5 Must-Watch Genre Trends of 2025: From Romantasy to Solarpunk

In the ever-shifting landscape of literature, keeping pace with emerging genre trends is essential—not just for readers, but also for writers, publishers, and content creators hoping to connect with audiences in meaningful ways. As we step deeper into 2025, the literary world is experiencing a dynamic evolution fueled by social media movements, cultural shifts, and an increasing thirst for speculative but emotionally grounded storytelling.

Here are five genre trends that are defining the year—and what they mean for the future of fiction writing.

1. Romantasy: The Reign Continues

"Romantasy"—the enchanting fusion of romance and fantasy—has become a force to be reckoned with. Popularized through platforms like TikTok (particularly #BookTok), this genre exploded in 2023–2024 and shows no sign of slowing down in 2025.

Why It Works:

• Readers crave escapism and emotional depth—romantasy offers both.

• Strong, character-driven plots meet epic world-building.

• LGBTQIA+ representation and morally grey characters are embraced.

Standout Elements:

• High-stakes slow-burn romances

• Powerful female protagonists and non-traditional love interests

• Magic systems that intertwine with emotional development

  
  

What Writers Should Know:

To thrive in romantasy, focus on voice and pacing. Romance needs to feel earned, and the world needs to be immersive without overshadowing character arcs. Books like "Fourth Wing" and "The Serpent & The Wings of Night" have set high standards for emotional resonance and reader engagement.

2. Cli-Fi (Climate Fiction): Urgent and Expanding

As climate change becomes a lived reality, climate fiction—or "cli-fi"—has moved from niche to mainstream. In 2025, this genre is expanding to include not just dystopias but also hopeful, solutions-based narratives.

Why It Works:

• Readers want to grapple with real-world issues through the safety of fiction.

• It resonates with Gen Z’s environmental concerns.

• Cross-genre potential with sci-fi, thriller, romance, and speculative fiction.

  
  

Standout Elements:

• Eco-disasters, rewilding, and utopian alternatives

• Climate refugees and political reformation plots

• Tension between technological and natural worlds

  
  

What Writers Should Know:

Cli-fi doesn’t have to be bleak. In fact, one of 2025’s growing subgenres is hopepunk cli-fi, where characters resist despair and focus on collective action. Writers should aim for research-informed storytelling that challenges assumptions and leaves room for hope.

3. Solarpunk: Optimism with Roots in Reality

Related to cli-fi, solarpunk imagines an ecologically harmonious future. Unlike dystopias, solarpunk is driven by community resilience, sustainable tech, and social equality. It has become a genre of comfort and aspiration.

Why It Works:

• Offers a counter-narrative to the usual grim futures

• Aligns with real-world sustainability and design movements

• Combines aesthetic beauty with narrative optimism

  
  

Standout Elements:

• Green cities, communal living, decentralized power structures

• Intersection of science, spirituality, and indigenous knowledge

• Diverse characters navigating a post-scarcity world

  
  

What Writers Should Know:

Solarpunk isn’t about utopia—it’s about the struggle to create one. Conflict often arises from old systems trying to survive in a new, regenerative world. Writers should consider themes of repair, renewal, and community-building.

4. Dark Academia: A Mood That Won’t Quit

Though popularized a few years ago, dark academia continues to evolve in 2025. No longer confined to elite Western institutions or Eurocentric perspectives, the genre is becoming more inclusive and intersectional.

Why It Works:

• Appeals to a nostalgia for learning and introspection

• Explores mental health, identity, and ambition

• Blends literary fiction with mystery, horror, and romance

  
  

Standout Elements:

• Obsession, moral ambiguity, and literary references

• Unreliable narrators and emotionally complex protagonists

• Gothic or melancholic settings: think old libraries, ivy walls, secrets

  
  

What Writers Should Know:

Today’s dark academia doesn’t shy away from critiquing institutional power and cultural privilege. Writers can bring fresh life to the genre by setting their stories in non-Western contexts or addressing class, race, and gender dynamics more openly.

5. Mythic Retellings & Folklore Fantasy: Old Stories, New Voices

The rise of mythic retellings continues to enchant readers in 2025, but the trend has shifted focus. We’re seeing more diverse reimaginings of non-Western mythology—Indian, African, Southeast Asian, and Slavic stories are in high demand.

Why It Works:

• Taps into collective nostalgia and timeless themes

• Elevates marginalized voices and cultural narratives

• Crosses easily into romance, fantasy, and YA markets

  
  

Standout Elements:

• First-person reimaginings of gods and goddesses

• Blending historical fiction with magical realism

• A focus on feminine perspectives and justice

  
  

What Writers Should Know:

Authenticity matters. Readers are quick to spot superficial uses of mythology, so sensitivity, research, and connection to lived experience are vital. Writers from diaspora communities are leading the way, adding new emotional layers to beloved myths.

Final Thoughts on Genre Trends: What This Means for Writers

2025’s genre landscape reveals a few key takeaways:

• Voice matters more than ever: Whether in romantasy or mythic retellings, authors who cultivate a distinct, confident voice stand out.

• Optimism is trending: Solarpunk and hopepunk show that readers are seeking stories that offer possibility, not just peril.

• Diversity is not a trend—it’s a standard: Audiences demand inclusive stories told by the people who live them.

• Multi-genre is the new genre: Successful books blend romance, fantasy, sci-fi, realism, and mystery without hesitation.

  
  

Whether you’re an emerging writer or an experienced author exploring new directions, paying attention to these genre trends can help you align your creative goals with what today’s readers are craving.

But more importantly? Write what matters to you. Because the next big trend might just be the one you start.

Want help navigating genre, voice, or market trends in your manuscript? Explore my editing and coaching services here.