15 Books That Define My Reading Taste

I have seen this trend going around and thought it would be a fun exercise! It has really helped me recognize my reading taste and what will and won’t work for me.

Cozy SciFi

I think you are going to notice a theme in my reading taste that any subgenre that includes the word “cozy” is one that I am going to be drawn to. I know that cozy fantasy is having a moment but I think my first experience reading anything that felt cozy was The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, which is a SciFi. I do not see a world where this book (and the entire series!) is not on my “best books of all time” list. I love the isolated setting, the “slice of life” feel of it, and the found family. It is very much character driven and I truly think it sums up everything that I love in fiction.

Cozy Fantasy

Of course I had to include a cozy fantasy because I think in a lot of ways this is the genre that I am most associated with and you will never heard my complaining about that. There were so many books that I could have chosen but I ultimately went with Scales and Sensibility for many reasons. I try to read self-published books when I can, which this book is, and I have also realized that I am drawn to Jane Austen retellings. This book is super cozy, has dragons, feels like it could have been written by Jane Austen, and has an adorable romance. I also loved the sequel (maybe even more!).

Retellings/Historical Fantasy

I know that there are so many retellings out there but I will never get tired of them! I have also realized that a lot of the retellings that I love are also historical fantasy. I was looking through my spreadsheet and so many of my favourites fit in this category. Ultimately, Daughter of the Forest is the one that defines my reading taste the most because it is my favourite book of all time, it is a retelling of the Six Swans fairytale, it is beautiful written while also being pretty dark, and it is so atmospheric. I love a book that can still make you emotional whenever you think about it and that is what Daughter of the Forest is for me.

Hard-Hitting Romance

Once in awhile this mood comes over me where I just need a good cry and nothing gets to me more than a hard-hitting contemporary romance. Honestly, Kennedy Ryan has become my go-to author for this genre and Reel was the first book of hers I read and I think it will always be my favourite. When I think about some of the most romantic scenes I have read in a book, this is the one that comes to mind. There were so many layers to it and I was so moved by it!

Silly Romance

After a good cry, I often need a silly romance and That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf is top tier. This is the second book in the series and is my personal favourite. I love when a romance is a little over-the-top and ridiculous and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Kimberly Lemming is the best at that while also making me feel so cozy and having me swoon over the characters and their love story.

Foodie Romance

There was a time where all I wanted to read were foodie romance and they used to be more popular but you don’t see them being published as much these days! I am still always drawn to them because there is something about food descriptions in fiction that always appeals to me. I think that is probably why I also enjoy cozy fantasy as much as I do- we often get so many mouth-watering food descriptions. Admittedly, foodie romances have been hit or miss for me but I never regret reading them. The Romance Recipe is one of my favourites! It is super steamy, sapphic, and set in a restaurant.

Fantasy Romance

I obviously had to include a fantasy romance on this list and Radiance remains my favourite. I think it is going to be an impossible book to top for me! I have talked about this book to death but I don’t see myself stopping any time soon. It so slow burn and sweet and the perfect amount of steamy. I bought a physical copy just so I can annotate it!

Cozy Horror

I know that there is a debate about what cozy horror is or if it even exists but if you put the word “cozy” before any genre I am going to want to read it and love it. I still can’t quite wrap my head around this subgenre but I think that A House With Good Bones fit into it nicely. You know I couldn’t get through this entire post without including a book by T. Kingfisher. She could have been her own category if we are being honest. This might be my favourite horror from her. I love that balance between lightness and some gruesome scenes!

Social Horror

My favourite thing about horror is that it often requires the reader to suspend their disbelief while at the same time commentating on very real world issues. I don’t think anyone does it better than P. Djeli Clark does in Ring Shout! I will always gravitate towards horror that has something to say.

Witchy Books

I love anything witchy! I honestly could have broken down this category even further because I love witch books that are dark or silly or romantic. Just give me anything that includes witches and I will be happy! I ultimately chose The Lighthouse Witches for this category because it does so much that I love. It is historical and told in two timelines, there is a mystery, it follows siblings, and I truly believe that C.J. Cooke writes for me specifically. I love everything that she does!

Vampires

You know I had to include vampires! Maybe they are overdone but I will never get tired of them. This is another one where there were so many books to choose from but I went with A Dowry of Blood because it is an example of the kind of flowery writing that works for me and is also mixed media, which I adore.

Historical Fiction

Before I started blogging I was a huge fan of historical fiction and I still adore it when I pick it up. It is a genre I need to start prioritizing again! Still Life was my favourite book of 2022 and is one I continue to think about. I love when historical fiction looks at a part of history I am not as familiar with and when we follow the same characters through many years or the same family throughout the generations!

YA Fantasy

As you will notice, epic fantasy is not a category on this list! I think I realized that YA fantasy works for me because it often focuses more on the characters, the message, and the relationships than it does on the world-building and all of the gritty details. Raybearer has been my favourite YA fantasy for years and I cannot see it being topped. I think it balances everything I love in this category so well while also having an interesting world and magic system!

Hard-Hitting YA Thrillers

I am not the biggest thriller reading and I am actually often disappointed by them, but there is something about YA thrillers that hits better for me. I think it is because a lot of the adult thrillers I pick up are domestic and focused on marriage and kids and obviously that is not what you will find in YA. Tiffany D. Jackson is my go-to author for this genre and Monday’s Not Coming is my favourite book of hers. I was an emotional wreck by the end and I wish I could read it for the first time all over again!

Gothic

I love anything that is described as Gothic! If I see that word in a synopsis, I will instantly add it to my TBR. I debated over so many books for this category (and almost went with The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater) but went for Plain Bad Heroines because it is also dark academia, another subgenre that often works for me!

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