Thanks to tax reform, business owners have more options to write off their business equipment like computers, furniture and machinery. You can depreciate the cost of assets over a period of years or in many cases, you can write off the entire cost in the year of purchase. A tax advisor can calculate your options so that you can decide what's best for your business this year and for the future!

Education: The IRS allows you to fully deduct education costs if incurring these expenses will help you maintain or enhance the expertise and skills you need to operate your business. This could include education expenses like classes, workshops, seminars, webinars, subscriptions to publications and books that pertain to your business. Transportation to classes even qualifies! Keep in mind that education expenses that pertain to a new career or are unrelated to your business do not qualify but may be eligible for other non-business tax credits.

Interest: If your business has debt like a small business loan or credit card, you are entitled to deduct interest paid to the lender or credit card company. If the loan is part business and part personal, you can deduct only the portion of the loan that is for business purposes. "You can make this easier to track if you have a dedicated credit card for your business, so you don't intermingle business and personal use," says Rahn.

Other Deductions:The above is by no means a comprehensive list. There are many other types of business deductions. Don't forget to include things like advertising and marketing expenses, gifts for clients and customers, salaries and wages, business meals, insurance premiums, bank fees, cost of goods sold, legal fees, maintenance and repairs, and moving expenses. Finally, as I end all of my pieces in this series, please consult a professional when deciding what you can and cannot deduct. I would hate for you to miss out on deductions and pay too much in taxes.

*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results.Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

10 Sneaky Expenses Draining Your Bank Account

Did January make you forget the answers to the deep questions you hoped would kickstart a great 2025? It's okay because after those crazy 31 days, we've agreed February is the start of our new year — so you get a pass if you didn't hit the ground running. Before you jump back into your written word of the year goals, take some time to think about the state of your finances. If this makes you want to throw tomatoes at us, it could be an indicator you haven't kept up with your expenses until you get your monthly statement.

We don't want you to spend another year crying about where your money goes each month so we're sharing the top hidden expenses that are draining your bank account.

Here are some sneaky expenses that could be taking your hard earned money as you silently weep.

Ivan Samkov/Pexels

1. Forgotten Subscriptions

How long has it been since the free streaming or content creation trial you signed up for expired? We're not psychic but we're sure you're looking at us with a blank stare or a set of surprised eyes.

Subscriptions are always tricky because they offer an enticing 7 or 30-day trial with an app's endless features. At this point, we're convinced marketers know we're likely to forget about the free period which is why we often see the same in-app scripts.

If you know you're not using certain apps or streaming platforms, make sure to cancel them because $4.99 — $9.99 per week or month adds up!

linh le/Dupe

2. Premium Food Delivery Services

Sigh. This one's hard to write about because we love the convenience of having food from our favorite restaurants delivered to our front door. But, that's where the lie begins because there isn't anything convenient about delivery, taxes, silverware, and tip fees on top of the cost of your order. And when you add on a premium delivery fee that seemingly cancels a free delivery, you're still paying for it in some way.

This means you could spend over $100 per year to skip one fee, and you're not guaranteed to love your order or even get it in worst case scenarios. Yikes!

Kelly Madu/Dupe

3. Pesky Auto-Renewals

Did you forget that you agreed to pay for an auto-renewal of a magazine you stopped reading? It happens to the best of us, and can be one of those hidden expenses that's easy to ignore. You think, "Oh, "$12.99 per year isn't bad," until you realize that the price somehow increased when you weren't looking. It's even worse if you're subscribed to more than one magazine that you no longer care about!

Liliana Drew/Pexels

4. ATM Charges

There's a reason your bank highly recommends you use their ATM's to withdraw money because external sources usually charge a fee. It may seem small, but why should you be charged to get a little of your money?

If you can, skip the extra $2.99 charge for your transaction and find your bank's ATM.

Angelina Orlova/Dupe

5. Your Daily Coffee Shop Order

We've all told ourselves how essential our coffee shop orders are. They help us get through our work week and feel like one of the less expensive little treats we can indulge in. But, those daily orders are adding up.

For example, let's imagine someone named Ginny spends $10 per work day on her favorite drink and breakfast order. If she does this consistently for one month, she'll have spent an extra $200 per month on them!

TBH, this extra money could go towards savings, a bill, or an unexpected emergency.

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6. Weekly Nail Salon Visits

We know getting your nails done counts as self-care, but it can be an expensive form of it. One of the things we've been relying on is giving ourselves at-home manicures or relying on press-on nails. They still fulfill our beauty needs without putting a dent in our bank accounts.

Cora Pursley/Dupe

7. Credit Card Interest

If you think you're imagining an increase in your credit card interest, there's a good chance you're not. And it's worth looking into how much for the specific card(s) you have.

It's not as easy to tell you not to carry a balance every month because you may have had to pay for a surgery or emergency car repair, but this is how credit card companies get us. That interest can range from an extra $100 — $300 on top of your actual balance, meaning you're only paying a tiny portion of it each month.

Our advice is to pay more than your monthly fee so that you're able to put a dent in the interest as much as possible!

cottonbro studio/Pexels

8. Leaving Lights On At Home Because You 'Can Do What You Want Now'

Most adults grew up hearing how leaving lights on at home was a cardinal sin, but there's a reason why parents fussed about it so much. It costs money that will show up on the next energy bill. Take it from one of our writers whose saw one of her bills skyrocket to almost $250 when she first moved out of her parents' home.

If you have to leave a light on, look into using energy saving light bulbs or burn a few candles for a dark romance vibe.

Helena Lopes/Pexels

9. Splurging On Groceries Just Because

Say it with us: overconsumption isn't a goal this year! Usually we'd insert a little joke here, but buying a ton of groceries that'll likely go to waste just because you have the money for them isn't a flex. It's wasteful to your bank account and the environment.

Stick with the groceries you usually get or make a detailed list that includes items that you're going to meal prep instead of "winging it."

Sulav Jung Hamal/Pexels

10. Daily Trips To The Gas Station

We're not talking about spending money on gas here. We know you might have a daily habit of stopping by the QT or BP near your house to get your favorite juice, Gatorade, or sunflower seeds pack. Although you can include them in your grocery trip, you've somehow convinced yourself that these items taste superior coming from the shiny convenience store.

We're here to gently burst your bubble by telling you they don't. The store's layout is just beckoning you to stop similar to the urge you get in Target.

In other words, you don't need to keep making daily trips there unless you want to keep pretending you're not sure where your money's going.

Subscribe to our newsletter for more money tips to help you navigate 2025!

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12 Low-Shedding Dog Breeds for a Cleaner Home (and Less Vacuuming)

Do you love dogs yet dread the constant cleaning that comes with shedding? Countless people can relate.

But while every dog owner knows a little fur is inevitable, certain breeds are known for being lower-shedding.

Whether you suffer from allergies or just want to reduce the time you spend cleaning up hair around your living space, here are 12 low-shedding dog breeds that'll make great additions to your household (without the mess).

Scroll to find out the best low-shedding dog breeds!

1. Poodles

Goochie Poochie Grooming

Poodles are known for their hypoallergenic coats, so they shed very little and are ideal for anyone seeking a low-shedding pet.

This breed also comes in three sizes, the Standard, Miniature, and Toy, and is easy to train due to its high intelligence. Just keep in mind that, regardless of their size, all Poodles require regular grooming to keep their curly coats free from mats and tangles.

2. Bichon Frise

RDNE Stock project

Just like the Poodle, the Bichon Frise is another breed that features a hypoallergenic coat. These dogs are tiny, cheerful, and popular due to their friendly nature.

Plus, they're known for being very smart and trainable, making them great family pets that keep clean up around the house to a minimum.

3. Labradoodle

ten Brinke photography

Originally bred as a hypoallergenic service dog, the Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle.

These dogs inherited low-shedding coats, thanks to Poodle parents, and are favored for their friendly and affectionate nature. They thrive when given plenty of exercise and early socialization.

4. Maltese

Katya Wolf

Malteses are adorably tiny and cuddly hypoallergenic dogs prized for their silky white coats. They make playful and loving companions, but owners have to stay on top of their grooming routine.

If you prefer that your Maltese has a longer coat, regular maintenance is important to prevent any mats. Otherwise, keeping a shorter "puppy" cut can make grooming much easier.

5. Yorkshire Terrier

JÉSHOOTS

Affectionately referred to as "Yorkies," Yorkshire Terriers are little hypoallergenic dogs with big personalities. They crave attention and are very loyal to their owners.

These pups also shed minimally and can adapt well to a range of households, from cozy apartments to spacious homes.

6. Schnauzers

Sebastian Coman Travel

You may not know that there are three Schnauzer breeds, including the Miniature Schnauzer, the Standard Schnauzer, and the Giant Schnauzer. Despite their size differences, all three are low-shedding.

Miniature Schnauzers are revered for their intelligence and typically weigh between 10 and 20 pounds. Standard Schnauzers, on the other hand, are also known for their smarts and enjoy long walks and mental stimulation. They just can weigh as much as 45 pounds.

Giant Schnauzers can reach up to 85 pounds and are some of the largest hypoallergenic dogs. To keep these pups happy, give them a lot of playtime and exercise.

7. Havanese

Paul Groom Photography Bristol

The Havanese is a little, playful breed that's popular for its charming personality and silky coat that doesn't shed much.

These furry friends adore human interaction, making them devoted companions, and are considered low-shedding. All they need is some regular grooming to keep their coat smooth and tangle-free.

8. Italian Greyhound

Alina Skazka

Italian Greyhounds are sleek and elegant, featuring short, smooth coats that barely shed. Contrary to what their graceful appearance might suggest, these dogs are also very playful, affectionate, and sensitive.

If you're searching for a sophisticated yet loving dog that doesn't require a lot of cleanup, this breed may be your perfect match.

9. Portuguese Water Dog

Julissa Helmuth

Portuguese Water Dogs were first bred to work alongside fishermen. Today, they're regaled for their energy and athleticism, making them a great option for active families.

These dogs also have hypoallergenic fur and don't shed much. If you're an outdoor enthusiast who wants to maintain a fur-free home, the Portuguese Water Dog might be the pet for you.

10. Basenji

Elina Volkova

This unique, cat-like breed is famous for its barkless nature. It actually makes a distinctive "yodel" sound!

Basenjis are very intelligent, playful, and sometimes mischievous, with a high prey drive. Additionally, they don't shed a lot, have minimal grooming requirements, and are often free from usual canine odors.

11. Shih Tzu

Edyttka Stawiarska

The Shih Tzu was initially bred as a companion pet in China and has remained a famous lap dog to this day. They love human company and usually stick to their owners' sides.

But while they're low-shedding, these dogs will still grow a long, luxurious coat that requires regular grooming. Otherwise, you can keep it trimmed shorter for easier maintenance.

12. Brussels Griffon

Mladen Šćekić

Lastly, the Brussels Griffon is a small breed with a rough coat that's non-shedding and simple to groom. That's why these dogs are stellar choices for anyone seeking a low-maintenance pet.

In terms of temperament, Brussels Griffons are smart, affectionate, sensitive, and quite cuddly.

Looking for more lifestyle advice? Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you never miss a thing!

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5 Reasons Why Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs Love Selling on Whatnot

Whatnot
live selling platform

There are so many ways you can reach customers today, from online marketplaces to social media platforms, websites and beyond. But which is right for you? To keep up with the fast-paced world of online selling, you want to explore ways to stand out in your market and create new revenue streams. A unique way that’s proven to be fun and actually effective for many small businesses? Live selling.

What exactly is live selling? Think of it as your own online show, where you invite new and loyal customers to chat and join in a livestreamed auction of whatever you’re selling. Entrepreneurs sell everything from trading cards, comic books, and memorabilia to fashion, beauty, electronics, and even live plants on Whatnot’s livestream platform. They share product details in real-time, chatting directly with potential buyers, and selling to the highest bidder.

Here are five reasons why small business owners are loving Whatnot to build their business, grow their online community, and connect with their customers.

1. Create new revenue streams

As a small business owner, you want to look for additional ways to boost your income or diversify your revenue streams. With Whatnot, you can tap into the rapidly growing livestream shopping market and boost your bottom line. In fact, according to Whatnot’s State of Livestream Selling Report, 66 percent of Whatnot sellers earn more than $10,000 per month through livestream selling, and one in four sellers report making over $300,000 each year! That’s a pretty sweet side hustle, andyou may even find it’s your favorite way to sell.

2. Build your community

Whatnot isn’t just a sales platform; it’s a space where you can build a strong community. Through livestream selling, you can connect with customers in real-time, build meaningful relationships, and host dynamic auctions or flash sales – turning sales into engaging experiences that drive loyalty and repeat business.

3. Reach a wider audience

Finding the right customers is critical, and your odds are better when you can reach a broader audience instantly. Whatnot’s interactive format lets you share your product or service with millions of users. Livestreaming offers a way to reach potential customers who may not have discovered your business through traditional channels.

4. Make selling and buying more fun!

Whatnot takes e-commerce to the next level by making sales more interactive and fun. Livestream selling turns ordinary sales into exciting events, with real-time auctions, flash sales, and engaging chats. This approach not only boosts sales but also creates memorable experiences that keep customers coming back for more.

5. Stay competitive

By offering a platform that blends community and commerce, Whatnot empowers small business owners to scale faster, adapt to market changes, and stay competitive. The sense of community is an element that makes the sale less transactional and more relational. And that’s good for business!

Learn how to become a seller on Whatnot today – it’s a total game changer!

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Here's Your Official (Steamy) First Look At Benedict & Sophie In 'Bridgerton' Season 4!

As much as we'd love to hear that BridgertonSeason 4 is releasing earlier than next year, we'll have to settle for as many teasers and first looks as we can get for now! Fans already know Yerin Ha will be stepping into Sophie Baek's shoes alongside Luke Thompson as Benedict, but Netflix finally released something that'll keep us satiated for a while. We can't promise much else — except these two are clearly going to make our hearts race when they're finally on-screen.

Here's the official Bridgerton Season 4 first look with Sophie & Benedict!

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Benedict's always been one of the lighthearted Bridgerton siblings, but Season 3 showed up just how, uh, free he can be. While he and Eloise did discuss their mutual feelings of wanting to explore life, it seems our loving bachelor is set on finding love in unexpected places.

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Benedict may not have fallen in love with Tilley, but it appears he's head over heels for Sophie and we think it's adorable. But, there's one glaring problem: Sophie's a maid who has plenty of secrets.

Never before have any of the Bridgerton children gotten romantically involved with someone who's in another social class, so this already sounds scandalous.

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Ah, but what will the watchful Queen Charlotte think? Remember, she was certain she was going to expose and punish Lady Whistledown before Penelope's moving speech got her to change her mind. We can only guess how she'll feel about the Bridgertons once she learns of Benedict and Sophie's forbidden romance.

In the meantime, we're already dreaming up as much as we can about this exciting season with these pictures! Oh, and did we mention there's a video too?!

Watch The 'Bridgerton' Season 4 Sneak Peak Here!

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- YouTube

Seriously...season 4 can't come fast enough!!!

We can't wait to see how Benedict and Sophie's love shakes up the Ton in Season 4. We're sure Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury will have much to discuss!

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15 Best Dystopian Books To Read Instead of "Doomscrolling" Right Now

Lately, we don't have to look far for doomsday news or potential policies that make us feel like a dystopian future will soon be our reality. Although we like to joke about it, we've seen pop culture seemingly predict our current societal and political landscape via everything from episodes of the The Simpsons to the books we've read over the years, wondering how these fictitious communities could experience horrible environments at the hands of others' decisions.

Since art is often bred from very real feelings about history's patterns, we think it's time to open a few relatable books. In our eyes, unprecedented times call for reading thought-provoking work that may seem bleak, but offers hope set in motion by one person's courage in the face of oppression and fear. These are the best dystopian books you should read in 2025.

Here are 15 dystopian books to read if you're tired of doom scrolling on social media.

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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Guy Montag's job as a fireman isn't like what you or I are used to. Instead of saving the lives of those affected by fires, he and his co-workers set them because it's a crime to have books in one's home. He does his job well and comes home to the passionless marriage he has with his wife Mildred, running on a mindless loop. It isn't until he meets a teenager named Clarisse that he begins seeing the world through her eyes and it makes him uncomfortable.

Underneath that discomfort is the knowledge that he's been keeping a secret all along and will have to decide which side of history he wants to be on.

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The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Even if you've never read the book or watched the hit TV series, chances are you've heard about The Handmaid's Tale. It's ruffled feathers to the point it's made it to the banned books list, but author Margaret Atwood's message is loud and clear: women's reproductive rights could become weaponized.
She begins her tale in the aftermath of a second Civil War that's dismantled "normal" America. As such, the Republic of Gilead has been set in place that's meant to remind men and women how things used to be. With men holding positions of power and fertile women being enslaved to help regrow the population comes a sordid tale of oppression and abuse.
However, one maid's memories and desire to break free from her horrible role encourages her to stage one of the biggest coups.

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The Power by Naomi Alderman

The Power places decisions in the hands of young girls who aren't typically afforded it. Readers will meet several characters like a wealthy Nigerian boy and a tough-as-nails girl, but what's shocking is what happens when something ignites teenaged girls with something powerful. If they choose, these girls can cause great harm to others or even end their lives.
It's a far cry from the idea that young girls are weak and powerless in a world that seeks to tame them.

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Chain-Gain All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" are a part of Criminal Actional Penal Entertainment, aka CAPE, as prisoners. They've worked their way up the hierarchy of the Chain-Gain All-Stars and are the reigning champs as they fight until the death to earn freedom.

However, there's a catch: one of them will be heavily discouraged from leaving with every hardship they face. It seems greed has no bounds and will make sure to keep viewers invested.

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American War by Omar El Akkad

Sarat Chestnut was a little girl when the another Civil War occurred in the year 2074, but she was aware enough to understand the criminalization of oil. Also, she's watched half of Louisiana succumb to being under sea level. Once her father loses his life and her family's driven to Camp Patience, she surrenders to a new normal. However, there's a false underbelly of the Camp and it works its magic on Sarat.
Before long, she's become a weapon for a war that'll change the lives of everyone.

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Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

What happens when to a world without animal meat? In Tender Is the Flesh, readers will face the horror of this staunch reality.
For main character Marcos, life has dealt him a set of terrible cards. He's separated from his wife and watching his father's health deplete quicker than he can blink his eyes. There's also the sickening fact that he's a part of the "Transition" that helps process specialized human meat.
Then one day it happens: he meets a woman who's supposed to be packaged for consumption and it shatters his usual resolve. The more he interacts with her, the more he wants to find a way to turn away from this horrific government project.

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Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

15-year-old Tally has been waiting to turn 16 for a long time because she's finally going to become gorgeous. Thanks to life-altering surgery, she gets to stop being looked over and will join a society where she doesn't have to work hard. But her friend Shay isn't so sure about this idyllic world and decides to escape it.
However, those in charge aren't a fan of this runaway situation and put Tally in a complicated position that'll alter her future.

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The Last Murder at the End of the Worldby Stuart Turton

The former world? Utterly destroyed.The island? A perfect paradise that's home to 125 people who have learned to peacefully coexist. They don't question their right to live off the land nor the curfew that's been set in place. The crack in their perfect situation doesn't come until they find out a popular scientist's been murdered.
This death triggers a breakdown in the security that was keeping them safe from the atmosphere that killed others once before and they don't have long to fix it. However, their memories have been erased and they're not sure who caused these scary chain of events.

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The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

The Ferryman describes what happens when another "perfect" paradise seems like it's everything but that.
On Prospera, only the privileged are allowed to enjoy glorious living. Though they enjoy the finer things in life, the staff who makes sure they're comfortable aren't granted the same opportunities. Truthfully, they're waiting for the right time to rebel against their conditions because they know the spoiled citizens of Prospera will be granted multiple chances at life.
For Proctor Bennett, his job as a ferryman is to make sure people are able to "retire" when it's time. It's a job he does without fail until a lone message makes him question the validity of the islands.

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Divergent by Veronica Roth

Beatrice Prior lives in a society that's divided into the Candon (honest), Abnegation (selfless), Dauntless (brave), Amity (peaceful), and Erudite (intelligent) factions. This helps keep society running according to the government's plans, but Beatrice is torn between remaining with the Abnegation or joining a new faction.
When she makes her choice, it sends ripples among those who know her and then there's Tris. He's harboring something that's sure to make him a target so she'll try to protect his secret while keeping her own interests at heart.

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

North America's now known as Panem, and it's comprised of twelve districts that once rebelled again the Capitol. However, their defeat was costly and caused them to allow two kids per district to participate in "The Hunger Games." It's a known fact that they may die as a result, but nothing's happened to change this unimaginable law.

When Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute so her young sister doesn't have to compete, this sets forth a chain of events that prove her an unlikely winner and hero.

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Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

Cassie's secured a job in her ideal role in Silicon Valley, but it turns into something nightmarish. She doesn't have a work-life balance and is tasked with doing borderline illegal things. She also can see the stark difference in economic classes because her job has a front row view of many displaced members of society.
Accompanying Cassie is something dark that responds to the state of her mental health. As she grapples with pregnancy and the things her job demands of her, she'll have to ask herself if the cost of success is worth it.

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The Garden by Nick Newman (February 18, 2025)

Evelyn and Lily are two sisters who've been living in a beautiful garden that no one can see behind. They don't remember what life was like prior to being near it as they've become preoccupied with making sure it flourishes. All of this changes with an unknown boy shows up in their curated world. They're not sure who he is, but his presence makes them question how they've chosen to live their lives.

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Fable for the End of the World (March 4, 2025)

Caerus is fueling the nation's debt problem among those who aren't wealthy, and it affects Inesa as well as her family. She and her brother are in charge of a taxidermy shop, but their mother's selfishness puts their lives in danger when her debt reaches an astronomical level. The only solution for this is for Inesa or her brother to be entered into the Lamb's Gauntlet where they'll be killed. The merciless killer? Melinoë.
She has no remorse as she's been trained to be heartless towards her victims. But Inesa proves to be the first "Lamb" that makes her question what she's doing. Together, they'll go on a journey that changes how they see their lives and love.

Amazon

Outlawed by Anna North

Ada and her husband were happy, but she failed to conceive a child in a town that views infertile women as evil. Though she wishes things could be different, she runs away before she can be hanged and joins the Hole in the Wall Gang. It's leader is known as the Kid who wants the world to stop harming women. But the Gang's got a plan that's not safe because creating a viable future is scary.

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