The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will cover the bloodiest Games in Panem's history — but despite Haymitch's prequel promising to be the bleakest book yet, it promises to continue the franchise's smartest romance trend. The Hunger Games books are known for their searing social commentary, but all of Suzanne Collins' books also feature memorable love stories. Indeed, the original Hunger Games trilogy became known for the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. And The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes emphasizes the connection between Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray.

Of course, romance is far from the point of The Hunger Games, but that's what makes Collins' books so incredibly clever. The author knows exactly how to hook readers with one aspect of her story, then deliver a message once she has their attention. And judging by the newly released excerpt of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch's...