General Questions
What is The Book Rex?
The Book Rex is a book recommendation database that lets you search for books based on subgenre, tropes, spice level, content warnings, and more—so you can easily find exactly what you’re in the mood for.
In addition to the database, our blog features curated recommendation lists that highlight unique combinations of themes, microtropes, and other elements that go beyond what can be easily tagged. Whether you’re searching on your own or looking for handpicked recs, The Book Rex is here to help you discover your next great read!
In addition to the database, our blog features curated recommendation lists that highlight unique combinations of themes, microtropes, and other elements that go beyond what can be easily tagged. Whether you’re searching on your own or looking for handpicked recs, The Book Rex is here to help you discover your next great read!
How do I search for books?
You can search by subgenre, tropes and common elements, spice level, and other filters to find books that match exactly what you're looking for. Just use the search form on our homepage!
How often do you add new books?
We’re constantly adding new books to our database. If you don’t find what you’re looking for now, check back soon!
Can I suggest a book to be added?
Yes! If you don’t see a book in our database, you can submit it through our book submission form.
Do you include self-published or indie books?
Yes, we include both traditionally published and self-published books. While we do recommend popular titles, we focus on bringing you the best recommendations, which often means highlighting hidden gems and indie books that might not be on everyone’s radar. Our goal is to offer a diverse selection to help you discover your next great read!
User Accounts & Features
Do I need an account to use The Book Rex?
No, you can search for books without an account. However, creating an account lets you submit new books, suggest edits to existing books, mark books as read, add them to your TBR, and hide books you’ve already read.
Can I track the books I’ve read?
Yes! If you have an account, you can mark books as read so they don’t show up in your search results again (unless you want them to).
Can I leave book reviews?
No, we don’t have a review system. Our goal is to provide the most detailed book recommendations possible, so we leave ratings and reviews to other guys. Instead, we focus on helping you find exactly what you're looking for with highly specific tags and in-depth search options.
Why do you only offer "Read" and "To Be Read" shelving options?
At The Book Rex, our goal is to make book recommendations as accurate and personalized as possible. The "Read" and "TBR" options are simply there to help filter out books you've already read and keep recommendations fresh. You don't need to track your reading if you don’t want to—these options are purely optional and designed to help us suggest books that you'll be excited to discover. It’s all about making the recommendation process easier, not about tracking your reading progress.
Book Information
What if I find incorrect book information?
We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, but occasionally, mistakes can slip through the cracks. If you notice something that seems incorrect or incomplete, you can click the "Suggest an Edit" button on the book’s page to submit a correction. We appreciate your understanding and will do our best to review and correct any inaccuracies as quickly as possible.
Why doesn’t a book I’m looking for show up?
Our database pulls books from Google’s API, user submissions, and our own manual submissions, so if a book isn’t showing up, it may not have been added yet. We’re always expanding our collection, and you can suggest a book if you think it should be included!
Do you list all editions of a book?
No, we list only one edition of each book—unless the content itself has changed significantly, such as in an abridged version, a graphic novel adaptation, or a special expanded edition. Our focus is on making the best recommendations based on content, not format or cover variations.
Categories & Organization
How do you categorize books?
We categorize books using detailed tags based on genres, subgenres, tropes and common elements, target age, spice level, romantic pairings, content warnings, and more. Our goal is to make it easy for you to find books that match exactly what you're looking for.
Why these main genres?
At The Book Rex, we've carefully selected a handful of main genres to focus on, each representing a broad category of literature that appeals to a wide range of readers. We chose these main genres because they are the most commonly searched for, and they allow us to provide a robust, diverse selection of books.
These genres include Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Romance, Science Fiction, and Suspense & Thriller.
Other genres, while equally important and rich in content, are placed under specific subgenres to give readers more precise options within the larger category. For example, we didn’t include "Steampunk" or "Cyberpunk" as standalone genres, as they fit neatly within Science Fiction or Fantasy. By organizing books this way, we aim to help readers discover not just broad genres but also the more niche stories they’re searching for—whether that's a romantic fantasy with dragons or a cozy historical mystery with a hint of the supernatural.
This structure allows for a clean, organized browsing experience while maintaining flexibility for a variety of tastes and preferences.
These genres include Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Romance, Science Fiction, and Suspense & Thriller.
Other genres, while equally important and rich in content, are placed under specific subgenres to give readers more precise options within the larger category. For example, we didn’t include "Steampunk" or "Cyberpunk" as standalone genres, as they fit neatly within Science Fiction or Fantasy. By organizing books this way, we aim to help readers discover not just broad genres but also the more niche stories they’re searching for—whether that's a romantic fantasy with dragons or a cozy historical mystery with a hint of the supernatural.
This structure allows for a clean, organized browsing experience while maintaining flexibility for a variety of tastes and preferences.
What if a book fits multiple genres or categories?
Books often blend elements from different genres and feature multiple tropes, themes, or defining characteristics. To ensure accurate recommendations, we tag each book with every relevant genre, subgenre, and category it meaningfully fits into. However, we only assign a tag if it plays a significant role in the book—so, for example, a book wouldn’t be labeled Actors/Actresses just because an actor is briefly mentioned, but it would be if a major character is one.
Some books naturally belong to more than one genre—like a Fantasy Romance where both the fantasy and romance elements are central to the main plot—and will be tagged with both. In other cases, a book may have a strong subplot from another genre, in which case we use a more specific tag to reflect that. For example, a book where romance is the main focus would be labeled Romance, while a book with romance as a subplot or secondary element would be tagged with the subgenre Romantic Elements instead. This approach helps keep recommendations accurate while making it easier to find books that truly fit what you’re in the mood for.
Some books naturally belong to more than one genre—like a Fantasy Romance where both the fantasy and romance elements are central to the main plot—and will be tagged with both. In other cases, a book may have a strong subplot from another genre, in which case we use a more specific tag to reflect that. For example, a book where romance is the main focus would be labeled Romance, while a book with romance as a subplot or secondary element would be tagged with the subgenre Romantic Elements instead. This approach helps keep recommendations accurate while making it easier to find books that truly fit what you’re in the mood for.
Why don’t you have X or why isn’t Y more specific?
At The Book Rex, we strive to make it easy for readers to find exactly what they’re looking for. We offer a wide range of categories and details while carefully balancing depth and usability. Our goal is to keep the site detailed enough to be useful but not so complex that it becomes overwhelming. Because of this, some categories may be broader than expected, focusing on the most widely searched and relevant features across many books.
That said, we're constantly refining the categories to better reflect what readers are truly searching for. If you feel something important is missing or could be more detailed, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Your feedback helps ensure that the site remains both helpful and intuitive.
That said, we're constantly refining the categories to better reflect what readers are truly searching for. If you feel something important is missing or could be more detailed, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Your feedback helps ensure that the site remains both helpful and intuitive.
Affiliates & Monetization
Are your book links affiliate links?
Yes, the links to retailers are usually affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you buy through them. This helps keep The Book Rex running! If you have more questions, please see our Affiliate Disclosure.
Does it cost anything to use The Book Rex?
Nope! The site is completely free to use.