My favorite genre is sci-fi. Not sure why. It could be because I saw Jurassic Park a lot when I was really young.
Known_Choice586 on
trying a bunch of genres to see what you like is a fun part of reading! don’t be afraid to not finish books that you aren’t enjoying, either! are there any movie or tv genres you usually gravitate to?
SixofClubs6 on
Historical Fiction. I like learning about what was happening during the time period of the story. Even non fiction that’s written about a certain event. But I definitely don’t limit myself to that. All the recommendations on here save one have been solid. Even the one that missed was a good story, just too gruesome for my tastes.
Persimmon_and_mango on
Interesting question! I mainly read fantasy and classic novels, ever since I was young. But after having a baby I really couldn’t concentrate on any sophisticated prose and also couldn’t emotionally handle anything about children in danger. All my brain power was devoted to my baby. So I ended up getting into trashy romance novels.
I like that it’s pretty much mindless entertainment and also that they’re predictable. From there I moved into cozy mysteries and cozy fantasy for pretty much the same reasons. Now that my child is getting older I’m getting back into fantasy little by little, but I still can’t process Jane Austen or handle books where children die. Cozy fantasy is still my current favorite genre because it’s so relaxing.
Character_Night2490 on
You really have to read a wide variety of genres and sub-genres before you find one that clicks with you. For me, I’ve always been a fantasy and romance reader. I went through a phase in high school where I was obsessed with King Arthur retellings, which lead me to other books inspired by British isle folklore. The Notebook was a pivotal book for me and helped me love romance. Adult me primarily reads romance of any type and any spice level. But it took years to get here. I’ve also just started to get into Discworld which has been a fun first couple reads.
What tv shows or movies do you really like? If you like the tv show Bones there is the series that inspired the tv show (it is very very different than the show, so be prepared). Do you like How’s Moving Castle? Read the book. Have you watched Pride and Prejudice 1000 times? Read the book and read some other regency romances.
KMarieJ on
I have tried and really enjoyed pretty much every genre over the years. I go through phases where I read a ton of one, then for no reason jump to another – or several others! I read multiple books at a time so I love having options unless I’m deep diving. I read both fiction and nonfiction.
I do have one exception – westerns. I have tried, and failed, to enjoy dozens of them and have only managed to trudge through a couple. It’s not like I don’t like the old west – I grew up in Arizona and loved the mythologies and native cultures, but fictional westerns just don’t click with me. I take a run at them every few years, especially when I read a great review, but…
So I would suggest – just read what sounds enticing, if you love it great! If not, try the next one. I hope you find some you love!!
borris12321 on
I’d always read historical fiction, sci fi, and fantasy liked it, so didn’t really bother to branch out much.
Then picked up And then there were none by Agatha Christie , while in a DOC hut for the night. Got bugger all sleep but read the whole thing , turns out I absolutely love whodunnit murder mysteries.
Past-Wrangler9513 on
I read very broadly. Pretty much every genre except self-help. My favorites – thriller and fantasy – are the two genres I come back to the most but I can’t read just those two or I get bored.
Fantasy has been a favorite since childhood but I drifted away from it for a lot of my twenties and rediscovered my love for it in my 30s. Thrillers I only began to enjoy as an adult.
I think you just pick what seems interesting and maybe you gravitate toward one genre or maybe you don’t.
DrPrMel on
Goosbumps made me fall in love with reading and horror in the 3rd grade.
Redwall made me fall in love with fantasy in the 4th grade
Enders Game made me fall in love with sci fi in the 6th grade.
I never looked back since then and never fell out of love of these genres.
MmntoMri on
I am also new to reading and I found out writing style actually matters more for me than actual topic or genre of the book. The writing doesnt need to be really good, it just need to work well for me.
I’ve managed to finish books with premise I have zero interest, or books with basically no plot, simply because I liked the writing. On the other hand, there were books that I was super interested with the synopsis but dropped them within several pages because the writing didn’t work for me.
It funny how in the beginning I’ve added pretty much any book across multiple genre that garnered my interest into my TBR pile. Now majority of them is removed, my TBR now mostly consist of books by author I liked
10 Comments
My favorite genre is sci-fi. Not sure why. It could be because I saw Jurassic Park a lot when I was really young.
trying a bunch of genres to see what you like is a fun part of reading! don’t be afraid to not finish books that you aren’t enjoying, either! are there any movie or tv genres you usually gravitate to?
Historical Fiction. I like learning about what was happening during the time period of the story. Even non fiction that’s written about a certain event. But I definitely don’t limit myself to that. All the recommendations on here save one have been solid. Even the one that missed was a good story, just too gruesome for my tastes.
Interesting question! I mainly read fantasy and classic novels, ever since I was young. But after having a baby I really couldn’t concentrate on any sophisticated prose and also couldn’t emotionally handle anything about children in danger. All my brain power was devoted to my baby. So I ended up getting into trashy romance novels.
I like that it’s pretty much mindless entertainment and also that they’re predictable. From there I moved into cozy mysteries and cozy fantasy for pretty much the same reasons. Now that my child is getting older I’m getting back into fantasy little by little, but I still can’t process Jane Austen or handle books where children die. Cozy fantasy is still my current favorite genre because it’s so relaxing.
You really have to read a wide variety of genres and sub-genres before you find one that clicks with you. For me, I’ve always been a fantasy and romance reader. I went through a phase in high school where I was obsessed with King Arthur retellings, which lead me to other books inspired by British isle folklore. The Notebook was a pivotal book for me and helped me love romance. Adult me primarily reads romance of any type and any spice level. But it took years to get here. I’ve also just started to get into Discworld which has been a fun first couple reads.
What tv shows or movies do you really like? If you like the tv show Bones there is the series that inspired the tv show (it is very very different than the show, so be prepared). Do you like How’s Moving Castle? Read the book. Have you watched Pride and Prejudice 1000 times? Read the book and read some other regency romances.
I have tried and really enjoyed pretty much every genre over the years. I go through phases where I read a ton of one, then for no reason jump to another – or several others! I read multiple books at a time so I love having options unless I’m deep diving. I read both fiction and nonfiction.
I do have one exception – westerns. I have tried, and failed, to enjoy dozens of them and have only managed to trudge through a couple. It’s not like I don’t like the old west – I grew up in Arizona and loved the mythologies and native cultures, but fictional westerns just don’t click with me. I take a run at them every few years, especially when I read a great review, but…
So I would suggest – just read what sounds enticing, if you love it great! If not, try the next one. I hope you find some you love!!
I’d always read historical fiction, sci fi, and fantasy liked it, so didn’t really bother to branch out much.
Then picked up And then there were none by Agatha Christie , while in a DOC hut for the night. Got bugger all sleep but read the whole thing , turns out I absolutely love whodunnit murder mysteries.
I read very broadly. Pretty much every genre except self-help. My favorites – thriller and fantasy – are the two genres I come back to the most but I can’t read just those two or I get bored.
Fantasy has been a favorite since childhood but I drifted away from it for a lot of my twenties and rediscovered my love for it in my 30s. Thrillers I only began to enjoy as an adult.
I think you just pick what seems interesting and maybe you gravitate toward one genre or maybe you don’t.
Goosbumps made me fall in love with reading and horror in the 3rd grade.
Redwall made me fall in love with fantasy in the 4th grade
Enders Game made me fall in love with sci fi in the 6th grade.
I never looked back since then and never fell out of love of these genres.
I am also new to reading and I found out writing style actually matters more for me than actual topic or genre of the book. The writing doesnt need to be really good, it just need to work well for me.
I’ve managed to finish books with premise I have zero interest, or books with basically no plot, simply because I liked the writing. On the other hand, there were books that I was super interested with the synopsis but dropped them within several pages because the writing didn’t work for me.
It funny how in the beginning I’ve added pretty much any book across multiple genre that garnered my interest into my TBR pile. Now majority of them is removed, my TBR now mostly consist of books by author I liked