There are many genres in reading, but the ones I have selected below are the most common according to search engines. Some of them I have read avidly, some not so much.
Listed under each genre is a book I would consider my favourite. These are not long synopses but rather a couple of sentences. If you are interested in knowing more, I recommend heading over to Fable or Goodreads.
Action and Adventure
Most people will have heard of my favourite in this genre. It is The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. This might get me some haters, but I prefer The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings.
This tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a reluctant hobbit swept into an adventure with Gandalf and a band of dwarves to reclaim their stolen mountain home from the dragon Smaug. Along the way he discovers courage, cunning, and a taste for adventure he never knew he had.
Fantasy
If you have followed me for the last couple of months this will be no surprise. The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne, the first in the Bloodsworn trilogy.
The story is told from three perspectives: a mother out for revenge, a daughter trying to prove herself despite her father, and a slave looking to belong. The action is well written, the characters are amazing, and you will certainly want to read the next two after this.
Science Fiction
This is not one of my favourite genres, but it was an easy decision. My pick is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.I do not want to say too much about this book because the wonder is in not knowing what happens. Incidentally, if you do not want the whole story ruined, stay away from the Hollywood film trailer because it gives everything away.
This is a book about friendship and survival. However, I would not recommend reading a physical copy. To get the best experience, try the audiobook, which is the best I have ever listened to.
Mystery and Crime
This used to be my favourite genre, but it is one I have moved away from recently. I have read hundreds of books and could recommend many authors. However, for me, only one book has stayed with me as unique. That is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander team up to investigate the decades-old disappearance of a wealthy industrialist’s niece. Their search uncovers corruption, violence, and dark family secrets that someone will kill to keep hidden. Again, stay away from the movies.
Horror
This was another easy pick, but strangely one of the only books by this author that I like. That will get me some hate. My favourite horror book is The Stand by Stephen King.
The book tells the story of a disease that wipes out most of the world and how two groups form to create the next civilisation. It is a classic tale of good versus evil. The scene that makes it stand out for me in the horror genre is the one in the tunnel. If you have read it, you will understand.
Thriller and Suspense
This is one of the only books I have read twice. The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a dark academia novel that tells the story of a group of elite classics students at a New England college. They fall under the spell of their enigmatic professor and begin to blur the line between intellectual pursuit and moral corruption. When their obsession leads to murder, they are forced to live with the weight of their secret and the unravelling of their lives.
The story is addictive, but not as addictive as Tartt’s beautiful prose. She is a master of storytelling in beautiful ways.
Romance
When I first saw this category, I thought I would struggle as I do not read romance. Then I remembered this beautiful tale I read last year. In Memoriam by Alice Winn tells the story of two schoolboys turned soldiers.
Henry and Sidney discover their love for each other amidst the horror of the trenches. Their bond deepens as the war threatens to destroy everything they hold dear. It is one of the most heartwarming stories you will ever read about a love that is forbidden.
Historical Fiction
One of my top five books, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak will always be my favourite. Narrated by Death, it tells the story of Liesel, a young girl in Nazi Germany who finds solace in stealing books and sharing them with others during a time of terror and loss. As the war escalates, her love of words becomes both a lifeline and a reminder of the fragility of humanity.
As well as showing an unusual side of World War II, it is also a must-read for book lovers who can relate to Liesel with every turn of the page.
Literary Fiction
I believe this might be my favourite read of 2025. East of Eden by John Steinbeck is set in California’s Salinas Valley. The novel follows the intertwined lives of the Trask and Hamilton families across generations, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and moral choice.
At its heart lies the struggle between good and evil, with the concept of timshel—the power to choose shaping the fate of its characters. The characters are so well written that you learn to love and hate them equally. I could not put this book down and was gutted when I finished it.
Speculative Fiction
Another of my top five books is 1984 by George Orwell. Every time I read this book, I take something new from it. In a society ruled by Big Brother, Winston Smith secretly rebels against the Party’s control over truth, history, and even thought.
His search for freedom and love leads him into a dangerous struggle that shows the terrifying power of absolute surveillance and propaganda. Many parts of this book will have you questioning today’s reality.
Young Adult
Some people fell in love with Harry Potter, which I do adore, but for me, the book that made me fall in love with reading was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister’s place in a brutal televised fight to the death where children are forced to kill each other for the Capitol’s entertainment. As she battles to survive, Katniss becomes a symbol of defiance that threatens the regime’s control.
This is one where Hollywood actually did an okay job with the film.
Children’s Fiction
The book I read multiple times as a child is still my favourite. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahametells the story of the animals along the riverbank.
Mole, Rat, Badger, and the reckless Toad navigate life by the water. Between daring escapades, quiet reflections, and lessons in friendship, the story celebrates the charm of nature and the bonds that hold friends together.
Toad will have you laughing out loud in places, and as a child, all I ever wanted was a friend like Mole.
Contemporary Fiction
This book I listened to on audiobook last year, and there was a part where I had to pull over because of the tears running down my face. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin follows childhood friends Sam and Sadie as they reunite in adulthood to create video games together.
Their partnership leads to professional success and personal challenges, exploring friendship, love, creativity, and the highs and lows of collaboration. It is a love story in parts, but a love story of friendship. I highly recommend it and am hoping Hollywood never gets their hands on it.
Classic Fiction
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was a book I read for school and fell in love with. It led me to read virtually everything Bradbury has written.
The book is set in a dystopian future where books are banned and “firemen” burn any found. It follows Guy Montag, a fireman who begins to question society’s anti-book laws and searches for meaning, knowledge, and freedom in a world of censorship and conformity.
Like 1984, some parts will have you questioning if the author saw into the future rather than wrote a piece of fiction.
Your Turn
So there you have it, my favourite books from the main genres of literature. Now it is your turn, tell me some of your favourite books in these genres.