Have you ever walked into a bookstore knowing you want to read something, but having absolutely no idea what?
You browse the shelves, pick up a few books, read the backs, put them down, pick them up again and somehow leave without choosing anything. Sometimes, you’ve recently started reading and keep hearing people talk about thrillers, literary fiction, cozy fantasy, dark academia, Japanese literature and romantasy, and you’re wondering where you’re supposed to begin.
I get it. There are so many book genres and subgenres now that choosing your next read can sometimes feel harder than actually reading it.
That’s why I started a little series over on Reading With Muffy called Beginner’s Guide to Every Genre.
For each genre, I picked four books:
- Beginner: an accessible place to start
- Intermediate: for when you’re ready to explore a little further
- Advanced: a more challenging or immersive read
- Underrated: a book I think deserves more attention
This isn’t a definitive ranking, of course. Books don’t always fit neatly into one genre, and what feels like an advanced read to one person might be a comfortable favourite for another.
Think of this as a friendly starting point if you’re wondering what book genre to try next.
A note about book genres
Before we get into the recommendations, one thing I’ve learnt from talking about books online is that genre labels are wonderfully messy.
A book can be romance and fantasy. A thriller can have literary elements. A gothic novel can also be historical fiction. Japanese literature isn’t really a genre in the traditional sense at all.
And that’s okay.
For this guide, I’ve gone with the genre or reading experience that I associate most strongly with each book. So don’t come at me with a ruler and a literary taxonomy textbook. We’re here to find books you’ll actually want to read.
1. Thriller
Perfect for: Readers who love a good ‘wait, what?!’
If you’re looking for a book that keeps you turning pages because you need to know what happens next, thrillers are a great place to start.
Psychological thrillers in particular are full of unreliable characters, secrets, twists and revelations. They’re also one of those genres where it’s incredibly satisfying to go back and realise that the clues were sitting there all along.
Beginner: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
A famous painter shoots her husband five times and then never speaks another word. A criminal psychotherapist becomes determined to find out why.
It’s a very accessible introduction to psychological thrillers, especially if you’re new to the genre and want something fast-paced with a central mystery.
Intermediate: None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
A popular podcaster’s life begins to unravel after she interviews a woman who shares her birthday and the woman turns out to have a disturbing and complicated past.
If you already enjoy thrillers and want something that plays with perspective, secrets and unreliable characters, this is a good next step.
Advanced: The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
A murder has taken place. A brilliant mathematician creates what appears to be the perfect cover-up. And an equally brilliant physicist begins trying to unravel it.
This is the kind of thriller where the mystery isn’t simply who did it? The real fascination is watching two exceptionally intelligent minds try to outthink each other.
Underrated: Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah
A family tragedy turns into a gripping legal thriller filled with moral dilemmas, difficult questions and twists.
It’s one of those books that gives you plenty to discuss after you’ve finished it, which, in my opinion, is always a bonus with a thriller.
You may catch the review of Next of Kin here.
2. Romance
Perfect for: Romance lovers who want all the feels.
Romance is one of those genres where you can find almost anything like contemporary romance, historical romance, fantasy romance, romantic comedy, second chance romance and so much more.
All about Romance Tropes and their respective book recommendations
For this guide, we’re starting with contemporary romance.
Beginner: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
A literary agent and a grumpy editor discover that love isn’t always found in the stories they expect.
If you’re new to contemporary romance, Emily Henry is a wonderfully accessible starting point. Book Lovers also happens to be particularly fun if you’re, well, a book lover.
Intermediate: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
A woman discovers that her apartment connects her to a man living seven years in the past, changing both of their futures.
It’s romantic, a little magical and surprisingly emotional.
If you’re ready for your romance to have a little something extra going on, this is a lovely next step.
Find the review of The Seven Year Slip here.
Advanced: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
A mother revisits a life-changing summer romance while telling her daughters about the past, revealing how love, family and time shape the people we become.
This isn’t necessarily “advanced” because it’s difficult to read. Rather, it’s the kind of romance that asks you to sit with the characters and their lives rather than simply race towards the happily-ever-after.
Underrated: Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
A girl who can see the beginning and end of every relationship learns to believe in love again.
If you like romance with a little magical realism and an emotional punch, don’t overlook this one.
Book Review of The Instructions for Dancing
3. Cozy Fantasy
Perfect for: Low stakes, magic and found family.
If the thought of epic battles, complicated kingdoms and saving the entire world sounds exhausting, may I introduce you to cozy fantasy?
Cozy fantasy tends to focus more on everyday life, community, friendships, found family and comforting settings, with a little magic sprinkled in.
Beginner: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
An orc retires from adventuring and opens a cozy coffee shop, discovering a new kind of happily ever after along the way.
The premise tells you almost everything you need to know. It’s a wonderful entry point into cozy fantasy because you get the magic and fantasy setting without having to remember seventeen royal bloodlines.
Intermediate: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
A lonely witch finds friendship, family and unexpected love while teaching three magical children.
If you’re ready for a little more character development and a larger emotional world, this is a lovely follow-up.
I absolutely loved this read. You can catch the book review of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches here.
Advanced: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
A reserved scholar journeys into the faerie realm, where her research slowly turns into adventure and romance.
This one brings a little more folklore, world-building and academic flavour to the cozy fantasy formula.
Underrated: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
A spell librarian escapes to a quiet island to rebuild her life, finding magic, books and new friendships along the way.
If you’re looking for a comforting fantasy read that feels like a warm blanket, this belongs on your list.
4. Epic Fantasy
Perfect for: Readers who want expansive worlds, magic, adventure and very high stakes.
Epic fantasy is where things get BIG.
We’re talking sprawling worlds, complicated histories, political conflicts, magic systems, battles and characters with entire destinies resting on their shoulders.
Beginner: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
A young woman is forced to enter a deadly war college and train to become a dragon rider.
Now, I know someone is going to say, ‘But Fourth Wing isn’t epic fantasy!’
And technically, genre classification here gets complicated.
Fourth Wing is officially classified by its publisher as Fantasy / Fantasy Romance / Romance, while other bibliographic classifications also place it under epic fantasy.
So I’d describe it more accurately as fantasy romance/romantasy with epic-fantasy elements.
Either way, if you’re curious about fantasy but don’t know where to start, it’s an accessible entry point into a world of dragons, war colleges, magic, danger and romance.
Intermediate: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
A divided world must unite against an ancient evil as dragons, queens and magic collide.
This is where the fantasy worlds start getting bigger, the histories deeper and the stakes considerably higher.
Advanced: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
A shattered kingdom’s fate rests on unlikely heroes as war, magic and ancient secrets collide.
If you’re ready to properly commit to a fantasy world, this is the kind of book you pick up when you have time, patience and preferably a free weekend.
Underrated: The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
A five-part series follows an assistant pig-keeper who sets out on a perilous quest and grows into an unlikely hero.
A classic fantasy series that deserves to be on more modern fantasy readers’ lists.
5. Literary Fiction
Perfect for: Reflective, character-driven stories.
Literary fiction can be intimidating because people sometimes assume it means difficult books about Important Things.
It doesn’t have to.
At its heart, literary fiction often puts characters, relationships, language and ideas ahead of a fast-moving plot.
Beginner: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
An unlikely friendship between an elderly widow and a giant octopus helps uncover a long-buried family mystery. Yes, there is an octopus.
And yes, it’s a surprisingly lovely place to start with literary fiction.
Intermediate: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
A lifetime of letters reveals the quiet joys, regrets and relationships that define one woman’s life.
If you’re drawn to character-driven stories and books that unfold slowly, this is the kind of read that rewards taking your time.
Advanced: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Four friends navigate ambition, love and trauma as one of them struggles to escape the weight of his past.
This is a significantly heavier and more demanding read, both emotionally and in length.
Definitely go in prepared.
Underrated: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
A young woman begins collecting forgotten words, uncovering overlooked stories of women throughout history.
It’s historical, thoughtful and deeply interested in language and a lovely choice if you’re drawn to books about words, books and the stories hidden behind them.
6. Japanese Literature
Perfect for: Slow, comforting and quietly moving stories.
Japanese literature has become one of my favourite reading spaces, partly because so many books in this category seem to give ordinary moments room to breathe.
Bookshops. Cafes. Food. Friendships. Grief. Second chances. Small acts of kindness.
Not every book needs to shout to leave an impression.
Beginner: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
A young woman finds healing, purpose and a fresh start while helping at her uncle’s second-hand bookshop.
And of course, there is a bookshop at the centre of it.
If you’re new to Japanese literature, this is a very approachable place to begin.
Intermediate: Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
An unlikely friendship blossoms over dorayaki, revealing the quiet beauty of second chances and human connection.
It’s gentle but emotionally resonant, and it’s the kind of book that makes you look at ordinary interactions a little differently.
Here’s my book review of Sweet Bean Paste.
Advanced: Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
A runaway teenager and an elderly man become intertwined in a surreal journey filled with mystery and magical realism.
This is where things get considerably stranger.
If you’re ready for a more surreal and layered reading experience, Murakami is an obvious next step.
Underrated: The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino
Letters seeking advice connect strangers across time, changing lives in the most unexpected ways.
It’s thoughtful, hopeful and quietly magical.
7. Dark Academia
Perfect for: Gothic campuses, intellectual obsession and dark secrets.
Dark academia has a very specific atmosphere.
Think old buildings. Libraries. Elite institutions. Complicated friendships. Obsession. Secrets. Beautiful surroundings hiding very ugly things.
Basically, the aesthetic is: I would like to study somewhere beautiful and possibly make terrible decisions.
Beginner: If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
Seven Shakespeare students are bound together by friendship, ambition and a murder that changes everything.
It’s dramatic, atmospheric and an accessible introduction to the genre.
Intermediate: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
A troubled student uncovers deadly secrets hidden beneath Yale’s elite secret societies.
The world gets darker here, with more complex mythology and a more sinister atmosphere.
Advanced: Babel by R. F. Kuang
A gifted orphan enters Oxford’s prestigious translation institute, where language itself becomes a weapon of power.
This is a much more ambitious read, combining academia, colonialism, language, history and fantasy.
Underrated: Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
A prestigious college promises an extraordinary education, but its students soon discover unsettling secrets within its walls.
If you like your academia mysterious, strange and slightly unsettling, add this to your list.
8. Gothic Fiction
Perfect for: Eerie, haunting reads.
Gothic fiction has been around for centuries, but it continues to evolve.
You can have old mansions, family secrets, isolated settings, psychological unease, ghosts or simply the feeling that something is very, very wrong.
Beginner: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A glamorous socialite visits a remote mansion where terrifying secrets lurk behind its walls.
It’s atmospheric without requiring you to begin with a nineteenth-century classic.
Intermediate: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A young bride arrives at her husband’s grand estate, forever overshadowed by the memory of his first wife.
If you’ve never read Rebecca, consider this your sign.
Advanced: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
A governess falls in love with her mysterious employer, only to uncover a dark secret hidden within Thornfield Hall.
It’s a classic for a reason, but it’s also a book that rewards taking your time with it.
Underrated: The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware
A woman inherits a mysterious estate, only to become entangled in long-buried family secrets.
If you enjoy contemporary gothic fiction and want something that feels a little more immediately accessible, give this one a try.
So, Which Book Genre Should You Read Next?
I’d say,
Whichever one sounds fun.
You don’t need to read genres in a particular order or have to ‘graduate’ from beginner books. And you definitely don’t need to prove that you’re a serious reader by choosing the longest or most complicated book on the shelf.
Start with the book that makes you curious.
And if you start a book and realise it’s not for you?
Put it down.
There will always be another book.
That’s probably my favourite thing about reading: there isn’t one right way to be a reader. You can read five books in a month or one book in three months. You can jump from a thriller to a romance to Murakami and then spend two weeks reading nothing but fantasy.
You can change your mind.
You can read outside your usual genres.
And you can discover that the genre you thought you wouldn’t enjoy is suddenly the one you can’t stop reading.
Here are 12 Fun and Easy Ways to Choose Your Next Read
And if you’re wondering how you can read more and scroll less by making reading a daily habit, you can check out some ideas here.
So, tell me, which genre are you picking up next?
This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon
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