If you love books and browse social media, you’ve probably heard of the BookTok phenomenon. It’s a community within the TikTok platform where book lovers congregate and share their favorite reads.
There’s something for everyone and with TikTok’s rapid rise, a lot of novels are reaching millions of people looking for their next best read. A few well-received #BookToks can catapult writers to new heights, securing lucrative deals and fame.
Books That Blew Up On TikTok
BookTok works through its community where members upload short views reviewing and recommending books to viewers. With almost 80 billion total views (as of this writing) on the platform, it’s made TikTok a bestseller machine.
Below is a list of novels made popular by the BookTok community. Some of these are newly published works made viral while others are past books given another chance of popularity.
1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Reporter Monique Grant isn’t exactly high-profile. Her husband’s left her and her career can only be described as stagnant. And yet the reclusive icon, Evelyn Hugo chooses her to write her biography.
Determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career, Monique is spellbound as the aging star recounts her scandalous life. And as Evelyn’s story unfolds, it becomes clear their lives intersect in surprising and tragic ways.
2. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
Addie is a young woman chained to a forced marriage. Her plea for freedom catches a god of the night, who grants her wish though with one condition—she is forgotten by everyone she meets.
Through the years, she leaves marks on history that no one will ever see. Until, nearly 300 years later, she meets a young man who is able to remember her name.
3. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
It is 1926 and Shanghai barely survives the war between two rival gangs. At the center of the conflict is the young Juliette Cai, heir apparent to the Scarlet Gang. And her opponent, Roma Montagov of the White Flowers, is her first love and heartache.
As the city is further gripped by violence, rumors of madness and monsters abound. Both sides must set aside their feud and work together, otherwise, they’ll be no one left to rule.
4. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Lily’s come a long way from the small-town girl she was. Now she’s working hard on her own business and finding love in Ryle Kincaid, even though he has issues with relationships.
But then Atlas Corrigan, her first love, comes along to remind her of the past. Now everything she’s built with Ryle is threatened, making her wonder what it is she truly has.
5. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Criminal mastermind Kaz Brekker is offered a deal he cannot refuse. But to make the heist a success, he must first assemble a worthy crew.
Six dangerous misfits must work together to pull off an impossible heist. Failure isn’t an option because they’re all that stands between the world and its destruction.
6. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
On September 5, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio receive the call that everyone dreads. Today is the day they die, according to Death-Cast.
The two are total strangers, but eminent death makes people seek solace in the most surprising places. Vowing to enjoy their last day on Earth, the two come together to create an adventure.
7. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Olive’s never been a believer of romantic relationships. So she lies to her best friend and tells her she’s already seeing someone. Panicking, she kisses the first guys she sees as proof.
Only, that guy’s her program’s toughest professor, Dr. Adam Carlson, who surprisingly agrees to keep up the charade. Now Olive needs to fake a relationship while saving her career in crisis.
8. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Hidden in Tokyo’s back alleys is a cafe with a hundred years of history. Rumor has it that this shop offers not just coffee, but also the chance to travel back in time.
In the course of one summer, four strangers not only sip coffee but also make a journey. But rules must be followed and the trip can only last until the coffee gets cold.
9. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
The Alexandrian Society are the hidden caretakers of lost knowledge in the world. All of its members hold wealth, power, and prestige beyond anything they can dream of.
Each decade, only six people are given the chance to join their ranks. But there’s a catch—only five will be initiated, the sixth eliminated.
10. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Somewhere out there is a library containing an infinite number of books of different realities. Within its shelves are the tomes chronicling your life as it is and what it could have been.
That’s where Nora Seed finds herself after committing suicide. Faced with a chance to do things differently, she journeys through the Midnight Library to find a version of her life worth living.
11. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Four college students, adrift in life, move to New York in search of fame and fortune. As the years go by, their friendship waxes and wanes, marked by success, pride, and addiction.
In the center of this crucible is Jude, an enigmatic litigator who is scarred by a horrific childhood and struggles with the trauma he’s carried ever since.
12. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Linus Baker, a case-worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, is tasked with figuring out if six children will bring about the end of the world.
Opposite him is Arthur Parnassus, owner of the orphanage, who would do everything to keep his wards safe. Even if it means destroying himself or letting the world end.
BookTok Famous
TikTok is a powerful platform that’s perfect for writers to market their works. A short video can go viral, pumping attention into particular books and driving up their sales.
Some of these novels that became BookTok famous were published years ago, given new life by the platform. Others are debut works, with many gaining attention ahead of their release. Many of these are self-published works that were later picked up by large publishers because of their popularity.
And while there are issues with BookToks overhyping certain books, it also can’t be denied that the community has discovered literary gems for everyone to enjoy. As to which ones are overhyped or genuinely incredible, its only you who can answer.
What’s a great book you discovered through BookTok? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 12 Must-Follow Writers on TikTok
- 8 Authors Like Colleen Hoover Who Write Heart-Wrenching Romances
- 10 Light-Hearted Romance Books Like The Love Hypothesis
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
