If you’ve ever set foot in a bookstore, you’ve no doubt seen the carefully marked aisles filled to the brim with all kinds of books. To keep these organized and easy to find, booksellers sort each section by different book genres. From your father’s favorite spy novel in the action section to trendy love stories found in the romance aisle, labels help point the way as you browse for your next read.

But with so many book genres to choose from, how do you know which appeals to you? From subgenres to nuanced differences, understand what sets each book genre apart with this helpful A-to-Z guide!

What is a Book Genre?

You may have heard the term “genre” thrown around in the book lover’s world, but what exactly is it? Simply put, a book genre is a category of literature that describes the style, content, tone, and formats within a book. It’s important to note that age categories such as children’s or young adult do not typically count as a genre but more as a way to determine a potential audience. 

Why Does Book Genre Matter?

Above all else, defining a book genre is a marketing tool. When a literary agent knows what genre a book falls under, they can determine the best ways to advertise it to the public. This can also help a bookseller know where to place it in the store so that anyone shopping can grab it without having to wonder about what type of book they’re getting.

For readers, book genres can also clue us in to whether we are likely to enjoy the read. By definition, titles in a certain genre have similar formulas, characters, and worlds. If we find a newly published novel in the same section as our tried-and-true favorites, we’re more likely to pick it up, especially when looking for a new audiobook to listen to. 

How Many Book Genres Are There?

With countless subgenres and cross-genre titles, it’s downright impossible to give an absolutely certain answer to this age-old question. Some booksellers will say there are 35, while others will list over 16,000 categories online. Since there is no limit to the imagination of readers and authors, there’s no telling just how many genres are out there or yet to be created! 

Can a Book Be Categorized as Multiple Genres?

The short answer—yes! Book genres are not binary, especially when you consider just how many subgenres fall under each one. If a novel has elements of multiple genres, it can be classified as “cross-genre” or “genre-blended.”

For example, a contemporary fiction novel (one of my favorites) may have some elements of romance and a bit of humor. Funny Story by Emily Henry is considered romance, contemporary fiction, contemporary romance, chick lit, and humor.

Pro tip: If you’re an author, it’s important to learn the dos and don’ts of blending book genres before attempting to publish.

Fiction vs. Nonfiction

When it comes down to it, there are two overarching book genres that encompass every type of title: fiction and nonfiction. Fiction refers to literature that is not based on fact – it’s made up from the author’s imagination, whereas nonfiction strives to be accurate historical retellings and factual to real-life events. Everything else simply falls under one of those two umbrella terms.

If you get the two confused, no judgment! I couldn’t remember the difference for years—to this day, I still reference the way my 5^th-grade teacher, Miss Staab taught me: Fiction = false, nonfiction = not false. 

Adult vs. YA vs. Middle Grade Books

Contrary to popular assumptions, middle grade doesn’t mean books written specifically for middle schoolers. Instead, it refers to any title aimed at children who can read, from first grade all the way until eighth grade or from ages roughly 8 to 12. Young adult books are written with 13 to 18-year-olds in mind. Books written for 18 and up are considered adult! But age is just a number—don’t let those numbers stop you from reading a book genre you’re interested in. 

Common Fiction Book Genres

With thousands of nuanced and niche subcategories, it would be impossible to list and explain every single book genre. This A-to-Z guide will help give you a deeper look at some of the most popular book genres found in your local bookstores (and provide a few beloved examples, too!).

Quick note: For the purpose of this article, we focus on adult novels as examples for each genre, but if you’re looking for something else, email us. We’re happy to recommend young adult or middle grade for each book genre, too. Look out for an article featuring those soon!

Action and Adventure

Action and adventure books are known for giving a reader a thrilling sense of excitement by providing danger and movie-like action sequences throughout the story. Whether it’s a tale of a swashbuckling pirate sailing the seven seas or a James Patterson paperback, each one tends to follow the Hero’s Journey. Who doesn’t want to read about a brave protagonist facing challenging obstacles and overcoming defeat? 

Popular Action and Adventure Titles:

• The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel 

Classic Book Genre

The classical book genre is a hard one to define, as any other fiction genre can technically fit within it. In general, a book grows to be considered a classic when the story is celebrated and cherished over the years by decades of readers. Oftentimes, the novels you’ll find filed under classics are those published many decades ago, now taught in literature-based classes.

Established Classic Literature:

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

Contemporary Fiction Genre

Books that take place in the present and follow characters over a period of time are considered contemporary fiction. Really, the easiest way to describe this genre is that it’s full of books that will one day be considered historical fiction—you’re just reading them as they come out in our timeline. These can be full of romance, mystery, humor, or more somber themes—anything is fair game in this book genre. 

My Contemporary Fiction Favorites:

• Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
• The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
• Maame by Jessica George
• Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

Fantasy Book Genre

Whether it’s a book about a hidden fairy world or a dragon-filled adventure, fantasy books all have one thing in common: magic. High fantasy is known for placing an extremely detailed imagined setting as the most important part of the plot, whereas low fantasy places few magical or supernatural elements in the world we know and live in. Classic fairytales, Greek mythology retellings, and legends all fall under this extremely popular book genre. 

Our Far-Off Fantasy Favorites:

• Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
• The Hobbit by J R.R. Tolkien
• The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang 

Popular Related Fantasy Subgenres:

Fantasy Romance

Lovingly nicknamed “romantasy,” this subgenre is the best of both worlds—and only grows more popular! Fantasy romances take place in classic fantasy settings and require a romantic element to drive the plot of the story. There are plenty of titles to choose from in this newly budding subgenre, whether you’re looking to get lost in a seven-book series or a single standalone novel. 

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
• The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Cozy Fantasy

If you’re looking to curl up and escape the stressors of modern-day life, cozy fantasy is the subgenre for you. The novels in this book genre are best characterized as featuring lower stakes, going at a slower pace, and prioritizing feel-good moods. Luckily, more and more cozy fantasy novels are being published each year. 

• The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
• Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
• A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher 

Dark Fantasy

Not all fantasy is fairytale endings and delightful forest journeys—dark fantasy combines the classic elements of the genre with cinematic and oftentimes disturbing horror elements. If you’re a fan of gothic themes and supernatural beings, pick up a dark fantasy on your next trip to the bookstore:

• In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf
• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
• Weaveworld by Clive Barker

Graphic Novels

Graphic novels have gained a massive fanbase over the years, combining attention-grabbing narratives with artful illustrations to make a novel-length comic book. You can find any genre within a graphic novel format, from fictional superheroes to nonfiction memos. Nowadays, even classics are being re-written as graphic novels, such as The Great Gatsby and Anne of Green Gables, in an effort to find a new audience.

Must-Read Graphic Novels:

• Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
• Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
• The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction may be set in real decades throughout time and even based on true events, but that doesn’t mean the stories necessarily happened. Oftentimes, the story and characters are a mix of actual events and artistic liberties imagined by the author.

These also often become TV shows or movies because of their ability to bring to life the past with fictional elements. World War II historical fiction novels are some of the most popular in the historical fiction genre. 

Best-Selling Historical Fiction Novels:

• The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
• Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
• Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Magical Realism

Magical realism is a popular genre of fiction that usually crosses over from other genres; there may be a contemporary fiction read that includes magical realism. It also crosses over many cultures, featuring a realistic and accurate setting of our mundane world with a few magical elements sprinkled along the way. It’s not to be confused with fantasy, where the characters and plot exist in an entirely magic-based world. In these stories, the characters accept the magic as a natural occurrence, even if it seems out of the ordinary to the reader.

Popular Magical Realism Books:

• The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
• Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Suspense

Suspense has grown over the years, and we’re going to break out these page-turners a bit so you can find the one that fits you best. More importantly, your book mood is best. Starting with the lightest and moving to the most intense: 

Cozy Mystery

If you loved the movie-magic whimsy of Glass Onion or Game Night, settle in with a lighthearted cozy mystery novel. Titles in this subgenre keep the violence minimal (and rarely describe it in vivid detail), feature lighthearted and often comedic mystery plots, and commonly star an amateur sleuth.

Cozy Mysteries We Love:

• Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
• Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes
• Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
• Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
• A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales

Mystery

Between old Agatha Christie novels and Nancy Drew, whodunnit mystery books have been a popular choice for hundreds of years. The mystery genre focuses on solving a crime, typically through the lens of a detective, encouraging you to put your thinking cap on and try to follow the clues until the final reveal. Straight mystery books are more creepy than cozy and less action-packed than a thriller.

Mystery Books We Love:

• The Secret History by Donna Tartt
• Verity by Colleen Hoover
• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Thriller

Thrillers are the most suspenseful of the bunch! Filled to the brim with anxiety-inducing twists and turns, action-heavy plots, and endless cliffhangers, thrillers are meant to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you like something a little dark, grim, and danger-filled, this is the genre for you.

Thriller Novels to Die For:

• The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
• Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
• The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware 

Horror

From classic Stephen King books to modern, bone-chilling stories, the horror book genre is not for the faint of heart. In horror, the content can vary: the main intention is to disturb, frighten, or scare the reader. If you love reading about ghosts, cults, cannibalism, aliens, serial killers, and more, horror is the perfect genre for you. 

Heart-Stopping Horror Stories:

• Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
• House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Poetry

If you love a sonnet, haiku, or one of the other endless formats of a poem, you’ll love the poetry book section. Explore collections of poems from certain authors or surrounding specific subjects until you find one that strikes a chord.

Poetry Favorites:

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
• Felicity by Mary Oliver
• The Hurting Kind by Ada Limon

Romance

From paperback covers of shirtless cowboys to the more subtle series, romance is one of the hottest book genres on the market. While there are, of course, elements of romance found within other genres, romance books focus on romantic love as the primary plot point. If you want to get even more specific, you can break it down by one of the popular tropes, such as enemies to lovers, holiday meet-cutes, arranged marriage, and more. 

Our Top Romance Reads:

• Happy Place by Emily Henry
• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
• The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Popular Romance Subgenres We Can’t Get Enough Of:

Contemporary Romance

Contemporary romance is one of the most popular subgenres—and has been for decades! These dreamy tales are set during the time that it was written and are often referred to as “rom-com” novels.

• The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
• People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
• The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams

LGBTQ+ Romance

As our world becomes more comfortable showcasing queer relationships front and center, LGBTQ+ romance novels have been taking the genre by storm. Love is love—especially when it comes to the wonderful representation in these to-die-for romance novels:

• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Fictional Essays and Short Stories

While there are also nonfiction essay books, fictional short stories and essays are known for being short, sweet, and to the point. This book genre can be filled with a variety of topics and fall under any other genre, whether it’s a collection of an author’s short stories all in one cover or a few essays. Typically, you can read these short prose in a single setting, as the chapters often stand alone.

Our Favorite Fictional Essays and Short Stories:

• Are You Enjoying? by Mira Sethi
• What it Means When a Man Falls From the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah
• All the Names They Used for God by Anjali Sachdeva

Science Fiction

Authors love speculating on the what-ifs of our future—especially when it comes to all the crazy scientific and technological advancements that occur every day. The science fiction genre uses a scientific base to explore those futuristic possibilities in a fictional setting, whether it be sending humans to live on another planet or watching AI go wrong. 

Sci-Fi Top Picks:

• Dune by Frank Herbert
• The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
• The Martian by Andy Weir

Science Fiction Related Genres:

Dystopian Fiction

While dystopian novels were once considered a minor subsection in the sci-fi book genre, their popularity has skyrocketed over the last few decades, securing its spot as a standalone genre. Dystopian novels are often set in the not-so-far-off future, depicting a grim and dark world following a major disaster, life-altering tragedy, or government oppression. These novels tend to reflect the uglier parts of our society, and while they may not offer easy escapism, they do make a compelling and reflective story!

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Robots

Let’s face it—between e-readers, Yoto audio players, and AI, our world is being taken over by machines! The robot subgenre falls under sci-fi and deals with the big question—what if we lived in a world where robots became integral to our society? This slightly steampunk and dystopian subgenre can be a small theme in a story or the entire plot.

• I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
• A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Time Travel

While elements of time travel can be found in other genres (hello, Jamie Fraser in Outlander!), it’s often found as a subgenre in science fiction. The methods of time travel tend to include space-age exploration, technological advancements, parallel universes, or tricky paradoxes.

• The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
• Escape Velocity by Victoria Romanski
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Popular Nonfiction Genres

Nonfiction, simply put, refers to anything true! But it’s just one big umbrella term. In the nonfiction section of a bookstore, you can find just about anything, such as business, history, politics, spirituality, art, law, academia—even cookbooks count! This is by no means an exhaustive list of the genres nonfiction has to offer, but we have gathered a few that are the most popular with our customers:

Memoir and Autobiography

Memoirs and autobiographies often get lumped together in the same book genre, as both are nonfiction stories of a person’s life written by that person. The main difference is that an autobiography focuses on the facts, recounting events from their life from beginning to end, while memoirs are more about the overall narrative, stringing specific memories together to make a point.

Best-Selling Memoirs and Autobiographies:

• I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
• Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby
• Becoming by Michelle Obama

Biography

Biographies are a popular form of nonfiction that give detailed retellings of a person’s life from start to finish. These books are written by someone else (autobiographies are written by the person they’re about). In these novels, the author will have done an enormous amount of work to make every single detail, from relationships to accomplishments, as accurate as possible. These could be written about someone deceased or someone still living—although, in that case, it’s technically unfinished! 

Frequently Read Biographies:

• Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera
• The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore 

Self-Help and Self-Improvement

A subcategory to the nonfiction book genre, self-help books aim to provide specific guidance to a struggling reader. These can be focused on just about any personal, mental, or emotional problem. 

Worthwhile Self-Help Books:

• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
• The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight
• Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D.

Nonfiction Essays and Short Stories

A book of essays is not the same thing as those pesky assignments many of us dreaded in high school English class. If you’re looking for a quick and snappy way to take in a lot of true information and stories, nonfiction essay books are for you. From real-life anecdotes to detailed explorations of worldly topics and so much more, each chapter brings up a new topic for you to chew on.

Popular Nonfiction Essays and Short Stories:

• Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
• Black Friend Essays by Ziwe
• The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

True Crime

If you find yourself getting lost in those nitty-gritty podcasts and documentaries, reading the true crime genre is for you. True crime novels can be based on one singular crime or all of the actions of a certain criminal. 

Best True Crime Books:

• Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
• Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murder by Curt Gentry and Vincent Bugliosi

Historical Nonfiction

In historical fiction, all of the books are information-based and center around real events and eras through time. These can be told from the author’s perspective, using real letters and documents of the time, or based on pure facts. 

Learn with these Historical Nonfiction Books:

• Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
• Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
• The Radium Girls by Kate Moore 

How-Tos and Guides

Another versatile book genre under nonfiction, there’s a “How to _____” guidebook for just about anything. In these titles, you’ll find step-by-step instructions breaking down the subject at hand, as well as helpful tips and tricks collected by experts. 

Helpful How-To Guidebooks:

• How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes
• How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi 

Parenting and Families

The parenting book aisle is full of tips and tricks for everything family related. In it, you’ll find a variety of books on topics like pregnancy, blending families, choosing types of education, raising special needs babies, gentle parenting, and more. 

Popular Parenting Books:

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff
• How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes by Melinda Wenner Moyer
• Love Centered Parenting by Maria Gavriel

Once you find a book genre you love, finding your next read is easy! Just head to that section and browse all the new and old titles to fill up your shelves. We can’t wait for you to be able to discover your new favorite genres and stories at Novel—coming soon.