About a year ago, I posted my first TikTok. It was a spring reading list—just a selfie of me pouting with a book in my hand, captioned: “Why is my spring TBR sooo sexy?” (TBR means “to be read.”) I hit post expecting… nothing. Maybe a few pity likes from my friends, who always humor my social media antics.

Then it got 90,000 views. Ninety thousand. To put that in perspective: enough people to pack a stadium or empty a bookstore. The comments rolled in—things like, “This is my sign to finally break my three-year reading slump,” “OMG, these sound amazing!” and “I bought them all immediately.” At first, I was shocked. Then I thought: Maybe I should keep doing this?

At the beginning, talking to the camera felt awkward. I practiced not blinking, avoiding sentences that started with “um,” and wondered if my voice always sounded like that or if I was forcing a “TikTok voice.” But over time, it got easier. Eventually, I just started chatting like I was sending a voice note to a friend.

I already read three to five books a month, so I had plenty to talk about. But more than that, I wanted to spotlight books I felt were underrated—and I craved a community to discuss them with. Since then, I’ve posted regularly, covering everything from weird-girl fiction to beginner-friendly classics, along with my monthly favorites.

### What is BookTok?
BookTok is TikTok’s literary corner, where users share recommendations, reviews, and creative bookish content. It’s a hub for finding inspiration and connecting with like-minded readers.

The influence is real: millions of books sell each year thanks to BookTok mentions. One standout example is Willbrand, a struggling antique bookstore in Cologne, Germany, that saved itself from closure after the owner started discussing classics on TikTok, drawing in new customers. Another? Dostoevsky’s White Nights (published in 1848) sold out on Amazon overnight after BookToker Jack Edwards shared his favorite quotes.

### Who’s on BookTok—and what are they reading?
The audience skews young and female—93% of my followers are women, with 57% aged 18–24 and 34% aged 25–34. A 2022 UK poll found that 59% of 16–25-year-olds credit BookTok with sparking their love of reading. As a result, TikTok has become a major force in the book world, rivaling Instagram and YouTube.

But here’s the question: How does a platform known for short attention spans get young people hooked on books—a slow, immersive medium?

Unlike Instagram’s polished aesthetic (beige feeds, soft-filtered selfies), TikTok thrives on raw, unfiltered moments—people crying on camera, dissecting red carpet looks from bed, or ranting about books with exaggerated expressions. That authenticity is what drew me in. Isn’t that what literature’s about too? Not just passive consumption, but feeling deeply—outrage, grief, obsession.

(A recent survey of BookTok bestsellers…)A look at bestseller lists from Barnes & Noble, Pan Macmillan, and other major retailers shows a clear trend: nearly all the top-ranked books fall into romance, fantasy, and new adult genres. While professional critics often focus on literary fiction and high-profile biographies, BookTok has cultivated its own vibrant reading culture, celebrating genres that were once niche—discussed mainly in book clubs or online forums.

### The Downsides of BookTok

But before I get too swept up in the hype, it’s worth acknowledging BookTok’s flaws. For starters, the same books are relentlessly promoted (how many times can a “hidden gem” top bestseller lists before it’s no longer hidden?). There’s also pressure to read at an unrealistic pace—some creators push short books just to inflate yearly reading counts, as if reading were a competition. And let’s not forget the financial side: BookTok often encourages buying new, but libraries and secondhand shops are just as valid.

More concerning is the rise of “dark romance,” where stalkers become love interests, students lust after teachers, and kidnapped women fall for their captors. These books glamorize toxic, abusive dynamics, normalizing dangerous power imbalances and violent sex—a troubling trend, especially in today’s cultural climate.

Then there’s the lack of diversity. A 2024 University of Toronto study found that while BookTok features more gender diversity than traditional publishing, many marginalized voices remain sidelined. That’s exactly why I’m on BookTok: not to mindlessly hype popular picks, but to spotlight underrepresented authors, champion debuts, and turn a solitary hobby into something communal.