#BookTok – a sub-community on the app TikTok focused on new books and literature – is a special place. It's a corner of the internet where everyone is welcome. Raising important issues of representation, diversity and equal opportunities in publishing, if a book is popular on BookTok, it will have an immediate, real-time impact on sales. As such, TikTok is changing the literary landscape beyond recognition.
Need proof? Just take a look at the current bestseller lists. Titles that have been out for years, like The Song of Achilles (which we were obsessed with a long time before it trended) has sold millions of copies years after its publication. Thanks to TikTok. Elsewhere, Colleen Hoover has 1.5 billion views on a hashtag for just one of her books, having moved beyond a cult following to global phenomenon from an explosion of interest online.
Publishers are now actively scouting authors on the platform, which is allowing people that may not have industry contacts to get noticed and become well-known in their own right. And it's not only the agents and booksellers that are paying close attention. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney, Sky and all of the major film studios are all getting in on the action.
Heartstopper went from being a self-published graphic novel to being adapted by Netflix. Genres like romance and fantasy are now finding new audiences of readers, classics are being revitalised, with the hashtag #tiktokmademebuyit a potent marketing tool being used all over Amazon and Waterstones.
But with many billions of hashtags, videos and book #booktok influencers out there, it can be tricky to know how to use the platform to find the very best new reads. Enter: our edit of the very best viral books, straight from your FYP.
Though we could have curated a collection of TikTok-adored books across all of the most popular categories, below is our list of the best and most popular books on TikTok from every genre, to give you the full flavour of #booktok.
1. It Ends With Us by Colleen HooverIt Ends With Us£4.50 at AmazonThis is book hype to end all others, the book that showed the world the popularity of #booktok. A deeply personal romantic novel (the acknowledgements made us cry as much as the story), this is a fast-paced, easy read that also explores important themes of domestic violence. Lily is a workaholic with a traumatic past, still thinking about her first love Atlas when she falls for the arrogant Ryle, who has a strict no-dating policy. When he breaks that rule, and they start dating, things get very complicated. You will read this in one go.
2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins ReidSeven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo£4.50 at AmazonSurely one of Tik Tok’s most celebrated authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books are beloved across the platform (Daisy Jones and the Six and Malibu Rising are just two of her others). This one for us, though, is total TJR perfection. Focusing on a major Hollywood starlet’s life (rumoured to be Elizabeth Taylor herself), who has now decided, in her later years, that it’s finally time to tell her story – and truly, reveal all. Seven times married to seven very different men, you’re about to see the real Evelyn Hugo and trust us, you most definitely won’t forget her. One we always recommend for total escapism; you won’t be able to put it down.
Save when you shop for the best books on TikTok with these Amazon promo codes.
3. The Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerThe Song of Achilles£8.49 at AmazonSurely one of the most beautiful books ever written, a modern classic that has stolen the hearts of readers worldwide, The Song of Achilles is an award-winning classical retelling that is magnificent from beginning to end. Booktok has been singularly besotted with this tale of heroes and loyalties for a good reason. Patroclus, the exiled naive prince, befriends Achilles, the example of masculinity and strength. The son of a sea goddess and mortal, we watch as Miller tenderly portrays them falling in love. When Achilles is called to war, Patroclus follows. This reimagining of The Iliad is bold, lyrical and passionate. Have the tissues ready.
4. They Both Die at the End by Adam SilveraThey Both Die at the End£4 at AmazonAnother absolute tearjerker that was catapulted into the bestseller lists from millions of TikTok views, They Both Die At The End is a love story with a difference. Blending dystopia and romance, Silvera imagines a world where you are told you are going to die 24 hours before it happens. An app called Last Friend connects Mateo and Rufus, who meet for one last adventure. This is a young adult title that has won over fans of all ages, which also explores the big questions of life and death in a very accessible and thought-provoking way.
5. Heartstopper by Alice OsemanHeartstopper Volume 1£5.50 at AmazonOh my days, who knew we would all go crazy over a graphic novel? For many readers, this was their first foray into this genre, and it does not disappoint. Deeply relatable and heartfelt, this is a boy meets boy story that will delight your soul. Charlie and Nick are in the same school and meet when they are made to sit together. A coming-of-age queer series with all the feels, this is an intimate and emotive look at young relationships and identity that has been celebrated for its representation of coming out to parents and friends.
6. My Year of Rest & Relaxation by Ottessa MoshfeghMy Year of Rest and Relaxation£8.21 at AmazonGive us all of the Gen Z, cba vibes. You know those days (or weeks) you just don’t want to get out of bed. With every other day an “unprecedented event” sometimes its just enough. Well, our narrator is with you. She may seem to have everything, with her youth, wit and wealth, but she decides its all a bit too much, and she is sleeping for the year. An actual year. This razor sharp satirical novel has achieved near mythical status, and award-winning Moshfegh has received all the praise for this compelling and clever take on a female character that isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
7. The Cruel Prince by Holly BlackThe Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air)£6.29 at AmazonOne of the most popular fantasy series online, The Cruel Prince is the first novel in the bestselling Folk of the Air Trilogy. Not that we are shallow, but the covers are giving us Game of Thrones meets Disney fairytale. Think magic, betrayal and romance with high drama. Mortals, Jude and her sisters witness the unthinkable, the murder of their parents by an assassin that abducts the siblings, hiding them in the Faerie world. Prince Cardan is our brooding Faerie royal who antagonises Jude in her quest to belong and gain power. In a veritable sea of similar books, this one stood out for readers with its dark world-building and layered characters.
Save when you shop for the best books on TikTok with these Amazon promo codes.
8. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasA Court of Thorns and Roses£6.29 at AmazonHave you even been in TikTok if you haven’t seen one of the ACOTAR series? The ultimate fantasy series – the #acotar hashtag currently has 4 billion views, and that’s just ONE iteration of the hundreds on #booktok, Sarah J Mass is an author that has social platforms to thank for her runaway success. Book One – A Court of Thorns and Roses is where it all began. It’s a twist on Beauty and The Beast, Feyre is a huntress who kills a wolf that is in fact a Faeire member of the court of Tamlin. For this murder her life is orfeit and she is captured and taken to his estate. Book One is easy and enjoyable but its Books Two to Five (OMG FIVE) where the world-building is unveiled and the other courts and families shine. Soon to be a major TV series, perfect for a cosy winter night.
9. The Atlas Six by Olivie BlakeThe Atlas Six£4.50 at AmazonA blend of fantasy and dark academia, Olivie Blake is an author that can thank #booktokfor an International bestseller. The world's six best magicians are invited to join the secret Alexandrian Society, who guard the long-lost library of Alexandria. The twist? At the end of the year, there are only five permanent places. This is a slow-burning tale of seduction and betrayal as the group contend with each other by developing magic and knowledge in their chosen subjects. Another novel that began life as a self-published text has exploded in popularity.
10. Shatter Me by Tahereh MafiShatter Me£7.09 at AmazonYou have arrived at fantasy #booktok and Shatter Me is one of its cover girls. Fans say this is such an addictive YA series that you shouldn’t start it without a clear day ahead of you. X-Men meets The Handmaid's Tale, we find Juliette locked in a cell by The Reestablishment. She has a power all fear, a touch from her is enough to kill, and she is their greatest weapon. The first in a series of six books that are each more explosive than the last, this is intense and vivid writing that is as escapist as it gets.
11. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey EugenidesThe Virgin Suicides£7.45 at AmazonA modern classic that Is finding new life thanks to #booktok from a prolific award-winning author. This is the story of the five Lisbon sisters who were as beautiful as they were mysterious. An inexplicable tragedy that haunts the neighbourhood, all five take their own lives in a now legendary tale of love, obsession and mental health. The exploration of the male gaze, and the damage caused by society with prose that is poetic and profound.
12. A Little Life by Hanya YanagiharaA Little Life£9.29 at AmazonThis. Book. Is there anyone who’s read it and hasn’t found themselves mopping pools of tears? Just head to TikTok for countless videos of sobbing readers left with broken hearts because that’s exactly what A Little Life will do to you. But, in our view, it is oh so worth it. This hefty tome is the story of a group of friends, one a genius with a troubled past, one an aspiring actor, one an architect and the other, a painter. We follow their stories, their lives and all the twists and turns that they’re filled with for over 700 pages. A painful read – harrowing at times – but you’ll never, ever forget it.
Save when you shop for the best books on TikTok with these Amazon promo codes.
13. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean VuongBy Ocean Vuong On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Paperback£16.98 at AmazonLike many a BookTok novel, this one has got people talking because of the complete emotional rollercoaster ride it’ll take you on. This has much to do with Vuong’s writing; he is an author of incredible and magical talent, with many of his paragraphs reading like the most beautiful poetry. Written in the form of a letter from a son to his illiterate, this semi-autobiographical debut novel represents so many things; a coming of age tale, an exploration of what it means to be an immigrant in today’s world and an LGBTQ+ story. An absolute must-read.
14. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. SchwabThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue£12.59 at AmazonFantasy of the most compelling kind, this is the story of Addie LaRue, a young French woman who makes a pact with the devil. The result? Immortality, yes, but she’ll also be forgotten by everyone she meets. The story shifts from Addie’s childhood in France through to her present in New York City. When she meets Henry in 2014 in a bookshop and he somehow remembers her – even her name – everything changes. On the New York Times bestseller list for 37 consecutive weeks, a film is now in the works. We can’t wait.
15. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonRed, White & Royal Blue£7.09 at AmazonNow this is a book that will make you smile. A gorgeous romance novel, it centres on Alex, America’s First Son and Henry, the Prince of Wales. Forced to be friends after an incident at a royal wedding threatens a full-scale media crisis, they soon find themselves becoming close – and closer still, as their relationship turns romantic. A real gem of a book, we have no doubt that these characters will become fast favourites.
16. The Midnight Library by Matt HaigThe Midnight Library£4.50 at AmazonMatt Haig is one of the UK’s best-loved authors, and The Midnight Library epitomises why – because it asks and explores the questions that so many of us have thought about but in a way that is magical, searing, and incredibly moving. The story's premise is that a library exists between life and death, with each book providing the chance to have a go at another life that you could have lived, had your choices been different. Nora, the main protagonist, has arrived at the library and now, she has some big decisions to make. A book that will make you think about your own life and how you live it in a completely new way.
17. We Were Liars by E. LockhartWe Were Liars£3.99 at AmazonA stunning YA novel, with millions of fans, We Were Liars focuses on the Sinclair family. On the outside, their lives look perfect and every summer, they spend time together on a private island. However, one summer, eldest grandchild Cadence suffers a serious head injury which results in her losing much of her memory from that time. When she returns to the island two years later, her memories begin to return and she grasps what really happened to her and her family. Brilliantly crafted, this is a superb exploration of privilege and its perils.
18. The Silent Patient by Alex MichaelidesThe Silent Patient£7.29 at AmazonAn absolute TikTok sensation, this novel is told from the perspective of Theo Faber, a psychotherapist who is intent on building up a rapport with Alice Berenson. Six years prior, she shot her husband of seven years in the head – and she hasn’t said a single word since. Theo is certain he can help break her silence. Interspersed with extracts of Alice’s diary, The Silent Patient has been described by many as the perfect thriller. Original and gripping, there’s a super twist that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Save when you shop for the best books on TikTok with these Amazon promo codes.
19. People We Met on Vacation by Emily HenryPeople We Met On Vacation£17.19 at AmazonEmily Henry’s books are some of Booktok’s most beloved. The queen of romance, this novel is one of her finest, telling the story of two best friends who meet at university. They avoid each other at first but a chance road trip draws them together. Over a decade later, they’re estranged but a possible reunion – and one more vacation – brings them back to one another. An updated version of When Harry Met Sally, you won’t find a better beach read.
After more books content? Shop poetry books, romance novels and the best horror books.
By Chaya Colman and Sophie Ezra
View Gallery
