You ever have that moment where you’re standing in front of a bookshelf—like, a real bookshelf, not the Amazon “customers also bought” list—and you’re just staring at spines like you’re at a party where you don’t know anyone? Yeah. That’s me at Barnes & Noble every single time. Which is why I started getting obsessed with finding the best genre guides for every type of reader. Because honestly? Sometimes I want someone to just hold my hand and say: “You, my friend, are in a fantasy mood. Go here.”
It’s like a map. Except instead of leading you to buried treasure, it leads you to books you’ll ugly cry over at 2 a.m.
And trust me—I’ve been lost in the wrong genre before. Back in 8th grade, I picked up this military history book (don’t ask, I was trying to impress a crush who loved war movies). Three pages in, I realized: I don’t know what a battalion is, I don’t care about tanks, and also… my crush was busy making out with someone else in the lunchroom. So yeah. Guides matter.
Why We Need Genre Guides (a.k.a. Why I Suck at Making Decisions)
Okay, real talk: I’m the person who spends 45 minutes scrolling Netflix, only to give up and rewatch The Office. Same thing happens with books.
Fiction? Non-fiction? Do I want to learn something new or just emotionally wreck myself with a good YA romance?
Genre guides are basically like that friend who knows you better than you know yourself. The one who’s like:
“No, you do not need to read another self-help book. You need dragons.”
And the best ones don’t just tell you what the genre is—they give you vibes. They say: If you liked wandering around thrift stores at midnight in college, you’ll probably like magical realism. And I’m like, wow, called out, but also… yes.
The Big Genre Buckets (And My Questionable Opinions)
So here’s my messy attempt to break this down. Think of this as me drawing a map on a napkin while we’re both half-caffeinated.
📚 Fiction Lovers: Where Feelings Go to Cry
- Romance: People roll their eyes, but honestly? Romance novels have saved me from more bad days than therapy. There’s comfort in knowing it’ll probably end with two people kissing in the rain. (Unless it’s Nicholas Sparks. Then someone’s probably dead.)
- Fantasy: My first real fantasy series was Eragon. I was 12, convinced I’d find a dragon egg in my backyard. Spoiler: I found a raccoon instead. Still counts?
- Mystery/Thriller: Perfect for when you want to feel like a detective but also not leave your couch. Bonus: the books usually don’t require you to remember 500 character names.
🤓 Non-Fiction Nerds: Yes, You Count Too
- Memoirs: Half the time they read like novels, except it’s a real person. I cried harder at Michelle Obama’s Becoming than I did at any YA breakup scene.
- True Crime: You know you’re in deep when you start saying stuff like “the body was found two towns over” at brunch like it’s normal small talk. (Sorry, Aunt Linda.)
- History: This is the genre I keep trying to “get into.” My brain? Nope. Unless it’s weird history—like books about medieval people suing pigs. That I can handle.
🎮 Niche / Oddball Genres
- Graphic Novels: Don’t let anyone tell you they’re “just for kids.” They’re art, okay? Sometimes I get more feels from a 20-page illustrated story than a 500-page epic.
- Sci-Fi: My toxic trait? Thinking I’ll understand the science. (I don’t. I just nod like, “Yes, quantum wormholes, I know her.”)
- Horror: I can’t do horror movies (I’m still traumatized by The Ring), but horror books? Somehow less terrifying. Probably because I can shut the book and not worry about my TV turning into a murder portal.
The “What Type of Reader Are You” Game (Because Quizzes Make Everything Better)
Okay, let’s play pretend. You tell me your mood, I’ll tell you your genre:
- You like people-watching at airports? → Mystery. (Everyone’s suspicious. Everyone.)
- You blast Taylor Swift breakup songs in the shower? → Romance or YA. (You deserve a happy ending somewhere.)
- You rewatch Stranger Things every summer? → Sci-Fi/Fantasy. (Throw in a little nostalgia and creepy monsters.)
- You scroll Zillow “just for fun”? → Historical Fiction. (Because apparently you want to live in another century anyway.)
Where to Actually Find These Genre Guides (And Not Get Scammed)
Not gonna lie—Google can be a mess. You search “best genre guides” and suddenly you’re knee-deep in listicles that feel like they were written by robots (irony noted).
Here are places that don’t make me want to throw my laptop:
- Goodreads lists. Yeah, it’s chaotic, but sometimes that chaos is honest.
- Personal blogs. (Shoutout to weird book blogs with neon pink backgrounds—never change.)
- Reddit. Specifically r/books. Sometimes wholesome, sometimes people fighting about whether Twilight counts as literature. (It does. Fight me.)
And honestly? Talk to your local librarian. They are basically walking, talking genre guides who also know which books are overdue and that you lied about your dog eating them.
Why This All Matters (And Why I’m Lowkey Emotional About It)
Books aren’t just books, right? They’re memories. They’re the thing you remember reading on a road trip, or the paperback you spilled coffee all over during finals week, or the story that weirdly lined up with your life just when you needed it.
So when you find the right genre for your mood, it’s magic. It’s therapy without the co-pay. It’s time travel without TSA lines.
And maybe that sounds dramatic, but hey—I once cried in a Target parking lot finishing a book. (It was The Night Circus. Don’t judge me.)
Okay, Wrapping This Chaos Up (Sorta)
So yeah. The best genre guides for every type of reader aren’t really about rules. They’re about giving yourself permission to read what you actually want to read, not what’s “serious” or “important.”
And if anyone side-eyes your romance novels or your obsession with graphic novels—hand them a copy and say, “Here. Cry with me.”
Because honestly? Life’s too short to fake-read books you hate just to sound smart at parties.
