Once upon a time, in a land far away (the internet), there were three genres of books that skyrocketed across the literary scene. No, but seriously, princesses and glorious quests for treasure aside, the literary market has been amassing exponential numbers in the past few years with the rise of three specific genres. Why have fairy-princes and dystopian settings taken over the literary market? Is it the morally grey love interests? The popularity of BookTok? What about all things bloody and horrifying?
It’s Your Girl…Romantasy
“I know it ain’t the Stallion.” Keke Palmer’s iconic reference at the 2021 Met Gala can be applied with the same emphasis toward the romantasy genre. Having generated approximately $610 million in sales in 2024, per Hyphen Publishers, the hybrid romance and fantasy blend has been leaving the bookstore shelves and making a new home in readers’ book nooks. From Rebecca Yarros’s Onyx Storm to the fantastical fae world of A Court of Roses and Thorns, written by Sarah J. Maas, millions are swarming to get their hands on a copy of a romantasy.
Why the Hype?
According to an interview with the Guardian, the romantasy genre “allows women to have it all,” as Christina Clark-Brown, who shares book recommendations on the Instagram page ninas_nook, put it. “There is no damsel who needs saving, but rather women are allowed to be powerful,” she further explained, “go on epic quests, and find love with a partner who is an equal to them in every way.”
Paired with book promotion via BookTok, a name given to the scene of fellow book-lovers who have taken to TikTok, romantasy exploded between 2023 and 2026. As Forbes writes, “BookTok is a global phenomenon, and the love for books—and their adaptations—transcends borders and languages.” What’s better than having a global book club with your fellow readers? No need to be lost in any sort of translation, just dive into a world of sword fighting, unexpected romance, and magic. The rest? Readers seem to have already figured out the international connection on their own.
Hockey Rinks and Heart-Warming Romance
Off Campus and Heated Rivalry fans, unite! What has made these global hockey phenomena, well, phenomena? Believe it or not, these viral series are books, ladies and gentlemen. Mix an ice rink and warm it up with a bad-boy meets golden retriever—I’d say we’ve got a recipe for the perfect genre. The romance genre, per Temple Now, is generating $1.4 billion in annual sales, and there’s a reason as to why. Readers, such as book content creator Meagan Carioti, reported to BBC that “hockey is a hot, passionate sport” which “translates really well into romance,” thanks to its intensity.
It’s not just about the romantic tension that makes romance such a successful genre. In her interview with BBC, Carioti additionally points to Off Campus’s depiction of the found family trope, and beautiful framing of themes of choice and consent for the story’s audience. Vulnerability, a good steamy chemistry, and brilliantly navigating bodily autonomy? I’ll take two, please.
Eeek! It’s Horror!
Horror girlies, it’s time for you to stand up with me here. At number three on our list is the beloved, toe-curling horror genre that has been exploding across the literary market as of 2026. Penguin Random House has recently dropped 15 horror recommendations for readers to tackle this summer. With currently 67 new horror releases as well as 78 horror and gothic novels anticipated to come soon, it is a no-brainer that this genre is here to make us squeal in 2026. Here’s a stat: the Guardian reports that the horror book genre has accumulated around 9 million U.S. dollars between 2022 and 2023. What’s more, that number is continuing to grow as we speak.
But…blood? Body horror? Dark, spooky, nights? As Once Upon a Book Club details, “There’s a reason why we love roller coasters, haunted houses, and, yes, horror books: the thrill of controlled fear. When we read a scary story, our brains react as if the danger is real, releasing adrenaline and other stress hormones that put us on high alert. But here’s the catch—we know we’re actually safe.”
And They Lived Happily Ever After
I’m no stranger to these three book genres. I’ve picked up several and tucked them away onto my bookshelf for safe-keeping (or a late-night read). Regardless of your taste in stories, it is obvious that an adventurous romantasy, heart-warming romance, and spoonful of horror are what drives the literary scene at this moment. The question now points to you, N Crowd. Which are you choosing to have a happily ever after with?
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