Long gone are the days newspapers told you what books to read – #BookTok is alive on Tiktok and here are ten of the most recommended books on the app.
TikTok is a great example of where things can go to get a second life; songs, dances, TV shows and even books. Thanks to the app many have been given a new lease of life and books are loved once more
When the stay at home orders/lockdowns came into order in March 2020 #Booktok came to life. #Booktok encouraged people to get into reading and gave them a platform to talk about it.
With the second anniversary of the first lockdowns and life as we knew it changing, here are ten of the most recommended books on the app.
‘A Good Girls Guide to Murder’ by Holly Jackson
A Good Girls Guide to Murder follows Pip, a sixth form student as she investigates the biggest thing that has ever happened in her town. This book is gripping, and exciting. It has an amazing intrigue that keeps going through the entire trilogy. And bonus: it takes place in the UK which seems to be so rare nowadays.
There are three books in the series; A Good Girls Guide to Murder, Good Girl Bad Blood and As Good As Dead. These books do have some trigger warnings that should be mentioned such as kidnapping, murder, PTSD. However everyone on TikTok loves the book.
@thisisnotamalhashi said that she stayed up ‘until two am reading this book’ and gave it a ’10/10 – go read this book’ recommendation.
When I read this book I couldn’t put it down, it was so good. I read book two and three in the next two days. It’s fair to say that they are addicting.
‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book will make you shed so many tears – I know I did. The Seven Husbands Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, follows Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo as she recalls her life story. She gives a final interview to an unknown journalist, Monique Grant.
Some have said that they were expecting a soppy read but what the readers found is a beautiful and heart wrenching story. The story of Evelyn Hugo is one that made us all think twice.
Once again TikTok is unanimous in its love of the book. @booktokbenny said: ‘This is one of the greatest books ever. A five star read and a dagger to the heart.’
‘The Cruel Prince’ by Holly Black
If you are a fan of enemies to lovers and powerful women, then The Cruel Prince trilogy is the series for you. The series follows Jude Duarte, as she navigates her life in the world of Elfhame. There she encounters love, betrayal and rivalry.
When reading this book you will see that not everyone was perfect. Jude is a morally grey character and whilst everyone loves her she still has her flaws. There is no doubt that Holly Black worked hard to make her character quite relatable.
@caitsdiary said: ‘Nothing can prepare you for how good this series is.’
And most of TikTok agrees. The book has thousands of videos that feature it, with most people loving the relationship of Jude and Cardan.
‘People we meet on vacation’ by Emily Henry
This book did not disappoint. It follows Poppy and Alex on vacation and in their lives. Poppy and Alex meet when they share a ride home from university. Poppy decides to drop out of university and take up a career in travel journalism. Apart from making you dream of traveling all over the world, this book will make you believe in love.
Emily Henry writes about influencers who are often seen as shallow and breaks that stereotype. She shows that they are more than what they seem.
@maggiemaebereading said: ‘It is devastatingly realistic.’ – So, you are looking for a book to make you want to travel this is the one for you.
‘The Inheritance Games’ by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
If you’ve seen everyone recommending The Inheritance Games then they are right. The book follows Avery Grambs. Avery doesn’t have much in life but she has her sister. She works hard in school to get scholarships and get a better life. One day she receives an inheritance worth billions of dollars out of the blue. She must move to the billionaire’s home and solve clues and puzzles to find out why she has received it.
Whilst this is a YA book, it is set in our world and not a fantasy one. But that does not make the characters less real or made me enjoy the story less. It was gripping, and I flew through books one and two. Book three is scheduled to come out August 2022.
TikTok went crazy about this book. @delilahbooks said it ‘was so good’ and her ‘new favourite read.’
Personally I could not agree more and I am desperate to get my hands on book three to see where the story will go.
‘These Violent Delights’ by Chloe Gong
Chloe Gong is a genius. These Violent Delights is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, set in Shanghai in the 1920s. In a parallel to the original, the book follow Juliet and Roma both heirs to their respective gangs. There is betrayal, there is romance and there is everything you could want in a book.
@caitsbooks said: ‘Everything about this book is amazing from the writing to the setting and the characters’ and that she will ‘not be able to stop talking about it because its so good and you need to read it.’
The author, Chloe Gong, has a huge presence on the app and its amazing to see her interact with her readers. Last November she dropped the second book in the series, Our Violent Ends and went on to announce her new series Foul Lady Fortune and more. At only 23 years old we can’t wait to see what else she has in store.
‘Six of Crows’ by Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows follows six outcasts as they attempt an impossible heist for a lot of money. The duology took the world by storm and people loved their appearance in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, often preferring the Crows, more than the main character Alina Starkov.
The world has fallen with the Grishaverse world created by Leigh Bardugo. And TikTok seems to agree. In his review @book_reviews_kill said it ‘lives up to its hype’ and that the characters are an amazing ensemble that ‘have their own glory but also their own hardship to face.’
Shadow and Bone season two is currently under production in Budapest and we can’t wait to see what fans have to say about it.
‘The Atlas Six’ by Olivia Blake
The name is cryptic, there’s no doubt. The premise of the story though? Very intriguing and that is what has pushed so many readers towards the book. So much that the book will be republished traditionally after the success the author has had.
She self published in early 2020 and the new edition was released on March 1, 2022. And Blake has just revealed to the world the cover of the second book in a planned trilogy.
The Atlas Six follows a group of six young people as they are hired to work a fellowship at the Alexandrian Society. Plot twist: they are all magicians. They are brought to the headquarters of the society where magic, treason and secrets are at the rendezvous.
@bellasbookmark said: ‘I’m obsessed with this book.’ The reviewer also commented on the characters all ‘doing shady sh*t’ which is true, all the characters are morally grey and are all here to advance their own cause. The internet is very much ready to read book two – and so am I.
‘The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue’ by V. E. Schwab
I’m going to be honest and say that this book ripped my heart out. Addie, a young lady in the 1700s, who makes a bargain to live forever to escape a loveless marriage and mundane life. The twist: everyone she has ever known/will ever know will forget who she is. This book follows Addie La Rue, across continents and centuries doing what she can to be remembered. Until one day: when someone remembers her.
This book has taken over social media. Its a tragic love story and it makes you think twice about saying you want to live forever. Living your life forever alone? Heartbreaking. But the internet loved it.
@.berksbooks said this is ‘one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read’ and also praised the author’s writing as ‘phenomenal.’ There is no doubt that VE Schwab’s story telling skills are like no other.
‘Verity’ by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover’s books have blown on on #BookTok. And now we know why. It seems that you can never run out of Hoover’s books as she has written so many and they are all so loved.
Verity retells the story of famous author Verity Crawford. Lowen is hired to finish the manuscript of author Verity Crawford after she is unable to. Whilst writing Lowen comes across an unpublished manuscript that seems to be Crawford’s autobiography.
It should be wise to note that this is not a YA book. This is psychological thriller that should be rated 18+. There are also a lot of trigger warnings that need to be mentioned: Child abuse, attempted self-abortion, death of a child, death of a parent, murder, attempted murder of a newborn, car accident. Be careful whilst reading this!
@Stephsfeelinbookish told her followers on the app that once again Colleen Hoover did not disappoint and ‘never fails.’ She also said that this book left her ‘speechless.’ If you are looking for a gripping thriller then this book is the one for you.
Well here you have it: ten of the most recommended books on #BookTok. Is there one that caught your eye?
