Has your student ever mentioned reading a “BookTok” book? Have you ever seen an entire table at your local bookstore dedicated to “BookTok” and wondered what it means?
BookTok—a portmanteau of “Book” and “TikTok”—is an online community in which content creators review and promote trending books. Today, BookTok is the largest source of book recommendations for teenage readers, and it’s even credited with inspiring those who otherwise wouldn’t pick up a book to give reading a try.
If your student has developed a passion for recreational reading from BookTok, fantastic! At the end of the day, recreational reading is what we at Academic Approach—and most likely you as a parent—strive to instill in your student. But what kinds of books are pushed to the top of the #BookTok algorithm? And why are some of them genuinely awful?
Why Does #BookTok’s Quality Vary So Much?
To be clear, some books I’ve found through BookTok are critically acclaimed, thought provoking, and brilliantly written works that I still can’t stop thinking about (more on that later). But unfortunately, that quality is not guaranteed on BookTok. In a lot of cases, readers are left with the impression that a viral book was either subpar or a waste of time. So why aren’t the most viral books on BookTok also of the highest quality?
Well, it boils down to the fact that content creators can earn commission through TikTok’s platform, which means that sponsorship deals and bandwagon promoting can artificially boost a mediocre book to the top of the BookTok algorithm. Here’s how it works: A publishing company will send popular BookTok creators a free copy of a new book to include in a “Book Haul” video. This batch of creators will promote the book, and others, looking to jump in on the trend, will also begin reviewing it. Publicity snowballs, and voilà—the book is trending on BookTok, bookstores stock it front and center, and people buy it in droves.
To avoid this trap, you can encourage your student to expand their source of book recommendations to include booksellers, librarians, and news publishers. Even a quick Google search of a viral book’s reviews can give you a better sense of its quality. But to get you started, here are some of BookTok’s most disappointing and most engaging reads.
#BookTok Books to Avoid
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass
Readers might initially be enchanted by A Court of Thorns and Roses’ fantastical setting, but ultimately, its lacklusterplot and unlikeable characters leave much to be desired. Feyre is such a boring character, and her conflict in the thirdact is so contrived, that it’s just not worth the read.
(If your student is looking for another fantasy series with more compelling characters, check out Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo).
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
From the sheer amount of financial success this book has achieved, you would think that Fourth Wing is the nextmodern-day classic. But critics have absolutely panned this book for its amateur writing and careless exposition(protagonist Violet info-dumps when she feels anxious, leading to some truly lazy world-building). If your student is reading to improve their writing style, Fourth Wing offers no insights.
(Does your student want to read a romantic fantasy with actually good prose? Check out Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson).
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Odds are, you’ve heard of It Ends With Us from the ongoing legal battle between its movie adaption’s co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. But the book is fraught with its own set of controversies, including its romanticization of domestic violence. Survivors of sexual assault have criticized how Ryle ends up happily co-parenting with the womanhe assaulted; this strange redemption, many argue, sends a dangerous message to young readers about tolerating abuse.
(Is your student looking for a book with domestic violence portrayed responsibly? Check out The Color Purple by Alice Walker, an American classic).
#BookTok Books that Are Actually Worth the Hype
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles is a thrilling, tragic, and approachable retelling of The Iliad from Patroclus’ perspective. If yourstudent enjoys Greek mythology or is looking for more Odysseus in their life after finishing The Odyssey, this book is a must-read. Be prepared to cry, however; The Song of Achilles is perhaps the most famous tear-jerker on BookTok!
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Pachinko is truly a modern-day epic, following four generations of a family as they immigrate from Korea to Japan and struggle with discrimination, war, and poverty. If your student is curious about the Korean diaspora or is looking to get lost in a world with complex characters they can root for, Pachinko is the book for them!
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Originally published in 1992, The Secret History has exploded in popularity on BookTok, and for good reason. Beneath its beautifully immersive, dark-academia setting is a gripping mystery that you won’t want to put down! Do be warned of its dark content—it is a murder mystery after all—but know that it is absolutely worth the read.
Ultimately, BookTok is a useful tool to find new reads—just be sure to encourage your student to do their own quick research on them before buying or reserving at the library to make sure they are actually picking up a book worthy of all the buzz.