Everyone has a favorite genre. Some people love the escapism of fantasy, while others love a sugary sweet contemporary romance or a high tech sci-fi adventure. Whatever your favorite genre, it can be fun to branch out and try something new. However, it can be hard to decide where to start. If that sounds like you, read on to get some good introductions to different genres!
If you've always wanted to try sci-fi a great place to start is The Darkness Outside Us and its sequel. Taking place in a future where humanity is trying to find a new habitable planet, two young astronauts from opposing countries are sent on a mission to reach what they believe is the best option. They both wake up in the middle of space with no memories of a launch and evidence that someone else was on the ship. This book has one of the best twists I've read, and the queer enemies to lovers romance is one of my favorites.
If you want to hop into fantasy, try the Legendborn trilogy. After her mother's death, Bree Matthews goes to a prestigious residential school to escape her grief. While there, she witnesses a magical attack that leads her to a secret society of teen mages who claim to be descendants of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. Demon hunting, a magical war, and a quest for the truth behind her mother's death - this urban fantasy is a great introduction to the genre.
If you want to try your hand at horror, a great one to try is Deadstream. Teresa survives a car crash that leaves her terrified to leave her room. She takes solace in watching livestreams, until one day a shadowy presence appears in the background of her favorite streamer's video and days later he dies live on stream. As the world tries to figure out what happened, Teresa notices this shadowy figure showing up in the background of other streamers, and eventually it makes its way to her. Can she face her fear of the outside world to stop it before it's too late?
If you want to give contemporary romance a shot, but want something that isn't too over-the-top sweet, I recommend All The Way Around The Sun by Xixi Tian. After the loss of her brother, Stella Chen's parents force her to join her estranged childhood friend Alan Zhao on a college tour around California. As they travel together along the coast, Stella remembers why they used to be so close, and realizes there could be a spark of something more. Real and romantic, this friends to rivals to something more romance is a great place to dip your toes into contemporary romance.
What's your favorite genre? And what book would you recommend to someone just starting to get into it? Let us know in the comments!
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