Continuing with our midyear retrospective on the year’s most popular books so far, it’s time to head over to the speculative fiction aisles. In fact, we’ve got a three-for-one deal going today with science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
 
Below, you’ll find the most popular books from the first half of 2023 in these three genres. The selection is determined by reader reviews, ratings, and Goodreads members’ Want to Read and Read shelves.
 
Some observations on what readers are gravitating toward: In fantasy, retellings continue to generate a lot of interest (Atalanta, Clytemnestra). Also look for faeries, Indian Ocean pirates, and superstar authors (Samantha Shannon, Leigh Bardugo, Brandon Sanderson).
 
In science fiction, dystopian future visions continue to reflect our current anxieties around technology, society, and ecology. (And mortality, for that matter.)
 
And if you’re a horror fan, this is a great time to be alive, or fighting for your life, as the case may be. Authors like Victor Lavalle, Jessica Johns, Ling Ling Huang, and Gerardo Sámano Córdova are bringing innovative scary story concepts to the genre, along with some cool new riffs on older templates, like the haunted house story.
 
Clearly, Goodreads members have excellent taste. Scroll over the book cover images below for more details, and add any interesting leads to your own Want to Read shelf.