Beyond the Page Book Genre Guide

Don’t Know Where to Start?

There are thousands of book genres out there which makes it impossible to know which ones are for you. That’s why I created this guide to 20 of the most popular genres and recommendations for each one.

A category of fiction centered around a romantic relationship between two characters, with the emotional journey of love being the primary focus of the narrative. Recommendations: The Seven Year Slip, Beach Read, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Pride and Prejudice, Happy Place, Outlander

The horror book genre is a category of fiction designed to evoke fear, dread, or unease in the reader through suspenseful, disturbing, or supernatural elements. Recommendations: The Shining, The Haunting of Hill House, The Exorcist, Swan Song, IT, The Silence of the Lambs

The fantasy book genre is defined by stories set in imaginary worlds where magic, mythical creatures, or supernatural elements are a central part of the narrative. Recommendations: Mistborn, The Hobbit, House of Earth and Blood, Dance of Thieves, Six of Crows, The Poppy War

Stories that explore futuristic, scientific, or technological concepts, often set in imagined worlds or realities that extend from current scientific understanding. Recommendations: Dune, The Martian, Ender's Game, Neuromancer, Skyward, Children of Ruin

Features stories set in a deeply flawed or oppressive society, often imagined as a dark future shaped by political, technological, or environmental collapse. Recommendations: 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale, Divergent, Fahrenheit 451, Red Queen, The Giver, Scythe, Brave New World

Revolves around the investigation of a crime or unexplained event, most often a murder, with the goal of uncovering the truth. The central plot follows a detective or investigator. Recommendations: Gone Girl, The Silent Patient, Then She Was Gone, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Hound of the Baskervilles

The thriller book genre is defined by fast-paced, suspenseful stories that focus on high-stakes situations, danger, and tension—often involving crime, espionage, or psychological conflict. Recommendations: The Couple Next Door, Before I Go to Sleep, The Woman in the Window, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The adventure book genre is defined by stories that focus on exciting, often risky journeys or quests, filled with action, exploration, and physical challenges. Recommendations: The Call of the Wild, Life of Pi, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Into the Wild, The Ranger’s Apprentice

Refers to stories set in the modern day, typically from the late 20th century to the present, that explore realistic characters, settings, and situations. Recommendations: Normal People, A Man Called Ove, The Midnight Library, Beartown, Anxious People

The historical fiction genre is made up of stories set in the past, often featuring real historical settings, events, or figures, but told through the lens of fictional characters or narratives. Recommendations: Outlander, Daisy Jones & the Six, The Nightingale, The Things We Leave Unfinished

Book-length stories told primarily through illustrations and sequential art, similar to comic books but often with more complex, standalone narratives. Graphic novels span multiple genres. Recommendations: Blankets, Daytripper, Sandman, Locke & Key, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters

Characterized by its focus on character development, style, and thematic depth rather than plot-driven narratives. Literary fiction often explores human experiences and growth. Recommendations: A Little Life, The Secret History, Little Women, The Great Gatsby, Lessons in Chemistry

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