Turning Pages or Turning Trends: The Impact of BookTok on Reading Culture

Rom-Com book display at Lovestruck Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Ever since TikTok’s initial creation, the app has provided safe spaces for various communities and fandoms within today’s media landscape. Over the past few years, one community that has continuously maintained popularity is BookTok.

BookTok is a subcommunity on TikTok where users can give book recommendations, share their thoughts on their latest reads, and connect with fans of the same authors. Booktok has redefined reading culture and altered the way reading is viewed in a Gen-Z-dominated culture. 

In February 2023, I wrote an article for the Marist Circle titled “The Pros and Cons of 'BookTok’: Is This Social Media Phenomenon Actually Beneficial?” Now that we are in April 2025, I want to explore this question again and see how the last two years have shaped BookTok, for better or worse. 

There is no doubt that the BookTok community is still thriving and has a solidified place on TikTok. Booktok creators such as Larryreads, Mariannareads and Cassiesbooktok have hundreds of thousands of followers and are still continuously growing. Mainstream celebrities have also begun sharing their latest reads on TikTok. H20 and Vampire Diaries alum Claire Holt is known for sharing her fantasy recommendations, while Reese Witherspoon has created her own “BookTok” account, “sparking book joy one TikTok at a time.” 

It is largely due to BookTok’s success that Barnes and Noble has announced its expansion plans for over 60 new stores in the year 2025 alone. Not only has BookTok continued to infiltrate large retail booksellers, but it has also made a significant impact on indie bookstores and the amount of traction their stores gain. 

Users can also connect with each other all around the globe to discuss theories, fan casts and reactions to highly anticipated books. Indie authors have been able to expand their readership through one viral video after another. Even with the fate of TikTok unknown, users continue to use the platform as a way to interact with each other and their favorite authors.  

However, with any side of social media comes negativity. The validity of romance readers is a typical example of scrutiny often seen in the BookTok community. Romance is one of the most popular genres mentioned throughout “BookTok," with subgenres such as “Romantasy” (Romance and Fantasy) being a close second. 

Not only is BookTok heavily dominated by romance readers and authors, but the community is also female-dominated. Some users believe that a reader's preferred genre translates to their intellectual level. Women are often demeaned for enjoying romance books over other genres that are seen as more intellectually challenging, such as classics or science fiction. 

While valid criticisms of the romance genre as a whole can be made, criticisms can also be made towards all genres of literature. What makes one person’s reading interests superior to another's? As a society, why are we turning a hobby into an intellectual competition? 

Another issue that is still seen today throughout the BookTok community is true authenticity. Do popular BookTok users feel they can be honest in their book reviews? Is there a space for opinions that go against the majority? This question can be attested by a recent incident involving Larryreads and dark romance author Rina Kent. 

On March 22, Larryreads posted a TikTok stating that she DNF’d (did not finish) a new release by Kent titled “Kiss the Villian.” In the video, Larry states that although she loves a majority of books written by Kent, this particular story fell short for her. Followers of Larryreads know her love for Kent’s universe is extensive, with the Booktoker even having multiple tattoos dedicated to Kent’s characters. 

It came as a shock to many on March 26 when Larryreads posted a TikTok revealing that Kent saw her review and unfollowed her. Many BookTok users had mixed reactions. Some believe that Kent has the right to unfollow people who review her books negatively, while others believe that Larryreads review was valid and that she has a right to speak her opinion. Kent has published over 50 books throughout her career, so is it realistic to believe that her readers have to enjoy all of her books? 

As long as TikTok exists as a platform, BookTok will likely maintain a strong presence on the app. Whether the pros of this community outweigh the cons is objective. As trends evolve and TikTok’s future remains uncertain, it will be fascinating to see whether BookTok’s influence on reading culture continues to grow or eventually fades.