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.

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 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 the different Reader Types?

Bookfinity has 19 uniquely, different Reader Types. Here’s a little bit more about each:

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

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 Housemaids by Freida McFadden

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

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

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 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

Subject Matter Expert

Subject Matter Experts just seem to always know what they are talking about. They love to read for fun and they also love to read to learn. There are two kinds of Subject Matter Experts: SME’s who enjoy fine tuning their expertise and love a deep diving into reference book and SME’s enjoy escaping into another world by way of a science fiction or fantasy novel.

Books the Subject Matter Expert May Enjoy:
What If: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Monroe

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

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” (Link to article) 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

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

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

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

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

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

Mountain Climber

There is no mountain too tall and no challenge too daunting for the Mountain Climber. Sure, they could try the straight and narrow, but they’d rather traverse the perilous trail with a great view. When the Mountain Climber isn’t, you know, climbing mountains, you’ll find them at home practicing yoga, brewing their own beer, or sprouting their own microgreens. They enjoy a very active lifestyle and enjoy reading books that pique their interests about adventure, nature, and their health journey.

Books the Mountain Climber May Enjoy:
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account Of The Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau by Ben Shattuck
Wild by Cheryl Strayed

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

Cool Dad/Mom

They’re not like regular parents, they’re cool parents. Or at least they’d like to think so. You’ll find them chatting with other parents in the school pick-up line, swapping recipes for kid-friendly broccoli dishes, and listening to audiobooks in the car to keep the kids entertained. Cool Mom’s/Dad’s who read to their kids and/or have kids that enjoy reading. But they want more than just kids' books. They enjoy listening to a parenting audiobook while on walks with the dog or reading bestsellers (when they get a moment to themselves that is).

Books the Cool Dad’s & Mom's May Enjoy:
Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Becky Kennedy
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

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

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

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

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

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 Dissenter May Enjoy:
In Defense of Troublemakers by Charlan Nemeth
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
There There by Tommy Orange

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

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