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Novels usually fall into three categories: literary fiction, genre fiction, and mainstream fiction.

Literary Fiction tends to follow non-conventional plot structures while containing embedded symbolism and allegory. An example of literary fiction is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise, published in 1920.

Genre fiction is a type of novel that has a more mainstream, populist appeal than literary fiction. Types of genre fiction include: mystery, thriller, romance, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, historical fiction, magical realism and speculative fiction.

Mainstream fiction consists of a literary novel or a genre novel that has exploded into popularity well beyond its core audience, attracting new readership and bestseller status. An example of mainstream fiction is J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, published in 1997.