Introduction
The Australian book market is evolving rapidly, and genre preferences are shifting in response to changing reader tastes, technological advances, and cultural dynamics. Based on current data and industry insights, here’s a look at the top genre trends for authors writing for Australian readers in 2025 and how you can harness them to shape your work and strategy.
Romance & Romantasy: The Big Comeback
Romance fiction is experiencing a major revival in Australia. Contemporary and spicy romance are especially popular, as readers crave escapism and emotional connection.
Sub trends to watch
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“Romantasy (romance + fantasy) is strong, blending magical elements with emotionally driven love stories. Explore more on Romantasy trends in Australia.” Explore how to write a romance or fantasy book in Australia, guides authors on blending genres and writing emotionally engaging stories.
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LGBTQ+ romance continues to grow, reflecting broader diversity in relationships and identities.
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Erotic and spicy romance are also gaining traction, with niche bookstores and communities forming around these subgenres.
Why this trend matters
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Female readers are particularly drawn to realistic, agency driven characters. ABC
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Romance’s emotional depth and variety make it highly marketable in the current publishing climate.
Crime, Mystery & Thriller
Crime fiction remains one of the most beloved genres in Australia. According to a 2025 survey, Crime/Mystery/Thriller is the most popular adult fiction genre among Australian readers.
What’s trending
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Psychological thrillers are growing, especially those with morally grey characters.
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Nostalgic mysteries, set in past decades or using retro tropes, are appealing, combining crime with a sense of time and place.
Why it’s powerful
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“Crime stories translate well to audiobook formats, a growing medium in Australia.”
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Readers enjoy tension and suspense, and writers can integrate social commentary, local settings, or character driven investigations.
Speculative Fiction: Sci-Fi, Cli-Fi & Fantasy
Speculative fiction is surging. In particular:
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Climate fiction (cli-fi) is gaining ground as authors tackle environmental issues in imaginative ways.
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Hopepunk and solarpunk are emerging subgenres: optimistic, future focused, and socially conscious.
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Fantasy, including romantasy, remains strong across age groups.
Why this genre is significant in Australia
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“Readers are increasingly drawn to stories that reflect real world concerns like climate fiction and technology through speculative lenses.” Writing speculative fiction for Australian audiences covers sci-fi, cli-fi, and fantasy writing strategies.
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Digital and audio formats suit speculative fiction well, given its immersive potential.
Historical & Hidden History Fiction
Historical fiction continues to resonate with Australian readers, especially when it reveals lesser known stories from the past. Local settings, untold Australian histories, and richly researched narratives are highly appealing. Researching historical writing in Australia helps authors uncover authentic historical narratives. Planning multi-book series and hybrid fiction assists authors in structuring complex or blended genre works.
Focus areas
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19th century and early 20th century settings.
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“Stories of marginalized or underrepresented communities in Australian history provide rich material for authors.”
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Nostalgic historical romance and women’s historical fiction.
Literary & Contemporary Fiction
Australian literary fiction remains vibrant, often intertwining personal and societal themes. Works such as Dusk by Robbie Arnott demonstrate how literary novels are still celebrated in major Australian awards.
Trends within this genre
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Feminist literary fiction and narratives of identity, race, and belonging.
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Novels with a strong sense of place in Australian landscapes, cities, and culture.
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Quiet, introspective stories that favor character over plot.
Horror & Supernatural Fiction
While not always a top ten favorite, horror is carving out a niche in the Australian market. Supernatural and psychological horror, infused with local flavor, can attract readers looking for emotional intensity and escape.
Subgenres to explore
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Gothic horror with Australian settings.
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Revenge horror, perhaps mixed with thriller or dark fantasy.
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Paranormal romance, where love meets fright and the unknown.
Cozy & Small Town Fiction
Coziness as a genre remains relevant, especially in uncertain times. Small town Australian fiction, with gentle relationships, community bonds, and low stakes, is trending as a comforting escape.
Popular themes
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Community life: neighbors, family, friendships.
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Cottage core or rural settings.
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Light mysteries, gentle romance, and domestic peace.
Fanfic Inspired Fiction & Transformative Narratives
Fan fiction tropes are deeply influencing modern fiction. Many authors are writing stories inspired by fanfic structures found family, enemies to lovers, and deeply character driven romance.
Why it’s on the rise
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A generation that grew up on fanfic now wants “grown up” fanfic style novels.
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Transformative narratives allow writers to play with tropes in fresh ways, blending genres and expectations.
Nonfiction: Memoir, Biography & History
Nonfiction remains strong among Australian readers. According to the 2025 survey, Biography & Memoir and History are among the top nonfiction genres.
Key nonfiction trends
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Personal storytelling: memoirs that feel intimate, reflective, and universal.
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Cultural and social history: re examining Australian heritage, Indigenous narratives, and hidden stories.
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Practical and lifestyle nonfiction, including self help, wellness, and sustainable living.
Classics & Rediscovered Literature
There’s renewed interest in classics and rediscovered works particularly Australian authors whose out of print titles are being revived.
Opportunities for writers
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Retellings of classic stories, or reimagined classics.
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Exploring forgotten or marginalized voices from Australia’s literary past.
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Creating annotated or context rich editions that appeal to modern readers.
Cross Genre & Hybrid Fiction
Hybrid genres continue to converge, offering new possibilities:
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Crime + Romance: romantic thrillers or dark love stories.
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“Fantasy + Literary: explore magical realism or epic fantasies with deep character work.”
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Nonfiction + Narrative: creative nonfiction, memoirs with literary flair.
Publishers and readers are open to boundary pushing narratives that don’t fit neatly into one category.
What These Trends Mean for Australian Authors
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Write with authenticity: Whether you’re working in romance, crime, or speculative fiction, local experiences and voices will resonate deeply.
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Mix genres thoughtfully: Cross genre work is not only accepted it’s celebrated. Don’t be afraid to blend romance, fantasy, crime, or historical elements to make your story stand out.
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Know your market: Use research (surveys like those from Australia Reads) to understand where your readers are and what they want.
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Think about format: With digital and audio formats growing in popularity, particularly for genre fiction, plan how your work will be consumed.
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Engage with community: Readers are discovering books through non traditional channels book clubs, local bookstores, and digital platforms. Connect where they are.
FAQs about Genre Trends for Book Writing in Australia (2025 Update)
Q1. What genres are trending in Australia for book writing in 2025?
A. In 2025, Australian readers are gravitating toward romance, crime/thriller, speculative fiction, historical fiction, memoir, and hybrid genres like romantasy and cozy mystery blends. These categories show strong demand across print, eBooks, and BookTok driven trends.
Q2. Which genre sells the most books in Australia right now?
A. Crime and thriller continue to dominate fiction sales in Australia, consistently outperforming other categories. In nonfiction, memoir, personal development, and Australian history lead the market.
Q3. Why are romance and romantasy so popular with Australian readers?
A. Romance and romantasy remain popular due to their emotional hooks, escapist storytelling, and character driven plots. Social media platforms especially BookTok have amplified their visibility and created viral demand.
Q4. Is speculative fiction becoming more popular in Australia in 2025?
A. Yes. Speculative fiction including fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, and climate fiction is growing significantly. Younger readers and audiobook users especially favor this genre for its imaginative world building and big idea themes.
Q5. What genres offer the best opportunities for new Australian authors?
A. New authors have strong opportunities in romance, crime, cozy fiction, speculative fiction, and contemporary fiction with strong emotional themes. These genres offer high reader engagement, strong online communities, and consistent market demand.
Conclusion
The Australian publishing landscape in 2025 is rich and varied. Genre trends from romance renewals to climate conscious speculative fiction are driven by readers’ evolving desires for connection, escape, and relevance. For authors, this means more flexibility, more opportunity, and more ways to reach readers. By aligning your writing with these trends and remaining true to your voice you can create stories that resonate with today’s Australian audience.