If you’re a reader then I’m sure you’ve encountered the numerous recommendations on book-tok, which has blown up in the past few months. Even stores like Chapters now have feature tables with the trendiest books off social media laid out in gorgeous colour-coded flatlays. But with all the hype, how do you know if the books are really worth it? Well over the past few months, I’ve been reading a selection of books sourced through book-tok to provide you with my reviews (no spoilers, of course). Hopefully this will render you a quick and honest opinion on whether or not they’re worth your time. So without further ado:
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab.
Ok so this one has become like a book-tok cult classic by now, but I have to say there is a good reason for that. The story was unlike any other I’ve encountered (and my family likes to call me a voracious reader) but I found the actual plot development a little bit lacking. However, the eloquent language and the switch in narration between characters halfway through the novel does provide a refreshing change of pace, and keeps the slow time progression from getting boring. For me the ending was not what I was expecting, but it was still worth the read just because of the gorgeous way the story was told.
Is it worth a read? Yes, absolutely.
“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller.
This one was a complete surprise in both the writing style and the actual story, but that only made it so much better. Even for someone like me who isn’t a die-hard fan of Greek mythology, the human emotion and the rawness that was expressed through the story of Patroclus and Achilles was heart-wrenching and uplifting at the same time. I could not put this one down during the final chapters and I grew to love the characters more than I thought. I won’t lie, the writing style was an adjustment at the beginning but once I got used to it I truly couldn’t imagine the story being told in any other way.
Is it worth a read? 100%
“Verity” by Colleen Hoover.
This was a complete shocker. I normally don’t find myself enjoying books from the psychological thriller genre, and after hearing all the buzz around Colleen Hoover as a romance writer my expectations for enjoying this book were exceptionally low. But I was proven wrong. The pace, the timing, the story, and the first-person-narration that seems to put all the thoughts from your head onto the paper in front of you makes this book borderline addictive. The twists and turns will have you second guessing everything until the very last sentence of the epilogue. Add in the romance and lust that Hoover is known for and this becomes a front-runner for my top books of 2022.
Is it worth a read? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig.
This one is a more recent addition to my book-tok inspired “For You” page, however I don’t regret picking it up for a second. This is the first novel by Haig that I’ve read considering I don’t usually enjoy science fiction either (can you tell I’m trying to break some barriers?) but after this one I’ve added more of his work to my “To Be Read” (TBR) list. Regardless, this turned out to be one of the most poignant and profound descriptions of the human spirit that I’ve read in a long time. The concept is so simple and the writing expresses deep and complex questions about what is truly possible in life in the most beautiful way. The protagonist is lovable in her relatability and that is half the fun.
Is it worth a read? Absolutely, but a fair warning: don’t pick up this book looking for super sciencey-fiction.
“People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry.
Ok so I had to include at least one let down, otherwise what would even be the point of this review list right? This book was solid. But that’s it. It didn’t wow me, the love story was predictable right from the get-go and the writing was decently middle grade. I have nothing against this book, but I have nothing to say that stood out for me either. As far as rom-coms go, it’s the same style of story you would find in any book you pull off the shelf from the romance section. The characters were decently relatable, the love genuine enough and the various settings wistful enough to keep it entertaining without feeling gauche.
Is it worth a read? If you’re looking for something easy breezy then go for it, but otherwise there’s not much substance.
So there you have it! Hopefully this helps to inspire you to pick up a fiction novel to supplement all those textbooks or to get yourself setup with reads for the summer.