How to Analyze Successful Books in Your Genre (And Why It’s Crucial for Your Success)

By Ream Team

Studying successful books in your genre is one of the most effective ways to improve your writing and marketing skills. By analyzing what works—and why—you can gain insights into reader expectations, genre trends, and strategies to elevate your own stories—and frequently your marketing too.

So we’ve created a step-by-step guide to analyzing popular books in your genre and how it can boost your author career.

Why Analyzing Successful Books Matters

Understand Reader Expectations: Bestselling books succeed because they deliver what readers in the genre are looking for. By studying them, you can identify common themes, tropes, and conventions to incorporate into your own work.
Refine Your Craft: Breaking down how successful authors create compelling characters, build tension, or pace their stories helps you improve your own writing.
Inform Your Marketing Strategy: From cover designs to blurbs and keywords, analyzing how bestselling books are marketed can help you position your own books more effectively.
Identify Opportunities for Innovation: Recognizing patterns in popular books allows you to spot gaps or areas where you can bring something fresh to the genre.

How to Analyze a Book in Your Genre

1. Start with the Basics

Genre and Subgenre: Confirm the book’s genre and subgenre (and that they match yours). For example, is it urban fantasy or high fantasy? Contemporary romance or romantic suspense?
Target Audience: Consider who the book is written for—young adults, new adults, or adults—and how that influences its tone and style.

2. Break Down the Story Elements

Plot Structure: Look at how the story is paced. Where does the inciting incident occur? How does the climax resolve the main conflict?
Tropes: Identify the common tropes used in the story. For instance, enemies-to-lovers or a chosen-one narrative.
Characters: Study how the protagonist, love interest, or antagonist is developed. What makes them relatable or memorable?
Themes: Note the underlying themes. Popular books often explore universal ideas like love, redemption, or self-discovery.

3. Examine the Writing Style

Tone and Voice: Is the tone lighthearted, dark, or emotionally intense? Does the author have a distinct voice?
Dialogue: Analyze how the dialogue flows. Does it reveal character personality or advance the plot?
Pacing: Observe how the story balances action, description, and introspection to keep readers engaged.

4. Analyze the Book’s Presentation

Cover Design: Does the cover clearly signal the genre? For example, dark tones and bold fonts for thrillers or bright colors and couples for rom-coms.
Blurb: Study how the book description hooks readers and introduces the central conflict.
Reviews: Read reviews to understand what readers loved (or didn’t love). This provides insight into how the book met or subverted expectations.

5. Evaluate Marketing Strategies

Launch Tactics: How was the book launched? Was it part of a series? Did it use preorder campaigns or giveaways?
Social Media Presence: Did the author engage with readers online or in specific communities related to the genre?
Audience Engagement: Look at how the author connects with their readers, whether through newsletters, exclusive content, or social media.

Why You Should Analyze Multiple Books

One book won’t tell you everything. By analyzing several successful books, you’ll notice patterns in what works for your genre. For example:

Are readers in your genre drawn to morally gray characters?
Do they prefer fast-paced stories or slow-burn builds?
What tropes consistently rank highly?

This broader perspective helps you refine your own approach while ensuring your work fits within the genre.

Putting It Into Action

Apply What You Learn to Your Writing:Use the insights you gain to refine your story structure, character development, or pacing.
Incorporate Lessons into Your Marketing:From your cover design to your book description, align your presentation with what’s working in the genre.
Innovate Where It Counts:While it’s essential to meet genre expectations, don’t be afraid to add your unique twist. Readers love fresh takes on familiar elements.

Final Thoughts

Analyzing successful books in your genre is like having a roadmap to success. It shows you what readers want and how to deliver it, all while helping you refine your skills and build your brand.

Start with a bestseller in your genre today, and take notes—you might discover the key to elevating your writing and marketing to the next level.

Want to dive deeper into this topic? Join the Ream Academy community on Ream! We share weekly Q&A posts and insider tips, and have a ton of exciting discussions. It’s a great place to learn, connect, and have fun while growing together. See you there!