Authors need to have a firm grasp of all the different genres of books to find the perfect home for them. the tropes and expectations of a book’s genre will inform its content and style during the writing process, as well as fundamentals like word count. But it’s also critical to marketing a book, determining your target audience and those all-important Amazon categories. If you pick the wrong genre, you could say goodbye to book sales and hello to reviews from dissatisfied readers!
How many genres of books are there?
Although we only cover 35 of the most popular ones in this post, there are around 50 genres in total; the exact number depends on who you ask. When you factor in subgenres, at Reeds and Discovery we have 107 different categories, while Amazon has over 16,000!
You are reading: How many genres of books are there
that can be a lot to take in. so if you want personalized guidance, we recommend taking this 1-minute quiz that will guide you towards your genre (and sub-genre).
for an overview of all genres, that’s what the rest of this post is for. surely there is a genre that fits perfectly with your book. all you have to do is find it!
fiction genres
“writing fiction is the act of weaving a series of lies to arrive at a greater truth.” — khaled hosseini
fantasy
This genre of books is characterized by magical or supernatural elements and is often inspired by mythology or folklore. In high fantasy, which is set in a completely fictional world, these magical elements are at the forefront of the plot, as in Trudi Canavan’s Black Magician trilogy. however, in low fantasy or magical realism, magic is subtly woven into an otherwise familiar real-world setting. you can delve into the many subgenres of fantasy to learn your arcanepunk from your flintlock and find your book’s home.
Pro tip for writing fantasy: To make your world feel real and functional, make sure it’s rule-based, an internal logic, if you will, that encompasses everything from the workings of your society to your magical system.
science fiction
Though science fiction and fantasy are often considered two sides of the same (speculative fiction) coin, sci-fi is distinguished by its preoccupation with real or real-feeling science. Lots of sci-fi is set in the distant future, which makes it a seedbed for stories about time travel and space exploration. But your science fiction novel doesn’t need to be inspired by “hard” science like physics and astronomy. Some of the books in this genre reflect on “soft” sciences, such as sociology and anthropology, to predict the future of the human race — more on that next!
dystopian
A popular genre of science fiction, dystopian novels offer a grim and terrifying vision of the future. authors who write dystopias imagine a bleak society, often in the aftermath of a disaster, facing things like oppressive governments, mirror-like black technology, and environmental blight. From wildly popular series like The Hunger Games to critically acclaimed classics like 1984, the enduring appeal of dystopian fiction lies in our burning desire to know where humanity is headed, and our wicked enjoyment of dark stories, as long as Sean isn’t really happening to us.
action & adventure
If you’re writing adventures, your book will most likely follow the structure of the hero’s journey. your protagonist has a very important goal to achieve, but he will really have to go through the wringer first! You throw obstacle after obstacle, putting your hero in downright dangerous situations, but eventually they triumph and return home transformed. The action-adventure genre also complements a wide variety of others, meaning it has its fingers in everything from fantasy novels like The Hobbit to classic romance like Jane Eyre.
mystery
Also called detective fiction, this genre of books is characterized by a gripping plot that revolves around a mystery, but hopefully, you’ve cracked that clue! the setting, characters, and tone of your book will determine precisely which category it falls into: cozy, hard-nosed mystery, or something in between. but at the center of any mystery is a crime that must be solved by the protagonist. To get a sense of the clever trail of clues that is so vital to this genre, check out Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, the grande dame of mystery fiction.
pro tip for writing a mystery: When planning your novel, refer to the Fichtean curve, a narrative structure that emphasizes mini-crises, building tension to keep readers eager for a climax.
horror
What unites the books of this genre is not the theme, the plot or the setting, but the feeling they inspire in the reader: your pulse quickens and your skin tingles when you turn the page while holding your breath. Of course, this feeling of dread only arises if the author creates the right atmosphere, an essential characteristic that depends on the subgenre. gothic horror, for example, sends a shiver down the spine with hair-raising settings and paranormal elements, while disgusting horror surprises the reader with butchered meat and buckets of blood. the master of horror fiction in all its forms? stephen king, of course.
pro tip for horror writing: make the stakes clear and direct (survival, death of a loved one, etc.) and state it clearly for the reader, so they are in no doubt about the motivation of the writer. character.
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suspense & suspense
A horror story can also be called a thriller if it uses psychological fear to create suspense. but not all thrillers are horror stories. so what are they? Although this genre of book encompasses many of the same elements as the mystery, in a thriller the protagonist often acts to save his own life, rather than solve the crime. Thrillers often include cliffhangers, deception, high emotional stakes, and lots of action, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the book’s climax. Gillian Flynn’s Lost Girl is a master class in the dark and mysterious thriller.
pro tip for writing a thriller: avoid anything that bogs down the pace. if you notice a scene bogs down with everyday details or doesn’t add enough emotion to the plot, rewrite it or cut it out entirely!
historical fiction
See Also: Natasha Lester – Book Series In Order
This genre of book encompasses fictional stories in a historical setting, carefully balancing creativity and fact. in most cases, the characters and events are imagined by the author and enriched with historically accurate details of a specific time period. Take the help of Kathryn Stockett, for example, a fictional story set in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. But occasionally, as is the case with Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy, the author builds the main story around real historical characters and events.
romance
Romance is used so often as a subplot that sometimes it can be hard to tell if you’re writing in this genre or not. the key to remember is that the romantic relationship should be the central point of the plot. (Other freebies include a “happily ever after” ending and the warm novels.) If your novel has a romantic relationship at its core and is perfectly at home in another genre, it probably falls into one of the many subgenres of romance, including but not limited to: young adult romance, paranormal romance, and historical romance.
women’s fiction
women’s fiction is an umbrella term for books written for a female audience, typically reflecting on the shared experience of being a woman or the growth of a female lead. Due to this rather broad definition, authors often write a romance or mystery novel, for example, that could also be labeled women’s fiction. Despite the connotations of an alternate name for this genre (“chick-lit”), many critically acclaimed bestsellers, including Jacqueline Woodson’s Red on the Bone, fall under its purview.
lgbtq+
any fiction with authentic lgbtq+ representation falls into this genre of books. It’s important to note that while the queer characters in your book should appear in the main plot, the centerpiece of your plot doesn’t have to be a romance. in fact, there doesn’t need to be any romance at all! This means your fantasy, thriller, or historical novel could fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella.
contemporary fiction
This book genre is occasionally lumped in with others to indicate that the book takes place in the present day. But in its simplest form, contemporary fiction is better understood as the absence of a genre. Your book doesn’t need tropes and trappings, monsters and mysteries, when its tension, drama, and conflict lies in the quirks and quandaries of your protagonist’s everyday life: work, politics, relationships, and the struggles of the modern era.
literary fiction
Like contemporary fiction, books that are considered literary fiction cannot be neatly filed under any other genre. what distinguishes this genre from contemporary fiction is that works of literary fiction are believed to have considerable artistic value. If your prose is meant to engage the reader in thought, if your narrative is introspective and character-driven, and if you provide personal or social commentary on a “serious” topic, then you are likely writing literary fiction. modern classics from the likes of virginia woolf or ali smith would be labeled literary fiction.
magical realism
You may remember us mentioning magical realism under the umbrella of fantasy, but considering its intellectual flair and literary prestige, magical realism is often considered a genre in its own right. its features include a real-world setting, a cast of ordinary characters (no vampires, fairies, or sorcerers), a fluid, non-linear timeline, and supernatural events: a baby being born with feathered wings, or an egg hatching a ruby, no explanation. Authors such as Isabel Allende and Toni Morrison have used this literary style to deal with serious social ills, from colonialism to fascism and slavery.
graphic novel
Some genres of books are not defined by their content at all, but by their form. Graphic novels are presented to the reader through narrative art (illustrations and typography), either in the traditional panel layout you’ll be familiar with from comics, or in the artist’s own style. Once considered cheap children’s entertainment, graphic novels are increasingly read and respected these days for their rich combination of imagery and writing. This powerful storytelling method now portrays everything from memoirs to manga to adaptations of classic literature.
story
While they can fall into any of the other book genres on this list, short stories are often grouped into their own genre because, well, they’re so much shorter than novels. Often the author will compile a collection tied together by a narrative thread or, more commonly, by a shared theme. The stories in A Handbook for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin, for example, follow a series of women in different occupations, from cleaning ladies to nurses, all struggling to survive.
young adult
young adult fiction, or already, is aimed at readers between the ages of 12 and 18 and reflects its readers following teenage characters as they deal with the unique challenges of adolescence. most works of fiction can be labeled “coming-of-age novels,” in which the characters emerge from childhood and enter adulthood, a transition that results in a loss of innocence and a changing sense of of identity. Some of the biggest sellers in recent years have been in this genre, including The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas and Anything by John Green.
Pro tip for writing young adult fiction: While your teen character’s voice should be true to their life experience, you should never “simplify” the language, story, or style choices in an adult novel.
new adult
The shiny new penny on this list of book genres, New Adult is Like A Young Adult Aged: Coming-of-Age Stories After Adolescence Disorder. its college-age protagonists go through the challenge of becoming full-fledged adults, ditching the stress of satellite exams and prom for college exams, career transitions, and more mature firsts. Big names in New Adult, like Cora Carmack, tend to write gripping romances set in bedrooms. But this genre isn’t just about college love stories – your gritty urban fantasy or immersive historical fiction could also find a home here.
childish
Books in this genre are written with readers under the age of twelve in mind. Of course, children will grow a lot between the ages of zero and twelve, which is why children’s books range from baby board books to 50,000-word middle-grade “epics.” hopefully, if you’re writing children’s literature, you already know you are. but it’s crucial that you also know what age group you’re trying to target, as this will affect the themes, characters, and complexity of your book.
nonfiction genres
“it’s strange, but true; because the truth is always strange; stranger than fiction.” — mr byron
memories & autobiography
Memoirs and autobiographies both provide a faithful account of the author’s life. they differ in that an autobiography provides a chronological account of the events and accomplishments of his life, while a memoir emphasizes only the most emotional and defining moments. these moments are usually tied together by a single theme, or a significant time, place, or relationship, to communicate a message that he wants to share with readers. Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts is a popular example of a memoir.
pro tip for writing a memoir: treat yourself like an interview subject and ask yourself questions that will trigger those life-defining stories: the ups and downs, the events that shaped you, what you sacrificed, what you learned.
biography
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Like autobiographies, biographies provide readers with a person’s life story; but they are written in the third person by someone other than the subject. Usually, the subject of a biography is (or was) well known, someone whose life can teach readers an interesting lesson worth learning. biographies, memoirs, and autobiographies differ from the rest of the nonfiction on this list in that they weave a narrative in much the same way a novel does. A great biography, like Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton, is not a long list of events, but a life-giving tribute.
food & drink
Food and drink is one of the most popular non-fiction book genres, making it a very crowded and very competitive market. As a result, today’s cookbooks tend to cater to specific cooking, dietary, and/or lifestyle needs. If you’re writing a cookbook, you might consider combining recipes with nutritional information, short autobiographical narratives, or even exercises. The 30-Day Kickstart Plan by Jo Wicks and Less Fuss Zero Waste Cooking by Lindsay Miles are excellent examples of modern cookbooks.
art & photography
This genre is home to a few different kinds of books, all united by their love of art. Your book could find its way into this vibrant and stylish genre if it discusses an artist’s work or an artistic style in detail; if it teaches a specific art method; if it explores a facet of art history; or if it showcases your own art in that chic, coffee-table book way. 
self help
Some of the best-selling nonfiction books, self-help books encourage self-improvement and confidence. Whether the focus is on relationships, emotional well-being, or finances, if you’re writing a book that aims to uplift and empower the reader, then you’re probably writing self-help.
story
Books in this genre establish the known facts about a historical era, event, or figure. and since this is nonfiction, all facts must be accurate (although that doesn’t mean there’s no room for inferences or opinions). the goal of these books is to educate and inform the reader, so this genre includes all the textbooks you used in school. but many history books abandon the play-by-play format to recount the past in a more narrative-like fashion. One of our favorite history books is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari.
travel
Memoirs and travelogues, like jonathan looky’s the journey matters, take us around the world and provide the most devoted homebody with a tantalizing taste of adventure, wildlife and the great outdoors. Featuring destination reviews, lists of where to eat and what to see, and tips for traveling on a tight budget, these pocket books are without a doubt some of the most useful titles on the shelves.
true crime
Noir novel writers have put some pretty twisted plots on paper, but if you prefer to recount true crimes in all their haunting and riveting detail, your book belongs in the true crime genre. From infamous murders to domestic disappearances, works in this genre write true stories, about all things fearsome and forbidden, that read as well as well-crafted fiction.
humor
Laugh-out-loud memoirs from the funniest celebrities, satirical essays from the likes of David Sedaris, or hilarious gifts like how to be an adult—every book in this exciting genre is written with one thing in mind: making readers. laughter! So if you’ve compiled a collection of all of his favorite dad jokes or written a cathartic brain dump of his most embarrassing memories, then his book may as well belong in the humor genre.
essays
An essay may sound like a boring assignment from your school years, but books in this genre are among some of the most moving and inspiring works of literature out there. Many powerful voices, such as James Baldwin and Roxane Gay, have used these short works to reflect on their own personal experiences and insights, combining them into a collection that serves as revealing social commentary on a particular theme or issue.
guide/instructions
Readers turn to this book genre to develop a skill, hobby, or craft. So if you’re an expert in a particular field and you’ve written a book showing hobbyists how to achieve something specific (like “how to master chess openings” or “a guide to floristry”), then this is its home! Of course, one dead giveaway might be your book’s title.
religion & spirituality
From Catholic church stories to spiritual guides and memoirs of the eat, pray and love variety, this genre has a place for all things religious and spiritual.
humanities & social sciences
Do you have something wise to say? then your book could belong to the books of this eclectic genre, as long as it discusses a topic related to (deep breath): philosophy, history, literature, language, art, religion, music or the human condition. This may seem like a pretty wide net to fall into, but keep in mind that books in this genre are usually quite academic; if you’ve written a more fluid spirit guide, it probably belongs to the above genre.
parenting & families
Parents and families struggling with discipline, parenting, bonding, caring for a newborn baby, or child with special needs can turn to this well-stocked genre of books when they need reinforcement. If you’ve written a memoir that will have families nodding wholeheartedly, or a guide packed with advice for weary parents, then you may find a place for your book in the parenting and families section.
science & technology
The job of science non-fiction is not to predict the future, but rather to make sense of the world we currently live in, which may honestly seem like science fiction to some of us. Readers of this genre range from complete beginners trying to understand the things around them to technophiles whose brains are buzzing to keep up with the pace of change, so there’s sure to be a niche for your book, advanced though it may be.
childish
As much as children love fairy tales and talking animals, they often enjoy reading a nonfiction book at story time. Whether it’s an activity book to keep them busy, a powerful true story like Malala’s Magic Pencil, or a children’s encyclopedia to feed their brains, children’s nonfiction is all about making learning fun. And the popular series of horrible histories has shown that this genre can compete with wizards and superheroes of all ages!
There you have it: 35 of the most popular book genres. hopefully this list will help you get your foot in the right door. but if your book doesn’t fit neatly into any of these categories (although there are quite a few other types of nonfiction to consider), don’t be afraid to declare it a hybrid, or delve a little deeper into the subcategories you’ll find shadowing these genres. umbrella.
See Also: Philip Gulley – Book Series In Order