Most Popular BookTok Books

Ever since BookTok took off about 18 months ago, a few fan favourites have been floating around and climbing the charts as a result. Bookshops jumped on the bandwagon quickly and some even have tables to show off these popular BookTok books!

TikTok is still finding its feet in terms of audience. A year ago only the 13-20 years old were truly using it, but when lockdown hit it became more mainstream and aged up a bit. Even I have a TikTok account and I’m 26… I feel old!

In terms of books though, there are four strong genres ruling the day:

Thrillers
Historical Fiction
Literary Fiction
LGBT fiction – or a combination of the above with LGBT themes

If you’re looking for a good book recommendation then look no further than below, as these books seem to be the most popular books on BookTok.

What are the most popular BookTok books?

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

This ridiculously good Greek Myth retelling about the life of Achilles and Patroclus is close to my heart – and to BookTok fans. You can’t go three videos without seeing it pop up in at least one video these days. It’s LGBT, romantic, and funny, as well as having all of the staples of a strong fantastical adventure novel. Well worth a read, and not just because of the hype!

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Another popular BookTok book is We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. This is a young adult thriller that took off originally on BookTube a few years back and has now been revived by BookTok. It’s a marmite book where either you love it or hate it. For me, it’s not a favourite. I spotted the big twist a mile off and found the characters irritating. But a book that divides opinion is always going to be a popular one to discuss.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I love this book! I read it last year for a book club and it was fantastic. Set between the 1940s-1980s this story follows Evelyn Hugo, who is born in a poor area of New York and decides to make a name for herself in Hollywood. With her striking blonde hair and gorgeous figure, she climbs the ladder of flame remarkably quickly. Along the way, she gains seven husbands… but not for the reasons you might think. It’s full of drama, a perfect golden era of Hollywood books with amazing themes of friendship, LGBT, and morals. Utterly brilliant.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

It is any wonder that Shaadow and Bone is popular on BookTok? It’s not just because of the Netflix series though – admittedly excellent! – it’s been a popular BookTok book for a while. This is a staple for young adult fantasy fans today. Kind of like a Game of Thrones for teens – with better romance tropes. A good ride for those looking to sink their teeth into light fantasy.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

In this LGBT love story, we follow two young men called Alex Claremont-Diaz, son to the female President of the United States of America, and Prince Henry of the United Kingdom. They dislike each other greatly – got to love an enemies-to-lovers trope – but when they discover they have more in common than just ‘royal’ parents – and a fake Instagram friendship set up by their ‘advisors’ – they quickly fall in love. But how does the Prince of Wales and the son of the United States President get to be together? And would the people accept it? A really interesting idea, perfect for young people interested in politics and diplomacy – as well as those of us simply interested in enemies-to-lovers stories!

What books have you seen on BookTok? Do you think they’re worth a read? Let me know in the comments below.

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