Books Every Fandom Enthusiast Should Read

For fans of K-Pop and BTS

Calling all K-Pop fans to the front! It doesn’t matter if you’re a part of the BTS ARMY, a fan HUNTR/X, an EYEKON, or an ONCE — here is a must-have book to keep your bookshelves grooving. Lenika Cruz, senior culture editor at The Atlantic and BTS fan herself, takes fans on a clever and fun journey with this collection of essays that any K-Pop fan can get into. This is the book you have sitting next to your favorite K-Pop albums.  

For Fans of Sherlock Holmes

If you love Sherlock Holmes and have always wanted to see a Black woman protagonist in that leading role, this cozy mystery series will surely hit the spot. Mavis is a dedicated mother who recently quit her job to reset her nervous system and catch up on some much-needed rest. But when the high school’s soccer coach drops dead on the field, nobody assumes foul play. After police evidence suggests someone left behind something behind, a clue, and a rather suspicious one, Mavis takes it upon herself to investigate her fellow soccer moms and uncover the secrets of what really happened out on the soccer field.

For Fans of Pop Star Comebacks

Avery Fox, one of TV’s most famous child stars, is on the verge of being canceled when she returns to her Indigenous roots by escaping to her estranged grandmother’s ranch. Life on the Rez is a far cry from Hollywood, especially when handsome cowboy rancher Lucas Iron Eyes makes it clear she doesn’t belong. But Lucas offers her a deal: help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian.

For Fans of Cosplay and Comic Cons

Cosplayers and convention-goers finally get the romance they deserve in this joyful novel. Like most cosplayers, Kenya takes pride in her creations. When an opportunity presents itself to enter a respected cosplay competition, she jumps at it — but there’s one small caveat: She needs a partner to participate. Cue the fake boyfriend! The competition’s stage becomes the perfect place for Kenya and Cam to explore what they’re hiding under the mask of friendship. They might be two nerds cosplaying as a couple but that doesn’t stop their feelings for each other from being real.

For Fans of Fantasy Gaming

If you’ve ever dreamed of living inside your favorite fantasy game, this book is for you! Taissa was one of the United Kingdom’s best carriwitchet players until a devastating defeat by Kion got her ousted from the league. Two years later, she’s offered a chance to return; there’s just one catch: She and Kion must pretend to be a couple. But when a mysterious illness threatens the league’s winged beasts and the very existence of carriwitchet itself, Taissa and Kion have to partner up in more ways than one.

For Fans of TV Obsessives

If you enjoy reading about struggling writers breaking into Hollywood, add this to your TBR now. On the outside, Jane comes across as a well-put-together writer, but on the inside, she’s stressed about paying bills and landing a book deal. After her second novel gets rejected, Jane moves her family to the West Coast to house-sit, and pivots to TV writing. But as she works with a reputable TV producer to create content for a streaming service, Jane finds herself torn between maintaining her artistic integrity and pleasing the Hollywood executives eager to make her work more mainstream. 

For Fans of Zombie and Vampire Fiction

While zombies and vampires are still all the rage, Dade takes the paranormal romance genre and gives readers something fresh. Edie believes she’s being heroic by saving the guy next door from a zombie outbreak — what she doesn’t realize is that her tall, dark, and mysterious neighbor is actually a vampire. Unwilling to stay inside, Edie and her vampire neighbor try to save the people around them, all while uncovering that the zombie outbreak taking over their neighborhood is no accident. Part romance, part mystery, and all comedy, this book will keep you on your toes and have you rooting for a passionate monster romance.

For Fans of Studio Ghibli

For readers who love the anime Spirited Away and wish they could board a magical train and leave their problems behind, this novel is a must-read. Raya is a former songwriter who gave up on her dreams after losing her brother. Aboard the Elsewhere Express, a magical train that appears only to those whose lives are adrift, Raya meets Q, an artist equally as lost as she is. Over the course of one life-changing night, Raya and Q race to find their place in the world before their time runs out. Yambao writes with the lush, whimsical precision of a Ghibli film, combining lyrical prose with an emotionally devastating plotline. It’s the kind of magic that feels less like fantasy and more like a dream made visible.

For Fans of Music Stan Culture

For anyone who has ever gone down a rabbit hole, stan-tweeting and streaming their favorite artist late at night, Solo Stan will hit close to home. Talia Tucker’s novel follows two dedicated music stans who meet at a concert. Kai has been deserted by his friends, but nothing can stop him from being at the CYPHR performance. Elias doesn’t want to be in North Carolina, but to make his new living situation more bearable, he scores tickets to the sold-out show. Amongst thousands of fans, Elias and Kai find themselves thrown together when the concert goes awry. On the streets of Raleigh, Kai and Elias discover they have more in common than just their favorite band.

For Fans of Greek Mythology Retellings

 Fans of Circe and The Song of Achilles finally have their next obsession. In this novel, Gray reimagines Medusa not as the monster readers know but as a Black woman whose power has been weaponized against her. Meddy is done letting other people write her story. Reclaiming one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures, this origin tale is a lush, furious, and deeply satisfying read for any mythology fan. Gray writes with a confidence that commands attention, building a world where divine power and Black feminine rage exist in the same breath. You’ll never read Greek mythology the same way again.

For Fans of Tabletop RPGs and Marching Bands

Dungeons and Dragons fans and tabletop RPG enthusiasts will feel completely at home in this enemies-to-lovers YA romance. Set around a gaming table and marching band practice, the story follows two competitive players who used to be friends, one of whom secretly still carries a crush. When they end up on the same campaign, the dice rolls are the least unpredictable thing between them. Boyce captures the specific joy of tabletop gaming, including the inside jokes, the character investment, and the way a good session can feel like its own kind of magic, and wraps it all in a romance that earns its happy ending. Rolls and Rivalry is for everyone who has ever fallen a little bit in love across a game board.

For Fans of Sports and Cooking Shows

Ferguson brings her signature wit and heat to her latest romance. When Ian, the professional hockey player, begins fake dating Delilah, “the darling of baking,” as she’s called on the local cable show, who just so happens to be his teammate’s little sister, the tension between the couple is as relentless as a penalty box in the final period. Delilah’s and Ian’s PR teams think it’s a true win-win situation — gaining higher numbers for Delilah’s show and casting Ian in a more positive light. Between hockey pucks, cupcakes, and social media metrics tracking whether their act is boosting positive ratings, this hilarious romance crosses genres to satisfy both sports fans and foodies. 

For Fans of Drag and the Theatre

Some would say a drag show is similar to a theatrical performance, and that is exactly why Holly Stars’ mystery is anything but boring. Picture a murder set backstage at a drag show, complete with a stolen dress, deadly chocolate, and a cat burglar! Joe, who moonlights as Misty Divine, is devastated when her drag mother is found dead in her dressing room at a London club. Before Misty and the rest of the performers can grieve, they all find themselves as prime suspects. But Misty won’t go down without a fight and takes matters into her own hands to find the real killer. The more she digs, the more she discovers that other girls like her may be next.

For Fans of Fandom Culture

Sometimes the only reprieve you get in life is finding other fans who love what you love, and that is exactly what Alex Lawson does when she creates a fan forum for her favorite werewolf detective show, The Arcane Files. Over the years, the forum has grown, and archiving supernatural lore online has made Alex internet famous. She even meets Devin Ashwood, the The Arcane Files star, and quickly realizes why people always say, “Never meet you, heroes”. But when Devin is exposed to an out-of-body experience that coincides with the Wolf Blood Moon, he needs Alex’s help. As the only expert on the subject, she can help him to determine what has happened to him and what to do next.