The Epidemic of BookTok

If you’ve been on social media, you’ve probably heard of “BookTok,” the corner of TikTok dedicated to all things literary. This phenomenon has taken both TikTok and the publishing world by storm, launching obscure quality novels to bestsellers overnight while reigniting overall readership among younger generations. Yes as an follower of some BookTok accounts, I’ve been noticing the subpar qualities of some suggested books. I must ask the question: is BookTok worth the increased trend of literacy, despite the poorer quality of books promoted?

BookTok, at its core, is a community of readers sharing recommendations, reactions and reviews in 60-second clips. Most accounts aren’t paid to promote the books they promote, leading to a more democratic way of letting readers choose what’s hot. Now, young readers are the ones in control of which books are making it to the library shelves instead of publishers and critics. 

While one may think that the common populace would promote or uncover underrated pieces of literature, quite the opposite has happened. BookTok has allowed for the unearthing, and distribution of some of the most low quality fiction I’ve ever read. We’re talking easy-to-digest romance novels that barely graduated from Wattpad, fantasy series that’s just an amalgamation of tropes, and mystery novels where the “twist” is that the narrator imagined the entire ordeal (*cough* We were Liars by E. Lockhart). It’s the literary equivalent of binge-watching Love Island—yes they’re entertaining, but they’re pretty far from nourishing for the mind. While I’m not arguing that everyone should only read Pulitzers, I sometimes question if it’s better to have more people reading the trashiest fiction possible than otherwise. 

Maybe it’s quantity over quality: any reading is good reading. Fostering a love for books (regardless of quality) can serve as a gateway to more complex works. A Colleen Hoover enthusiast today, might as well be tomorrow’s Dostoevsky fan as long as they continue reading. Moreover, who am I (or anyone really) to judge what constitutes “good” or quality literature? If a book sparks joy, imagination or provides an escape, that is pretty valuable in itself. 

On the flip side, I wonder if BookTok is creating a generation of shallow readers, happy with the novellas with predictable plots and one-dimensional characters pandered for them. As algorithms push similar content to users, readers might get stuck in an echo chamber of “alpha wolf finds mate” literature. Consuming similar content all the time could promote a narrow range of thoughts and perspectives, contrary to what literature is supposed to bring. 

Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle: BookTok increasing literacy is a positive thing, despite the increased air time of some junk fiction. BookTok has become famous for hyping up literary fluff, but it’s undeniable that it’s getting people excited to read. In an age of shrinking attention spans and digital distractions, I’d say this is a cause for celebration. 

Hopefully, as BookTok and its community grows, so will the depth and variety of the books being covered. And to be fair, while I’ve cringed at the recommendations of some BookTokers, others have had suggestions right down my alley that I’ve appreciated. BookTok is not all lost—there are true gems (like The Priory of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon) that I’ve discovered via this community. As at the end of the day, reading is a personal journey, it might be better to not yuck another’s yum overall: what resonates for some might bore me, and vice versa.