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Researching readers’ preferences is difficult because many don’t even realize or care what prompted them to pick up a book or what strengths or weaknesses they found. At the same time, up to 1 million new books are published every year, and half of them sell only a few copies. This means that simply trying to stumble upon something good is a waste of time. Below you’ll find the results of a survey on what’s most important in a novel, as well as the most popular genres, with some interesting titles you can read today.
What Exactly Do Readers Love About Novels?
When we asked readers why they adore certain novels, the most common responses fell into several key categories:
- Characters and Their Interactions (24%).
- Authentic and Relatable Characters (11.4%): Readers appreciate characters that feel real and relatable.
- Emotional Connection (5%): Developing an emotional bond with the characters is vital.
- Compelling Storyline (11.5%): A captivating plot with unexpected twists keeps readers engaged.
- Immersive Experience (9%): The ability to lose oneself in the story and feel emotionally invested.
- Educational Value (6.3%): Novels that offer new knowledge or provoke thought.
- Quality of Writing (6%): The author’s voice and writing style play a significant role.
Most Popular Genres
Fantasy and Sci-fi
Fans of this genre exhibit remarkable loyalty, often remaining avid readers for life. This is a vast category and it has many subgenres. There is a great demand for werewolf novel now, often among the most read novels of the quarter, month or year you can find one of the titles. Moreover, with the advent of digital libraries you can read free novels online. The number of free novels online in such libraries often exceeds the total number of books in local libraries.
Typically, the narratives transport readers to fantastical realms or present our own world with intriguing alterations. Interestingly, about half of the titles on the list of the 20 bestselling books of all time belong to this genre, with classics such as The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe standing out.
If the idea of competing with these legendary titles seems daunting, here’s some encouraging news: Approximately 48% of the total book sales in this genre come from self-published or Amazon-published works.
Romance
Romance novels have consistently ranked among the top-selling book genres for many years and have never slipped out of the top five. These books captivate readers by offering emotionally satisfying narratives that often culminate in positive endings. The allure of romance lies in its ability to engage readers deeply in the characters’ love stories.
The romance genre is diverse, encompassing numerous subgenres, each vying for popularity. Currently, contemporary romance and historical romance stand out as the most favored subgenres.
Contemporary romance, set in the present day, includes any narrative taking place after World War II. This setting allows authors to delve into modern themes and ideas reflective of current events. Notable examples include “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes and “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks.
Thriller
Romance novels provide readers with a sense of warmth and happiness, while thrillers plunge them into the darker aspects of human nature. This contrast is precisely what readers seek when diving into books such as Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or any title by Lee Child.
You’ve noticed a curious fact that in crime novels you can often get confused about good and evil. This paradox makes you read novels online and reconsider your view of the world. Moreover, there is no shortage of IOS novels on the AppStore now and you can see for yourself. You only need an app to increase the number of novels online to hundreds of thousands at the click of a button.
Self-help
The popularity of these books is undeniable, whether as ebooks or physical copies. There is a growing interest in self-improvement among readers. Religious texts essentially serve as self-help books grounded in spiritual teachings. Naturally, your audience will consist of individuals who adhere to the religion you’re focusing on.
When considering writing in this genre, contemplate the kind of information that would be truly beneficial to your readers. The possibilities are vast and are only constrained by your creativity, personal insights, and experiences.
Examples of successful books in this category include “Think Like a Monk” by Jay Shetty, “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey, and “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero.
Conclusion
Understanding readers’ preferences is both difficult and easy at the same time. Determining what exactly caught the reader’s attention in a book and where the weak points were is a difficult task. But identifying popular genres and themes is easier, fortunately, today there is enough statistical data.
