Nearly everyone who has a TikTok account has seen a video about BookTok before.

     BookTok—the thriving subculture on TikTok dedicated to book reviews —has become a major place where adolescent readers find new recommendations. #BookTok boasts a whopping 60 billion videos and 200 billion views (the equivalent of everyone in the world viewing it 25 times). 

     BookTok is especially popular among teens, and I know from personal experience that it can be a great way to get out of a reading slump. However, it has earned lately a bit of a…reputation, to put it lightly. 

     “I think it’s…interesting,” Beatty said politely, an uneasy smile spreading across her face as she trailed off. “I think it’s a good platform for people to share what books they want to read. But the videos that I’ve seen on my ‘For You’ page are kind of weird, so probably [my opinion on it is] more negative than positive.” 

     I completely agree with Beatty that some BookTok books leave a lot to be desired. (Cough cough…looking at you, Colleen Hoover.) There are several promoted books that give the entire platform a bad rap. 

     However, there are also amazing recs on BookTok that sometimes get slept on because of BookTok’s reputation. After meeting with other BookTok frequenters, we’ve come up with some of the platform’s best reads, as well as a particular title you’d do best to avoid.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

     Where do I even begin? This is one of the most popular books on the platform, and I’ve heard people yap about it for a long time. I finally got to reading it, and wow—I’m flabbergasted. Speechless. Dumbfounded. This book absolutely broke me, while also cementing itself as one of my favorite books of all time.

     The story is a retelling of the ancient Greek epic tale The Iliad with some artistic liberties. It’s centered around the legendary Trojan War hero Achilles, through the eyes of a man who’s a mere side character in the original story: his closest friend and companion, Patroclus. 

     For over 2000 years, ancient Greek scholars and modern readers of The Iliad alike have debated whether the two were just close friends with a deep bond or, as the philosopher Plato deemed them, “undeniable lovers.”

     And in The Song of Achilles, the two are very much in love, and you can’t help but root for them. 

     “It was an interesting take on the myth,” said senior Lily Bojkovic. “It was a very refreshing take, especially considering societal norms.” 

     One thing Madeline Miller did fantastically in the book was giving the characters such rich, three-dimensional, and interesting personalities. She portrays Achilles and Patroclus not as strong, epic heroes, but simply as young men—sometimes awkward, sometimes naive, sometimes weak. They’re not perfect; they’re complex and flawed. 

     It helps readers connect with them on a deeper, more human level. (And makes it so much more devastating when everything comes crashing down around them.) 

     Miller’s writing style in general is just absolutely stunning. With the raw way she describes emotions, you can’t help but be drawn in and feel moved by them. Be prepared for major plot twists, as well as emotional angst and turmoil as you watch these characters attempt to defy the Fates.

     Oh, and another great thing about the book is that it isn’t smutty. If you like to shy away from that kind of genre, or you’re hesitant to give BookTok a chance because of some of the “spicier” books that are promoted there, this book will be great for you. I couldn’t recommend it enough.

     I will warn you, though: don’t read it unless you’re okay with staying up until obscene hours of the night reading, crying your eyes out at its ending, and then being unable to stop thinking about it for the next couple of days. I wish I was joking. 

     I don’t want to spoil too much, but if you’ve read The Iliad, you know how it ends. I take no responsibility for any psychological damage this book may cause you.

     Summary: 10/10. Bring the tissues.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

     Don’t jump me, please, but I call this book the “better ACOTAR.” (ACOTAR, or A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, is possibly THE most popular book on BookTok.) 

     While there are some “romantasy” books on the platform that are notorious for being badly written, The Cruel Prince is an exception. 

     The book begins with a scene from when the protagonist Jude is seven years old, in which she and her sisters witness a man murder their parents in their living room. (Crazy introduction to the story, I know. Bear with me, though!)

     He then abducts them and whisks them away from the human world and into the realm of the Faerie (which is just pronounced as “fairy,” don’t ask me why it’s spelled like that). 

     Life’s already hard enough for the girls when they’re growing up in a weird fantasy world and being raised by their parents’ killer. That’s not all, though. All faerie possess one intrinsic trait: they’re immortal. 

     Because Jude and her sisters are human and thus, able to die, they’re constantly tormented by the Faerie royalty. The worst one? Cardan, the prince of the Faerie. 

     Desperate for power, control over her own life, and acceptance from those around her, Jude strikes up a deal with Cardan’s more docile brother, Prince Dain. Subsequently, she gets tangled up in the dangerous politics of the Faerie court. 

     The path to power is messy and fraught with betrayal, and Jude must choose the right allies, make the right choices, and manipulate her way through the court in order to finally earn a place for herself in this world.  

     First off, the one thing that really stands out to me about the story is its worldbuilding. The plot focuses a lot more on the political side of the story than the romance, which I’m a big fan of. 

     Another thing is the protagonist herself. I absolutely love her. Jude is a gutsy, strong-willed, and independent character, which is so refreshing. I always love to read a book where the protagonist doesn’t let people push her around. 

     Also, she doesn’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to obtain power. Her moral grayness gives her character so much more depth.

     If that wasn’t enough to convince you to read it: unlike some other BookTok novels of the same genre, The Cruel Prince is smutless, so if you’re looking for a good clean fantasy read, this one’s for you. 

     Summary: 9/10. Very bingeable and very worth the praise.

     And now it’s time to progress into the second part of this guide: the BookTok-promoted book you shouldn’t read. Under any circumstances. You’ve probably heard of it if BookTok has popped up on your FYP recently. 

Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton

     I’m gonna be completely honest here: I haven’t read this book (for the sake of my mental health). But I’ve heard things. Very bad things. And I feel like I need to spread the knowledge around. 

     When we sent out a survey about Shorecrest students’ opinions on BookTok, multiple people listed Haunting Adeline as their least favorite book on the platform, and for good reason.

     When I brought up the book to her, Bojkovic said, “Oh, no. I could do a whole 45-minute yap sesh about how much I despise that book and everything in it.” Frankly, I couldn’t agree more. 

     A self-proclaimed “dark romance” novel, Haunting Adeline is about a woman named Adeline Reilly who moves into her deceased grandmother’s haunted, gothic manor. However, ghosts are the last thing on her mind when she suddenly gains a stalker. He kidnaps her and does some other things that are honestly so awful that just reading reviews on Google made me want to vomit.

     And then—get this—she falls in love with him.

     I mean, WHAT?! 

     I apologize for doing this to you, but I need to add some evidence, or else you’re not going to believe me. Here’s an actual quote from the book:

      “‘Remember this moment,’” he growls deeply…‘You will be deeply in love with me, Adeline. I’m your stalker and a murderer, and you will love me anyways.’” 

     So, um, that’s actually insane.

     On that account, it comes with no surprise to learn that this book was once banned on Amazon due to its triggering content. Yikes. 

     Many people agree that this book’s very premise is disgusting, and most shockingly, it was written by a woman. When I found that out, I actually had to close my laptop and stare at the wall for a minute. 

     The entire story romanticizes Stockholm syndrome and assault. If you love yourself and care about your mental health, please avoid this book at all costs. 

     It’s really representative of the worst side of BookTok that ends up giving the platform a bad name.

     Summary: -500/10. Would rather alphabetize my spice rack than pick up this book. 

     In conclusion, I’m definitely not afraid to say that BookTok has its upsides and downsides. While you can find some amazing recs being promoted there, at the same time, there are also some books that should be considered a crime to society. 

     I hope this guide helped you to discern between the two and hopefully find some books you like on the platform!