Fiction:
* Fantasy: Involves magical elements, mythical creatures, and often set in a fictional world. (Examples: The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones)
* Science Fiction: Explores futuristic settings, advanced technology, and often tackles philosophical themes. (Examples: Star Wars, Dune, The Martian)
* Horror: Aims to evoke fear, disgust, and suspense through supernatural elements, violence, and psychological terror. (Examples: Dracula, The Shining, The Exorcist)
* Romance: Centers on the love story between two characters and their journey to a happily ever after. (Examples: Pride and Prejudice, The Notebook, Twilight)
* Mystery: Features a puzzle or crime that needs to be solved, often involving a detective or investigator. (Examples: Sherlock Holmes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl)
* Thriller: Suspenseful and action-packed, often focusing on danger, intrigue, and the pursuit of a goal. (Examples: The Da Vinci Code, The Girl on the Train, The Silence of the Lambs)
* Historical Fiction: Set in the past, often incorporating real historical events and figures. (Examples: The Nightingale, The Book Thief, Pillars of the Earth)
* Literary Fiction: Characterized by its focus on themes, characters, and language, often with complex narratives and deep exploration of human nature. (Examples: To the Lighthouse, Beloved, The Great Gatsby)
* Contemporary Fiction: Set in the present day and explores current social issues, relationships, and personal experiences. (Examples: Where'd You Go, Bernadette, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Little Fires Everywhere)
* Young Adult (YA): Targeted at readers between the ages of 12 and 18, often featuring coming-of-age stories, romance, and fantastical elements. (Examples: The Hunger Games, The Fault in Our Stars, The Raven Cycle)
* Children's Fiction: Written for younger readers, often incorporating illustrations, simple language, and fantastical elements. (Examples: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where the Wild Things Are, The Cat in the Hat)
* Realistic Fiction: Focuses on everyday life and relatable characters, often exploring the challenges and triumphs of human experience. (Examples: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, The Perks of Being a Wallflower)
* Dystopian: Set in a bleak and oppressive future, often exploring social control, rebellion, and the struggle for freedom. (Examples: The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Handmaid's Tale)
Nonfiction:
* Biography: Tells the story of a real person's life. (Examples: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, Becoming by Michelle Obama, The Autobiography of Malcolm X)
* Autobiography: Written by the person whose life is the subject. (Examples: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt)
* Memoir: Focuses on a specific period or aspect of the author's life, often with a personal and introspective tone. (Examples: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, Educated by Tara Westover)
* History: Presents factual accounts of past events, often with analysis and interpretation. (Examples: A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn, Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari)
* Science: Explains scientific concepts and discoveries, often using clear language and illustrations. (Examples: A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, Cosmos by Carl Sagan, The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert)
* Self-Help: Provides practical advice and strategies for improving personal development, relationships, or career. (Examples: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Atomic Habits by James Clear, Daring Greatly by Brené Brown)
* True Crime: Presents factual accounts of real crimes and investigations, often with a focus on the details and psychology of the perpetrators. (Examples: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi)
* Travel: Offers personal accounts of journeys and destinations, often with detailed descriptions of cultures, landscapes, and experiences. (Examples: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto "Che" Guevara)
* Business & Economics: Explores business principles, economic theories, and financial markets. (Examples: The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham, The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner)
* Cookbooks: Provide recipes and cooking techniques, often with instructions and tips. (Examples: The Joy of Cooking, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, The Silver Spoon)
Hybrid Genres:
* Fantasy Romance: Combines elements of fantasy and romance, often featuring magical creatures, forbidden love, and epic quests. (Examples: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black)
* Science Fiction Thriller: Blends elements of science fiction and thriller, often exploring themes of technology, dystopia, and existential threats. (Examples: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch, The Maze Runner by James Dashner)
* Historical Mystery: Set in the past, often featuring a detective or investigator solving a crime within a historical context. (Examples: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, The Alienist by Caleb Carr)
This list is not exhaustive, and many books blend elements of multiple genres. It's important to remember that these are just broad categories, and there are many subgenres within each.