Skip to Main Content

Genres an Overview: Home

Meet the teams.

Meet the teams

We're doing a march madness of genres! You can vote for your favorite genre(s) through out March. Fiction and nonfiction genres have been seeded and will go against each other. Before the top fiction genre goes up against the top nonfiction genre, deciding the preferred genre of the CWC community. 

Introducing the 16 genes below. Familiarize yourself with some of the big players before voting wraps up and we move on to our exclusive 8.  

Fiction

Below are the top 8 teams (genres) of fiction. Have questions about a specific genre, look below, and see what kinds of books, comprise the team. While books may be cross genre, we have selected the dominant genre that the book may represent. 

1) Romance

Love, relationships, and happily-ever-afters (or not). Whether sweet, steamy, or dramatic, romance stories focus on the journey of the heart.

Book Cover for The Charm Offensive by Allison Cochrun
Book cover for Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Book cover for Just Like This by Cole Mccade
Book Cover for Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Book cover for Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Book Cover for Eleanor Oliphant by Gail Honeyman
Book cover for Wyoming Proud by Diana Palmer
Book cover for Meet cute Some People are Destined to Meet by various authors
Book cover for True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

2) Fantasy

Magic, mythical creatures, and epic quests. Fantasy transports readers to imaginative worlds filled with adventure, wonder, and sometimes, danger.

3) Mystery & Thriller

Twists, secrets, and suspense! Whether solving a crime or uncovering hidden truths, these stories keep you guessing until the last page.

Book cover for

4) Sci-Fi

Explore futuristic technology, space travel, and alternate realities. Sci-fi stories imagine the possibilities—and dangers—of scientific advancements.

5) Historical Fiction

Fictional stories set in real historical eras. Experience the past through rich characters and immersive details, from ancient civilizations to modern revolutions.

6) Contemporary Fiction

Stories set in today’s world, exploring relationships, personal struggles, and modern life with relatable characters and realistic themes.

Book cover for The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Book Cover for The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Book Cover of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Book cover for This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

7) Horror

Monsters, hauntings, and psychological terror. Horror stories evoke fear and suspense, whether through supernatural forces or the darkness within humanity.

Book Cover for The Between by Tananarive Due
Book cover for Manhunt
Book cover for The Only Good Indians
Book cover for The Changeling

8) Action & Adventure

High-stakes, fast-paced stories full of danger and daring feats, from globe-trotting thrillers to survival against impossible odds.

Book cover for Four Treasures of the Sky
Book cover Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Book cover The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Book cover Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Book cover The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle
Book cover for Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
Book cover Never Saw me Coming by Vera Kurian

NonFiction

Below are the top 8 teams (genres) of nonfiction. Have questions about a specific genre, look below, and see what kinds of books, comprise the team. While books may be cross genre, we have selected the dominant genre that the book may represent. 

1) Menoir & Autobiography

Personal stories told by those who lived them. These books offer firsthand insight into extraordinary lives and experiences.

Book Cover for Heavy by Kiese Laymon
Book cover for they called us enemy

2) Self Help & Personal Development

Books that inspire growth, change, and improvement, offering advice on everything from habits to happiness.

Book cover for The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

3) History

Discover the past through compelling narratives and in-depth research, exploring pivotal events, influential figures, and cultural shifts.

Book cover for Black Count by Tom Reiss
Book cover for An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Book cover for The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
Book cover for The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber
Book cover for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Book cover for The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

4) Biography

The true stories of fascinating individuals, from world leaders to unsung heroes, told through detailed research and storytelling.

Black Elk Speaks by Joe Jackson
Book Cover for Alexander hamilton by Ron Chernow
Book cover for Ada's Algorithm by James Essinger
Book cover The Dead are Arising by Les Payne

5) Science & Nature

Explore the wonders of the natural world, groundbreaking discoveries, and the mysteries of the universe through engaging science writing.

Book cover Hidden life of Trees
Book cover Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Book cover The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Book cover The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert

6) Health & Wellness

Books on physical and mental well-being, covering fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and medical insights for a healthier life.

Book cover for The Body by Bill Bryson
Book cover for Breath by James Nestor
Book cover for The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington
Book cover for This is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo

7) True Crime

Real-life investigations, unsolved mysteries, and shocking criminal cases—true crime delves into the darkest corners of human behavior.

Book cover for The Art Thief
Book cover for Framed by John Grisham
Book cover In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Book cover for Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Book cover for Trailed by Kathryn Miles
Book cover for The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
Book cover for Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Book cover for Yellow Bird by Sierra Crane Murdoch

8) Politics & Current Affairs

Analyzing today’s biggest issues, political movements, and societal changes to help readers understand the world around them.

 

Book cover The Shock Doctrin by naomi Klein
Book cover A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Book cover The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Book cover Minor Feelings an Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong