The Love that Split the World Author Emily Henry on the Beauty of Genre-Bending (and 6 Books that Nail It)

Conceptually, The Love That Split the World aligns itself most closely to science fiction, but I’ve only occasionally seen it read that way. I think that’s because I tend to be a Believer™. That is to say, I’m a person who believes. I’ll read articles about how octopi might be aliens or our universe could be some other being’s hologram, or all humans might be linked in a collective unconscious, and I’ll think, “I can see how that could be true.”
I’m interested in the blurred lines between science and magic, philosophy and mysticism. I believe in a vast and mysterious world, wherein seemingly impossible things sometimes happen and the difference between science and magic so often comes down to how much information we’re given. I love to think through, write about, and live in those gray spaces between magic, science, philosophy, and fantasy.
There’s something to reading about those spaces that always seems to allow me to see our own world with new clarity. Here are some of the genre-benders that have reshaped the world before my eyes.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz, by A. S. King
With chapters from the point of view of Vera Dietz, a dead boy, and a pagoda on a hilltop, this delightfully bendy book details Vera’s emotional struggle following the death of her best friend. Part thriller, part mystery, part heartbreaking contemporary, and 100 percent genius, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is one of those rare literary triumphs that not only captivates your attention but subtly shifts the way you think about the world.

Where Futures End, by Parker Peevyhouse
This mind-bending series of five interconnected novellas moves gracefully across time and genre. While science-fiction tropes lie at the heart of the book, some of the stories have a fascinating fantastical bent. Touching on alternate worlds, psychokinesis, social media culture, and environmental hazards, this book is perfect for fans of philosophy and puzzles, who will love to untangle the connections among the five main characters.

Imaginary Girls, by Nova Ren Suma
Nova Ren Suma might just be the queen of genre-bending. While I frequently see her books referred to as “paranormal,” they’re so unique and beautifully written they always seem to bridge the gap between glittering literary fiction and heart-gripping commercial YA. Not for the faint of heart, reading Imaginary Girls is like racking your brain to understand a dream you’re currently having. It’s breathtaking, tragic, and often emotionally brutal, but its gorgeous surreal quality makes it impossible to put down. Recommended for readers who value the act of asking questions over answering them.

Mirror in the Sky, by Aditi Khorana
This morally complex genre-bender follows scholarship student Tara Krishnan through the months following the discovery of a new planet seemingly identical to Earth. While news reports, surreal revelations, and scientific asides are sprinkled throughout, the most dramatic effects of the mirror planet lie within the personal lives of Tara’s friends and family as they come to terms with the possibility of alternate versions of themselves. Both gripping and haunting, Mirror in the Sky is a master class in tension, and its subtle science-fiction hints heighten an already brilliant contemporary story.

A Fierce and Subtle Poison, by Samantha Mabry
Equal parts magical realism, science fiction, and mystery, A Fierce and Subtle Poison follows Lucas, the son of a wealthy hotel mogul, as he investigates the disappearance of several local girls in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In a city thrumming with legends of ghosts, granted wishes, and green-skinned girls with a poisonous touch, Lucas finds himself exploring the impossible in search of the truth.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
Fit for readers of all ages, L’Engle’s book balances precariously between science-fiction and fantasy as Meg Murry, along with friend Calvin and younger brother Charles Wallace, bound across time and space in search of her missing scientist father. Packed with magical creatures, dystopian elements, and interdimensional travel, this children’s classic eschews traditional genre conventions in favor of a wonderfully bizarre mashup that will break both your brain and your heart in the best way.