The Hottest Book Genres: What Publishers Are Looking For Right Now
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What book genres do literary agents want to sign this year? I analyzed 100 agent profiles to find out—and the results might surprise you.
By combing through the latest updates on Manuscript Wish List (MSWL)—a platform where literary agents and editors share the books they’re actively seeking—I identified the top five most in-demand fiction and nonfiction genres for publishing in 2025.
The results were not what I expected at all. In fact, one of the genres I was certain would be in the top five didn’t make the cut this year!
The Challenges of Tracking Book Genre Trends in Publishing
Identifying the top trending book genres in the publishing industry is far from an exact science. There are several challenges that make this process complex:
Subjective preferences: Every literary agent has their own tastes, and their interests can shift based on market trends, personal preference, or agency needs.
Inconsistent updates: Some agents frequently revise their Manuscript Wish List (MSWL) preferences, while others keep the same requests year after year.
Lack of centralized data: There’s no single, industry-wide database that compiles all literary agents' preferred genres, making trend analysis more difficult.
Despite these limitations, I wanted to see if I could uncover any meaningful trends—because for authors pursuing traditional publishing, understanding what agents are actively looking for can be a valuable advantage.
How I Researched 2025 Genre Trends
I previously analyzed publishing trends in 2023 and 2024 by collecting data from the #MSWL hashtag on Twitter (now X). However, this year, I adjusted my approach since fewer agents are using X consistently. Many have shifted to platforms like Threads, Bluesky, or have stepped away from social media altogether. Additionally, the #MSWL hashtag is now used by both agents and authors, making it harder to isolate agent requests.
To ensure this year’s data was as accurate as possible, I relied on the Manuscript Wish List website, where literary agents and editors at traditional publishers actively update their profiles to specify the genres, subgenres, themes, and tropes they’re most interested in acquiring.
I focused on the 100 most recently updated profiles and compiled key data, including each agent’s name, company, and desired fiction and nonfiction genres. From there, I:
Created a master list of every genre mentioned.
Counted how many times each genre appeared across all 100 profiles.
Ranked the genres by frequency to identify the most in-demand categories.
While this dataset doesn’t represent all literary agents’ preferences, it provides a valuable snapshot of current publishing trends—offering insight into what’s gaining traction in the industry.
The Top 5 Fiction Genres Agents Want in 2025
Let’s start with fiction—because one genre stood out as the clear frontrunner, and it wasn’t the one I expected.
1. Young Adult (YA)
The most in-demand fiction genre for 2025 is Young Adult (YA), with 56 mentions across literary agent and editor profiles. YA dominated the list, outpacing the second-place genre by seven selections. More than half of the agents and editors I analyzed are specifically seeking YA fiction, which targets readers aged 12–18.
Why is YA thriving in 2025?
YA readers are highly engaged and loyal, often forming strong connections with books and authors.
Crossover appeal allows YA novels to reach both teen and adult audiences.
YA subgenres are booming, including YA thrillers, YA sci-fi, YA fantasy, and YA romance.
YA books frequently land film and TV adaptations, further fueling demand.
2. LGBTQ+ Fiction
With 49 mentions, LGBTQ+ fiction ranks as the second most sought-after fiction genre. Nearly half of the agents and editors I researched are looking for diverse, inclusive stories that reflect a broad range of identities and experiences.
Notably, agents specifically mentioned looking for books featuring LGBTQ+ protagonists and stories written by LGBTQ+ authors.
3. Horror
Coming in third is horror fiction, which has grown beyond its niche roots to become a mainstream genre. 40 agents and editors noted interest in horror, reflecting a market shift toward darker, high-concept storytelling.
What’s driving the horror boom?
Horror novels from established and emerging voices (e.g., Stephen King, Grady Hendrix) continue to perform well.
TV and film adaptations (e.g., Nosferatu, Squid Game, Yellowjackets) have increased visibility for the genre.
Agents highlighted interest in:
Speculative horror (blending horror with fantasy or sci-fi elements).
Horror with social commentary (exploring real-world issues through a horror lens).
Gothic horror, which remains a favorite subgenre.
4. Commercial Fiction
Commercial fiction garnered 39 mentions, tying for fourth place. This broad category includes books with mass-market appeal, often contrasting with literary fiction. While literary fiction prioritizes craft and introspection, commercial fiction tends to focus on plot-driven, engaging storytelling with wide reader appeal.
Popular subgenres within commercial fiction include:
Thrillers
Mysteries
Book club fiction
Because commercial fiction has high sales potential, agents and publishers consistently seek standout titles that can attract broad audiences.
5. Women’s Fiction
Tied with commercial fiction, women’s fiction also received 39 mentions. This genre typically features a female protagonist navigating personal growth, relationships, or family dynamics. Women’s fiction is known for its character-driven storytelling and emotional depth.
Why is women’s fiction still a top genre?
Women make up the majority of book buyers, keeping demand strong.
Book clubs like Reese’s Book Club and Read with Jenna frequently select women’s fiction, boosting visibility and sales.
Stories in this genre often tackle universal themes, making them relatable and widely appealing.
Honorable Fiction Mentions
These genres narrowly missed the top five but remain strong contenders in the market:
Fantasy
Romance
Thriller
Considering the romance boom of recent years, I was surprised that romance and fantasy didn’t rank higher. This could indicate that literary agents are already receiving a high volume of submissions in these genres and are now prioritizing other categories. However, these genres continue to perform well with readers, and demand remains strong in both traditional publishing and self-publishing markets.
The Top 5 Nonfiction Genres Agents Want in 2025
The nonfiction results were just as surprising as fiction, revealing a strong demand for books that offer insightful analysis, historical depth, and personal storytelling.
Among the most sought-after nonfiction genres:
1. Pop Culture
With 31 mentions, pop culture books analyze cultural trends, often incorporating extensive research and offering compelling commentary on entertainment, social movements, and historical phenomena. This genre continues to thrive as readers seek deeper explorations of the media and cultural shifts shaping society.
2. History
There were 24 mentions expressing a strong interest in books that uncover untold or under-explored histories and challenge existing narratives about the past. There is particular demand for works that reframe historical events through new perspectives, offering fresh insights into well-known subjects.
3. Investigative Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, and Memoir
The third, fourth, and fifth most popular nonfiction genres were all tied with 21 mentions: investigative journalism, LGBTQ+ nonfiction, and memoir.
Investigative journalism books dive deep into political and social issues, often revealing hidden truths. LGBTQ+ nonfiction includes memoirs, essay collections, and historical explorations of LGBTQ+ experiences. Memoirs remain in demand, with agents looking for raw, authentic, and well-crafted personal narratives.
What This Means for You As a Writer
If your book falls into one of these trending genres, that’s great—you may see increased agent interest. However, genre popularity alone doesn’t guarantee representation or a book deal. The quality of your manuscript is still the most important factor, so focus on crafting the strongest story possible.
And if your genre isn’t on this list, don’t panic. There are still agents and editors looking for books like yours. Publishing trends shift constantly, but powerful, well-written stories will always find an audience.
Want to see the complete dataset? Click here to download the spreadsheet for free. You’ll get access to a complete list of agents and editors, their company affiliations, their QueryTracker and Publishers Marketplace links, and their preferred fiction and nonfiction genres. There are also charts illustrating how the top genres ranked.
Thanks for reading, and happy writing!
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