TOP 7 BOOKTOK MUST-READS
Let's be real, we all have spent a lot of time scrolling on TikTok, and if you like books and bookish content you have probably been exposed to ‘BookTok’. It is a sector of TikTok which mainly talks about books, and authors and is full of fan bases. BookTok has always been giving book recommendations and has also revived some old classics, so here are some of our favourite BookTok recommendations.
1)A LITTLE LIFE BY HANYA YANAGIHARA
Are you looking to be emotionally damaged and get completely wrecked by a book? Well then, let me recommend ‘A Little Life’ by Haniya Yanagihara. The book follows the lives of four friends who have moved from their small Massachusetts college to New York. They’re broke, adrift and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition. The story revolves around kind, handsome Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel Brooklyn-born painter seeking entry to the art world; Malcolm, a frustrated architect at a prominent firm; and withdrawn, brilliant, enigmatic Jude, who serves as their center of gravity.
The book delves deep into their friendship as well as their personal struggles and traumas. Jude is the center of attention, and his traumas and life build up the tension in the book. This book is a dense read, and it takes time to get through it, but it is a critically acclaimed bestseller and talks about friendships in a very real manner. Talks about struggles people face in their early 20s, as well as internal struggles, amongst other things. But be sure to check out the trigger warnings for this book before reading it, as it does deal heavily with mental as well as physical trauma.
2)THE SONG OF ACHILLES BY MADELINE MILLER
If you are a fan of Greek mythology or even want to get into Greek mythology, ‘The song of Achilles’ is a perfect way to start. Even though this book was written in 2011 the power of BookTok was able to give it a new life. The book follows the life of Greece's most powerful hero Achilles from the point of view of his best friend Patroclus. This book is not only based on Greek mythology but also has themes of love, friendship, heartbreak, and struggling with one's own identity. This book is another which will make you cry and really take you through an emotional journey as you turn each page.
3)WE WERE LIARS BY E.LOCKHART
Trust me when I say that you will not expect the plot twist. This book is set on a private island on the premise of a rich family and four friends known as the liars. The book constantly questions what is true or not and as we flip the pages we are constantly trying to understand what has happened and why everything seems out of place or so we thought? Only the ending will reveal the reality, and that reality will both make you cry and just leave you astounded. This book delves heavily into themes of mental illness and ignorance of mental illness, as well as fake appearances.
4)COLLEEN HOOVER’S WORKS
Colleen Hoover herself is a BookTok favourite. This following started with her book ‘It Ends With Us’ which is a story about a girl named Lily and her love story in adulthood as well as in her teen life. This book talks about ambition, friendships, love, and family, but also about abuse, trauma, and past loves. This book again is one that has a really cute love story and premise but also talks about abuse and how easily relationships can break. While this book might be the first, she has more. Her other books such as ‘Ugly Love’ and ‘Verity’ all gained a reputation for themselves and it's easy to say that Colleen Hoover is the heartthrob of BookTok constantly blessing us with her beautiful books and talent.
5)HEART STOPPER SERIES BY ALICE OSEMAN
Alice Oseman is most known for her book ‘Radio Silence’ but recently she has captured hearts again with the volumes of her new graphic novel ‘Heart Stopper’. Graphic novels are about love, life and everything in between. They are queer stories, usually about boys meeting each other and falling in love, but that's not all. These stories are fun and light-hearted but also have elements of what it's like to fall in love, life problems, identity, and everything in between. Alice Oseman is truly a magician with words and whatever she puts out we just love to hoard.
6)THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE BY V.E SCHWAB
‘The Invisible Life Of Addie Larue’ by V. E Schwab is a very different take on fantasy, and it's easy to say that BookTok loved it. As the name suggests, this book follows the life of a girl named Addie Larue who was born in a French village but in 1714 she makes a deadly deal that curses her to be immortal but forgotten. This aspect makes her life tough and constantly keeps her alone, except for the devil that did this to her, she has no companion until one boy. Another one cursed by the same god remembers her and everything changes. Both of them have their own problems and their curse doesn't help with their situations. This book is written beautifully yet realistically and even though it's a fantasy it is still very relatable and character-driven.
7)THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END BY ADAM SILVERA
Are you looking for a book that has queer characters, people of colour, and some thought-provoking words on how short life really is? The story revolves around two boys, Mateo and Rufus who has just been told that they have only one more day to live. Even though the two are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day. This book will take you through an emotional journey and really make you question what life really is?
