Do you have a favourite genre?

Graham44 · 10-23-2025, 06:10 PM

Having a look through the forum this doesn't seem to have been asked for a while, eight years from what I can see so ...

What's your favourite* genre to read? Is there one you keep finding yourself going back to?

I would say mine is horror, interestingly though when I look in Calibre I see I have 58 books I've classified as horror but 85 Action/ Adventure and 139 Science Fiction! I think the numbers reflect the fact I am much more picky when it comes to horror books, I'm more specific about what I like. Breaking down the horror category even more I would say haunted house horror would be my absolute favourite, if done right. Unfortunately haunted house horror is one genre flooded with badly written stories, but when you get a good one

I think the reason I like this genre so much is because A) They are usually a relatively quick read B) Usually a light read, no convoluted plots C) Pace is usually quite fast. They make quite good 'palate cleansers' between longer/ heavier books. Oh and I like the paranormal

So whats your favourite genre? and any particular reason why?

* Before anyone says anything this is the English (UK) way of spelling it, I double checked!

Sirtel · 10-23-2025, 06:38 PM

I don't really have a favorite genre. I read science fiction, fantasy (all kinds), mystery (especially historical mystery), occasionally historical fiction, thrillers and romance. I don't like horror, except for haunted house stories - these can be quite good. I avoid literary fiction and classics (I did read lots of classics in my late teens/early twenties, but I lost interest in them.)

I've liked the aforementioned genres since I was a child - my preferences haven't really changed since then, except for the classics period. Well, they've changed in that I no longer read children's stuff and fairytales, but otherwise not much.

Apache · 10-23-2025, 06:57 PM

I like Science Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Some Westerns, Some Thriller and some Fantasy.
I am not a fan of Horror at all.
in Non-Fiction, like History and some Biography.
Apache

haertig · 10-23-2025, 07:42 PM

I read only fiction, never non-fiction (unless it's a textbook or other skill learning material).

Of my fiction reading, Action/Adventure is by far my most favorite. Sci-Fi and Thrillers would be next. Then Fantasy (certain types).

DNSB · 10-23-2025, 07:52 PM

95% of my reading is fiction, mostly science fiction and fantasy. The non-fiction runs heavily to tech manuals and release notes.

DrNefario · Yesterday, 03:46 AM

I guess I'd say Fantasy these days, followed by Science Fiction and Crime/Mystery. Although if pushed, maybe more of my absolute favourite books are SF than Fantasy.

Favourite guilty pleasure subgenres (where the books don't even have to be good) are Military SF and LitRPG.

Dazrin · Yesterday, 11:17 AM

I don't think I can really choose between science fiction and fantasy. But, according to my reading logs, I read almost 40% fantasy, about 30% science fiction, and only 5% non-fiction. I'm not really sure that means fantasy is my favorite though.

The main reason fantasy has such a lead is that it's what I read growing up, so when I don't have a specific book I want to read I re-read something fantasy. Over 1/2 of my re-reads are fantasy, less than 1/4 are science fiction and, if I ignore my re-reads, the percentages are basically 1/3 and 1/3 for science fiction and fantasy.

Tarana · Yesterday, 12:04 PM

I don't have a single favorite, but a group: Science Fiction, historical fiction and detective novels. I also enjoy fantasy, cozies and thrillers. I only dabble in horror (Stephen King, Peter Straub). Finally, I read 4-6 non-fiction annually, almost all history related.

weateallthepies · Yesterday, 06:54 PM

I quite often jump between genres, I think I get a bit of reading fatigue if I stick to one. Currently reading a fair bit of horror but maybe just the time of year.

If I think about it many of my favourites are "hero's journey" and "coming of age" type fiction across any genre.

10-23-2025, 06:10 PM	#1
Graham44 Addict Posts: 331 Karma: 7000000 Join Date: Sep 2024 Device: Kobo Clara BW	Do you have a favourite genre? Having a look through the forum this doesn't seem to have been asked for a while, eight years from what I can see so ... What's your favourite* genre to read? Is there one you keep finding yourself going back to? I would say mine is horror, interestingly though when I look in Calibre I see I have 58 books I've classified as horror but 85 Action/ Adventure and 139 Science Fiction! I think the numbers reflect the fact I am much more picky when it comes to horror books, I'm more specific about what I like. Breaking down the horror category even more I would say haunted house horror would be my absolute favourite, if done right. Unfortunately haunted house horror is one genre flooded with badly written stories, but when you get a good one I think the reason I like this genre so much is because A) They are usually a relatively quick read B) Usually a light read, no convoluted plots C) Pace is usually quite fast. They make quite good 'palate cleansers' between longer/ heavier books. Oh and I like the paranormal So whats your favourite genre? and any particular reason why? * Before anyone says anything this is the English (UK) way of spelling it, I double checked! Last edited by Graham44; 10-23-2025 at 06:10 PM. Reason: Spelling that would shame a two year old

10-23-2025, 06:57 PM	#3
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I like Science Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Some Westerns, Some Thriller and some Fantasy. I am not a fan of Horror at all. in Non-Fiction, like History and some Biography. Apache Last edited by Apache; 10-23-2025 at 06:58 PM. Reason: Added Catagories

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10-23-2025, 06:38 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,967 Karma: 243829933 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I don't really have a favorite genre. I read science fiction, fantasy (all kinds), mystery (especially historical mystery), occasionally historical fiction, thrillers and romance. I don't like horror, except for haunted house stories - these can be quite good. I avoid literary fiction and classics (I did read lots of classics in my late teens/early twenties, but I lost interest in them.) I've liked the aforementioned genres since I was a child - my preferences haven't really changed since then, except for the classics period. Well, they've changed in that I no longer read children's stuff and fairytales, but otherwise not much.

10-23-2025, 07:42 PM	#4
haertig Wizard Posts: 1,937 Karma: 34855886 Join Date: Sep 2017 Device: PW3, Galaxy Tab A9+, Moto G7	I read only fiction, never non-fiction (unless it's a textbook or other skill learning material). Of my fiction reading, Action/Adventure is by far my most favorite. Sci-Fi and Thrillers would be next. Then Fantasy (certain types).

10-23-2025, 07:52 PM	#5
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 47,971 Karma: 174315098 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	95% of my reading is fiction, mostly science fiction and fantasy. The non-fiction runs heavily to tech manuals and release notes.

Yesterday, 03:46 AM	#6
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,226 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I guess I'd say Fantasy these days, followed by Science Fiction and Crime/Mystery. Although if pushed, maybe more of my absolute favourite books are SF than Fantasy. Favourite guilty pleasure subgenres (where the books don't even have to be good) are Military SF and LitRPG.

Yesterday, 11:17 AM	#7
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,735 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	I don't think I can really choose between science fiction and fantasy. But, according to my reading logs, I read almost 40% fantasy, about 30% science fiction, and only 5% non-fiction. I'm not really sure that means fantasy is my favorite though. The main reason fantasy has such a lead is that it's what I read growing up, so when I don't have a specific book I want to read I re-read something fantasy. Over 1/2 of my re-reads are fantasy, less than 1/4 are science fiction and, if I ignore my re-reads, the percentages are basically 1/3 and 1/3 for science fiction and fantasy.

Yesterday, 12:04 PM	#8
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,060 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I don't have a single favorite, but a group: Science Fiction, historical fiction and detective novels. I also enjoy fantasy, cozies and thrillers. I only dabble in horror (Stephen King, Peter Straub). Finally, I read 4-6 non-fiction annually, almost all history related.

Yesterday, 06:54 PM	#9
weateallthepies Lord of the Pies Posts: 256 Karma: 103458 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Oasis 3, Kobo Sage, Onyx Boox Leaf 2, iPad Pro	I quite often jump between genres, I think I get a bit of reading fatigue if I stick to one. Currently reading a fair bit of horror but maybe just the time of year. If I think about it many of my favourites are "hero's journey" and "coming of age" type fiction across any genre.