So you’ve heard of TikTok, right? (I mean if you haven’t, you’re seriously out of the loop). Well, have you heard of BookTok? If you haven’t, there are a few things you ought to know about this sub-community thriving on TikTok at the moment.
#BookTok is THE place to go for book recommendations and book-themed content. BookTok is full of book mad content creators, authors and fans (like me). BookTok really took off in 2020 and 2021, and the community is only getting stronger in 2022.
In this article, I’m going to recommend to you some of the books that have been popping up on my ‘for you’ page recently (and sometimes on Instagram Reels too) that are actually worth the hype.
1. The ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses ‘ series by Sarah J. Maas
Although this book series has been out for a while (apart from A Court of Silver Flames which graced our shelves in February 2021 [a year ago!]), it is difficult to enter the world of BookTok without seeing this infamous series pop-up. And let me tell you, the buzz surrounding this series is well deserved. If you love fantasy, romance and the Fae – you need this series in your life. And best of all, there are more books, as well as a TV show spearheaded by Ron Moore (creator of Outlander), to come.
An honourable mention does have to go to Maas’ other series, Throne of Glass, which is targeted at a slightly younger audience but still has that magical grip typical of Maas’ writing.
2. ‘The Spanish Love Deception ‘ by Elena Armas
Woah, this book is all you could ever want in a fake-dating rom-com. The Spanish Love Deception follows the story of Catalina Martìn who needs to find a fake boyfriend to attend her sister’s wedding in Spain. Unfortunately for her, Aaron Blackford, her ridiculously attractive coworker whom she hates, volunteers for the role. This novel is perfect if you’re looking for a fun romance filled with sunshine that will literally make you laugh out loud.
3. ‘The Love Hypothesis ‘ by Ali Hazelwood
Another fake-dating rom-com recommendation coming your way! The Love Hypothesis follows PhD student Olive, who in trying to convince her best friend that she is dating and has found her happy ending, ends up forming a fake relationship with one of the professors at her university. This feel-good novel is super fun and light-hearted and all the scientific references are really amusing too.
4. ‘A Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows ‘ by John Koenig
I got this book for my birthday after I saw it on BookTok and I love it so much. This non-fiction book is a collection of words for emotions and/or feelings that you never knew there were words for. This one’s a great read if you want to expand your vocabulary or are just fascinated by the world of obscure emotions (I know I am).
5. ‘The Hating Game ‘ by Sally Thorne
This enemies-to-lovers workplace romance is a ridiculously funny and gripping story that was such a pleasure to read. I read this one quite a while ago, but it has been popping up on BookTok more and more due to the release of the movie adaptation starring Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars). Unfortunately, this movie is not yet available in the UK, but it is expected to reach Amazon Prime sometime in 2022 (so hopefully there’s not much longer to wait).
6. ‘Circe ‘ and ‘The Song of Achilles ‘ by Madeline Miller
If you’re fascinated by Greek Mythology like I am, then these books are a must. I have actually only read Circe (The Song of Achilles is on my TBR, I promise) but I assure you that Miller’s writing is so emotive and moving that these books are not to be missed.
7. ‘The Midnight Library ‘ by Matt Haig
Renowned British author, Matt Haig, returned with another thought-provoking novel contemplating infinite possibilities and the importance of living life with no regret. I was about halfway through when I put this book down around 6 months ago, but I did really enjoy the concept so I downloaded it on Audible to get myself back into it. I would really recommend The Midnight Library for those of you who like stories with a moral message.
Some honourable mentions that I’ve read and loved:
- From Blood and Ash – Jennifer L. Armentrout
- The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Kiss Thief – L.J. Shen
- Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austen
- Emma – Jane Austen
- The Bridge Kingdom – Danielle L. Jensen
- House of Earth and Blood – Sarah J. Maas
- The Cruel Prince – Holly Black
- Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard
- Kingdom of the Wicked – Kerri Maniscalco
- Serpent & Dove – Shelby Mahurin
Some recommendations that I haven’t read yet (but can’t wait to):
- It Ends With Us (my current read) – Colleen Hoover
- We Were Liars – E. Lockhart
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
- They Both Die At The End – Adam Silvera
- The Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon
- Daisy Jones and the Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid
I hope this gave you a small glimpse into the world of BookTok (and what’s popular at the moment). Obviously there are more books that are dominating the BookTok scene currently, but I hope with my recommendations above, you have a good place to start.