What Book Genre is Most Likely to be Published in 2023?

The publishing process of any piece of writing is a long one. Unsurprisingly, some books are already more likely to reach bookstores and readers than others, simply because of the genre. That being said, if your book doesn't fall into these categories, don't take it as a sign to change it! Marketability is not an accurate reflection of the general quality of your writing, because in the end, each genre satisfies a different type of expectation from the readers. No matter how well-written a book is, some expectations are simply more common than others, creating differences in demand for each genre.

So, without further ado, here are the top four bestselling fiction genres as of 2022:

1. Romance - With $1.44 billion in revenue from 2022 alone, romance is not only the highest selling but also most profitable genre. The reason being that readers, more often than not, are looking for an escape into the predictable, happy-ever-after world of love. Romance novels satisfy the common expectation for readers to experience the fulfillment of high standards that, all too often, aren't met in the real world. Even a romance novel based on clichés, like The Love Hypothesis and Twilight, can become bestselling books. The market for romance books, unsurprisingly, isn't going anywhere—it's grown 36% since 2021!

2. Mystery - This genre generates barely half as much revenue as romance, with $728.2 million in 2022. When written well, these books kick off with an enticing hook and end with a satisfying conclusion, with a rollercoaster of red herrings and unexpected clues and big reveals in between. The purpose of fiction is to provide entertainment, and a good mystery will captivate the reader's attention. However, unlike the romance genre, a mystery writer needs to maintain a delicate balance between overly convenient resolutions and impossibly convoluted ones to keep the reader satisfied. Even so, given its huge and continued success throughout the past few years, publishers are looking for mystery books to sell.

3. Fantasy/Science Fiction - With sales of $590.2 million, fantasy and science fiction offer readers a chance to stimulate their imagination by delving into worlds built solely on creativity. Not surprisingly, these books are usually targeted towards teens ages 13-18, whose imaginative minds resonate with the idea of diving into fantasy worlds depicting what the world could be in another life. The best selling fantasy book series of all time is the Harry Potter series, which sold over 500 million copies worldwide as of October 2022.

4. Thriller/Horror - Even as it trails behind with $79.6 million in sales overall, it's valuable for an author of thrillers to note that thrillers are the best selling genre of audiobooks, and the market for audiobooks is growing. Thriller and horror books provide a boost in adrenaline and dopamine to the reader as they escape into high-stakes, goosebump-inducing fantasies, and combined with teens' common preference for fast-paced and intense storylines, there is a growing demand for them. On top of that, the uneasy situations we endured throughout the pandemic led to a boost in sales of horror books, as readers see comfort in escaping into a fantastical horror that they know they're safe from. This has led to a rise in sales for not just thriller and horror books but also the pandemic genre.

Because the Young Adult category is so vast and also encompasses some of these genres, I kept it out of this list. However, YA books are in high demand, and the market continues to grow as teens (and adults) look for books that display the relatable experiences and emotions that come with growing up and figuring out your place in the world. Another best-selling option for aspiring writers to consider!

That being said, nonfiction books sell much more than any of these fictional genres. In fact, nonfiction print books accounted for about 45.5% of book sales in the US as of 2022! So if you're looking for the highest chances of making sales, nonfiction is a strong option to consider.

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