How to Tell What You Wrote

Help. I don't know what category the novel I'm writing falls into!" The following may be useful.

Perhaps your novel begins with Neanderthalers being discovered in the hidden mountains of Louisiana. They have abilities which Homo Sapiens lacks.

If the abilities are described in pseudoscientific terms, it's either science fiction or a techno-thriller.

It's a techno-thriller for sure if the Neanderthalers are a threat to the world and only one person or a small group stand between this danger and the human race. Unless the heroes are Real Christians or True Pagans.

If the abilities are described as magical, the Neanderthalers are Evil, and disgusting things happening to characters are described in loving detail, the story is horror. Unless the Neanderthalers have spaceships, in which case it's science fiction.

If the abilities are described as magical, the Neanderthalers are Good and Wise, and wonderful things happening to characters are described in detail, the story is New Age.
Unless the Neanderthalers have spaceships.

If the abilities are described as magical, the Neanderthalers are Evil, and only a small group of Real Christians (no Papists need apply) stand between this danger and the human race, it's Christian fiction.

If the abilities are described as magical, the Neanderthalers are Evil, and only a small group of True Pagans stand between this danger and the human race, it's Pagan fiction.

If the story's emphasis is on the romantic/sexual relationship between two characters, it's either paranormal romance or erotica. If the relationship is between more than two characters, and what they do with each other is described in more detail than anything else in the story, it's definitely erotica.

If the major characters are teenagers, it's likely that no matter what the content, it will be considered Young Adult.

Note: By the time you finish your novel, there will be new categories; and boundaries between old ones will have shifted.