Whether you are an avid reader or trying to find your reading groove, getting the right book recommendations can be tricky. Between different genres and subgenres, there are a lot of books to choose from out there. To help narrow it down and improve your book recommendations, discover your Reader Type by taking our short quiz.
What Is a Reader Type?
Think of your Bookfinity Reader Type as your reading personality. It helps you better understand what kinds of books resonate with you. It will help narrow down specific genres or themes you enjoy, while finding you new books. There are over 20 Reader Types at Bookfinity and many readers tend to fall into more than one. Reader Types aren't based completely on the genres you prefer. They also take into consideration themes and subject matter. So, whether you are a fan of only one of two types of books, or like to read a bit of everything, there is a Reader Type for you.
How Do You Discover Your Reader Type?
Bookfinity offers a fun and easy Reader Type quiz. While there are a few bookish questions, such as what type of books do you like and how many books do you read in a year? There are also questions about your habits and personal preferences. Questions like, "what is your go-to binge-watch show" is as telling as your favorite book. Someone might say they love romance, but they binge-watch Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. They’ll likely get a lot of romance recommendations but they might enjoy a good fantasy novel, especially if it includes a great love story.
When you complete the Reader Type quiz, you'll get three different Reader Types - your main type, as well as your secondary and tertiary types. All three Reader Types will help you find better books and help Bookfinity deliver even better book recommendations. There are so many great reads out there, Reader Types help discover the best for you!
Thanks to our Reader Types, Bookfinity offers books recommendations customized for you. While our recommendations are influenced by your Reader Type, they aren't limited to them. So, a Serial Reader won't only get true crime and mystery recommendations, they will also get recommendations for books that have similar themes. You can also help refine your recommendations by Loving or Losing certain titles. Bookfinity is ready to help you expand your reading library.
What Are Bookfinity Reader Types?
Bookfinity has 19 uniquely different Reader Types. Here’s a little bit more about each one:
Modern Romantic
What’s better than a Friday night snuggled up with a cup of tea, your coziest blanket, and watching your favorite, classic rom-com? For a Modern Romantic, nothing! Simply put: Modern Romantics love love! From fun and flirty to hot and steamy, there are dozens of romance tropes and Modern Romantics can’t get enough.
Books the Modern Romantic May Enjoy:
- Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
- Neon Gods by Katee Robert
- Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
See more book recommendations for Modern Romantics.
Serial Reader
When Serial Readers aren’t binging the most recent true-crime docu-series or catching up on the latest true-crime podcast, they are picking up a mystery novel, thriller, classic horror, or true crime biography. Serial Readers crave the curiosity and thrill of the unknown, especially from the comfort of their own couch.
Books the Serial Reader May Enjoy:
- Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
See more mystery and thriller book recommendations for Serial Readers.
Stunt double
You crave adrenaline and appreciate a strong, heroic character who will fight for his/her country and family. Fearless and thrill-seeking, you have at least thought about going skydiving before. You’ve seen all the Fast and Furious movies and are shocked when you hear not everyone has. There’s a chance you’ve gone on a date to a haunted house just to prove how bold you are. You don’t have to prove anything to us though!
Books the Stunt Double May Enjoy:
- The Terminal List: A Thriller by Jack Carr
The Shining by Stephen King
See more action/adventure book recommendations for Stunt Doubles.
Dragon Slayer
All hail the King/Queen! You desire power, strength and a strong imagination. The map of Middle Earth guides you in your ventures where you fight dragons, corrupt kingdoms, witches, and more. In these new worlds, you become fearless to whatever twist and turn life throws at you. Brave, loyal, and full of heart - you love to be in the middle of the action.
Books the Dragon Slayer May Enjoy:
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- The Hobbit: The Enchanting Prelude to the Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien
See more fantasy book recommendations for Dragon Slayers.
Galactic Guru
You don’t only reach for the stars; you want to walk on the moon! You come in peace and play nice with all unique forms of life (aliens included). With fascinations out of this world, you are a proud geek. You’re prepared, intelligent and completely ready when the robots take over Earth. Everything about your book choice is exciting and revolutionizing humanity. New sci-fi book recommendations coming to you in 3-2-1 blast-off!
Books the Galactic Guru May Enjoy:
- Starter Villain by John Scalzi
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- Fantastic Four: A Full Circle by Alex Ross
See more sci-fi book recommendations for Galactic Gurus.
Young at Heart
Getting older is life, but growing up is a choice. YA doesn't have an age limit, but Young at Heart’s already know that. Whether it was Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Twilight, or Percy Jackson that drew them in, young adult fiction is still their go-to genre.
Books the Young at Heart May Enjoy:
- Shadow and Bone Leigh Bardugo
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
See more YA book recommendations for Young At Heart.
Bookworm
All readers might consider themselves a "bookworm," but this Reader Type is for those who love the classics. A Bookworm’s bookshelf looks like it came straight from “Top Books to Read Before You Die” reading list along with all the current literary prize nominees. Bookworms love a combination of classic literature, literary fiction, poetry, and art.
Books the Bookworm May Enjoy:
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
See more reading recommendations for Bookworms.
Trendsetter
You might be a Trendsetter if you walk into the bookstore and go straight to the new releases or if you’re the friend everyone goes to for their book recs. The Trendsetter is the first to read the books making the bestseller lists, loves book to screen adaptations, and will even pick up the latest tell-all memoir. If it’s a buzz-worthy book, there’s no doubt that the Trendsetter has already read it.
Books the Trendsetter May Enjoy:
- I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
See more book recommendations for Trendsetters.
Beach Reader
A Beach Reader might not spend much time on a real beach, but don’t worry... Beach happy! Beach Readers love a book they can finish quickly and a story that fits their vibe. They want to read something fun, so you’ll often find their nose in a summer-set romance, twisty thriller, or an intriguing women’s lit novel.
Books the Beach Reader May Enjoy:
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- Verity by Colleen Hoover
- The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
See more book recommendations for Beach Readers.
Woke Up Like This
Inclusive and complex narratives are the name of the game for the Woke Up Like This reader. Woke Up Like This loves books across many genres, as long as it's telling a story that needs telling. Books that focus on LGBTQ+ stories, BIPOC perspectives, and shining a light on underrepresented communities fuel this reader. From fiction to poetry to nonfiction, it's less about the genre and more about the story being shared.
Books the Woke Up Like This reader May Enjoy:
- Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
- Wow, No Thank You: Essays by Samantha Irby
- On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
See more book recommendations for Woke Up Like This.
Leading Lady
Who run the world? You already know. Leading Ladies can’t resist a story centered around strong female characters, reading books written by female authors, and biographies and memoirs of inspiring women around world. For a Leading Lady, their heroine's are both real and fictionalized. They want to feel empowered by the books they read, but aren't ashamed of picking up a quick beach read or tasty, new cookbook from time to time.
Books the Leading Lady May Enjoy:
- Educated by Tara Westover
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
See more women's fiction book recommendations for Leading Ladies.
World Traveler
Reading takes you to new places every time you open a book and no one understands that more than the World Traveler. Their house is filled with art and tchotchkes from their travels and their kitchen smells like a dish from whatever new cuisine they wanted to try. Learning from other cultures is essential for the World Traveler, so they enjoy reading (fiction, nonfiction, and poetry), eating, and watching things from other countries.
Books the World Traveler May Enjoy:
- Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zaunder
- World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bordain
- Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro
See more book recommendations for World Travelers.
Time Traveler
The Time Traveler daydreams about being transported to another time and place, but until time travel is invented, they’ll happily read about it. Time Travelers enjoy history and historical fiction novels. Besides reading about the past they also like to travel to historically significant locations, attend Renaissance faires, and frequent history museums. Time Travelers may have a specific time period they prefer to read about but are open to reading about a broad range of times and places.
Books the Time Traveler May Enjoy:
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- The Nightingale by Kirstin Hannah
- Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
See more historic fiction book recommendations for Time Travelers.
The Hobbyist
With your hands-on approach to life, you enjoy staying busy and learning new things. As a free spirit and artistic individual, you enjoy new cookbooks, discovering hidden talents, nature, and more. There’s a variety of unique, lifestyle hobbies that show off your creative side. But that said, you’ve also found the balance of relaxation and restoration for your mind, body, and spirit. The perfect yin and yang of entertainment and self-care.
Books The Hobbyist May Enjoy:
- One: Simple One-Pan Wonders by Jamie Oliver
- Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz
See more craft and lifestyle book recommendations for The Hobbyist.
Spiritual Seeker
Spiritual Seeker’s open minds and kind hearts draws them to introspective and spiritual reads. They are nurturing and spend their free time (when they aren’t reading or in the kitchen making their famous chocolate chip cookie recipe) looking after their friends and family and volunteering in their community. Spiritual Seekers enjoy inspirational and religious titles, both fiction and nonfiction.
Books the Spiritual Seeker May Enjoy:
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
- Brighter by the Day by Robin Roberts
See more inspirational book recommendations for Spiritual Seekers.
Lifelong Learner
You know the person on your trivia team who just seemed to know everything? Probably a Lifelong Learner. Their thirst for knowledge has extended far beyond the school age years. You’d be hard-pressed to find a novel on their bookshelf because they believe real life is stranger than fiction. Lifelong Learners enjoy reading to learn about history, politics, current events, and business.
Books the Lifelong Learner May Enjoy:
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Norah Harari
- Outliers by Malcom Gladwell
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
See more book recommendations for Lifelong Learners.
Self-Starter
As self-described “thought leaders”, Self-Starters want to learn from the top leaders in their industry and show off that expertise. They’ll probably bring up Bitcoin the next time you see then at happy hour. Self Starters enjoy listening to audiobooks because who has the time to sit down and read these days? What can you say... You’ve been grindin’ your whole life! When they do take the time to read they enjoy self-help books, biographies and memoirs of major CEO’s, and business titles.
Books the Self Starter May Enjoy:
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
- Good to Great And The Social Sectors by James C. Collins
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
See more book recommendations for Self-Starters.
Maverick
You defy categorization. People often describe you as confident, candid, and strategic. Your strength is in your words, as you fight for a higher cause beyond just your time on earth. There’s no time to lose so you’re deliberate with your actions. As a friend, you are a ride or die, offering unwavering support. We love your determined attitude and your relentless commitment to your integrity. Your community appreciates you more than they show!
Books the Maverick May Enjoy:
- In Defense of Troublemakers by Charlan Nemeth
- The Arrival by Shaun Tan
- There There by Tommy Orange
See more book recommendations for Mavericks.
Game Day Hero
Brains or brawn? Why not both! The Game Day Hero has clear eyes and a full heart. They’re passionate about sports and fitness. They may be seen more often at the gym than the local library, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love a good book from time to time. When they put down the weights to pick up a book it will likely be something engaging or relevant, like the latest sports biography or humorous memoir.
Books the Game Day Hero May Enjoy:
- Moneyball by Michael Lewis
- The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
- The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant
See more sports and recreation book recommendations for Game Day Heroes.
Cool Mom/Cool Dad
As Dr. Rick's Progressive insurance ads remind us, most of us don't want to become our parents, even when we have kids of our own. If you're the kind of mom or dad who likes to keep it fun and fresh, you may enjoy our book recommendations for Cool Moms/Cool Dads. You might find anything from bestselling novels to cookbooks and insightful nonfiction about topics like autism, health and climate change on our monthly new release list.
Books Cool Moms/Cool Dads May Enjoy:
- Good Lookin' Cookin' by Dolly Parton
- When I Was Your Age by Kenan Thompson
- Mahjong: The Chinese Game of Tiles and Tactics by Joseph Brant
See more book recommendations for Cool Moms/Cool Dads.
Don't have a Reader Type?