PUBLISHED ON October 20, 2025
By: Sarah Brechtel '28
I’m sure all of you are familiar with BookTok and Bookstagram, as well as all the books that are trending and popular due to these online communities. If you are looking to get into reading again or for the first time, these online communities would be a great place to start, though it might be hard to find a book that you would enjoy due to the plethora of choices these online communities give you. If you are looking for somewhere to start, then this article is for you! There are many genres to choose from, and a surplus of books to choose from in each genre. Luckily, I already broke that down for you. Below is a list of each genre and two books/book series to start with to get into reading. Everyone has the potential to enjoy reading; all they have to do is find the right book!
The first genre that many people enjoy is dystopian; these books are works of fiction that often depict a dark, nightmarish future society, often characterized by poverty and a loss of individual freedom. Next, there is fantasy; these books are works of fiction that feature imaginary elements, such as imaginary creatures, magic, and fictional worlds. Another genre is contemporary/realistic fiction; these books are works of fiction that include fictional characters, but although these books are fiction, they include events that could possibly happen in the real world today. The next genre is mystery; these books are fiction and are about one person or a group of people trying to solve a puzzling event, like a disappearance, murder, or some other crime. This next genre is one of the most popular: romance. These books are fiction and focus on the development of a romantic relationship between two people. Then there is science fiction, which uses scientific or technological concepts as the main part of its plot, often set in space, the future, or alternate universes. Lastly, we have historical fiction, which are fictional books set during a period of time from the past, using specific historical eras or events as a backdrop.
Now that you know what each genre is and know which one interests you most, let’s see what books from that genre to start with.
Dystopian: The Selection by Kiera Cass (series) and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (series)
Fantasy: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (series) and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (series)
Contemporary/Realistic Fiction: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Mystery: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (series) and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Romance: Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody (series) and Betting on You by Lynn Painter
Science Fiction: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and Nemesis by Brendan Reichs
Historical Fiction: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows,
and Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
There are many books in each of these genres; these are just two books/series for you to start with. You are now one step closer to becoming a reader! Hopefully, one of these books gets you obsessed with reading and makes you fall in love with it. All it takes is one good book to make someone a reader!
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