The ultimate review of trending #Booktok books: Is it worth it?

Every BookToker knows that scrolling, collecting titles, and casting fans is as much a hobby as reading itself.

While BookTok can be a great resource for readers to find the next addition to their TBR pile, TikTok’s subcategories have been criticized for serving to oversaturate the market with repetitive metaphors and surface-level ideas. I have been criticized by my family. Some say this undercuts the industry and deceives readers, delivering books that boil down to just a few pages of acting metaphors instead of well-thought-out plots, solid world-building, and deep characters. There is. From metaphor to genre. From “Just a Vibe,” BookToker takes to his TikTok to find the most loved storylines.

But readers who once enjoyed BookTok’s “classic” books; cruel prince and shutter me As the series has grown, BookTok has seen a proliferation of dirty jokes and sexual themes with violent overtones aimed at an older audience. For this reason, BookTok has become somewhat controversial, with recommendations that may not be appropriate for younger readers, or Wattpad-like books that are popular on the bandwagon but lack the quality to be worth reading. It is a place where you can brew your own.

Leave it to me, an avid BookTok scroller and reader. We help young adults find quality YA BookTok recommendations from the crowd that still resonate.

This time it’s real – An Liang

Target age: 12 years old and above

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Are you a fan of fake dating tropes, C-dramas, and soothing characters?

This time it’s real is a novel about 17-year-old Eliza, whose essay about meeting her true love goes viral and earns her the respect and admiration of her classmates. The only problem is that Eliza’s essay is fiction and she can’t let anyone know her truth to avoid losing her great career opportunity. She makes a deal with her classmate Kaz, a famous C-drama actor, that he will help her write her college application if she goes on a fake date. However, this contract spirals out of control, and an interesting drama begins here.

As marked by the opening dedication, this is a book “for all the cynics who still secretly believe in love.” For many readers, this book is more than just a romantic comedy, it’s a story about adjusting to society, academic pressure, and finding love within family and culture. The soothing reading brings bittersweet tears and a happy ending. With relatable lines like “It doesn’t take long to love someone, but it takes so long to move on,” young readers will find both humor and comfort in this book. This book is definitely worth the hype – it’s exactly what it says it is.

heart bone – Colleen Huber

Target age: 14 years old and above

Rating: 2/5 stars

Step into BookTok and your feed will be flooded with content from Colleen Hoover. Most of her books are aimed at her 16+ audience, but her books are so popular that readers may be drawn to novels such as: it ends with us and ugly love. But there’s a danger in Colleen Hoover’s hype. Many of Hoover’s critics have argued that, despite her target age, the book is intentionally targeted at adolescents, and that, in fact, they do not believe that younger readers would enjoy picking up her work. It looks like there is. However, readers should note that the author is controversial for glorifying abuse, grooming, and sexual violence in her stories. Sensitive book lovers may want to avoid this kind of theme. But as someone who used to be interested in romance and was also a young reader whose language comprehension was well above grade level, I know that’s unlikely to happen. So, heart bone, The infamous YA Hoover novels may attract younger readers who like romance, want to explore heavier themes, and are starting to transition into new adult genres.

It’s full of discussions about poverty, youth, and grief. heart bone It follows Beya Grimm, who moves in with her father after the tragic death of her mother. She meets Samson, the boy next door to her, and despite their differences, they connect and a summer love affair begins. But this is an attractive plot for budding romantics. Upon completion, I felt that many of the characters had lackluster personalities and were simply there as plot devices or conveniences.as if heart bone Although the film is driven by romance and metaphor, the heavy themes are explored through a perfunctory lens, and the trauma experienced by Beya is not discussed in a way befitting the nature of the subject matter. The book is do not have They’re worth the hype. Readers looking for a more nuanced novel with a unique plot, diverse characters, and heartwarming relationships should check it out instead. both die in the end Written by Adam Silvera.

In the end they both die – Adam Silvera

Target age: 14 years old and above

Rating: 4/5

In the end they both die is a heart-breaking story that explores themes of life and death (even if you couldn’t tell by the title). It is set in a beautifully written world with a unique premise. Adam Silvera has a talent for writing dark humor and using rhetoric to balance comedy and sadness to create compelling stories about life through romance and friendship. moreover, In the end they both die It is characterized by wonderful expressions that do not feel forced. The main character is a gay Puerto Rican and bisexual Cuban.

Set in a dystopian alternate version of New York, Mateo receives a 24-hour notice from a company informing him of people’s deaths. After a “death cast” call, Mateo meets Rufus, another doomed soul, through an app and they decide to spend their last days together exploring the city and discussing life and death. This book is unique in that you know these characters are going to die before you even open the book. You read their stories knowing their inevitable death is approaching, and readers are forced to grapple with this knowledge as they fall in love with these insightful characters. Masu. . It’s an emotional roller coaster that definitely deserves the hype.

Sunbearer’s Trial – Aiden Thomas

Age: 15+

Rating: 3.5/5

is perfect for hunger game and percy jackson Fans who love demigods and dangerous high-stakes competitions. Sunbearer’s Trial It boasts a complex cast of queer characters and people of color. The book emphasizes intersectionality and diversity, drawing heavily on Mexican mythology for its inspiration, but critics say it feels like that diversity is being forced and exploited for profit. There is. Readers looking for relevant reading material will find this book includes: social Impact of diversity (e.g. racism, economic disparity).That being said, this book represents exactly the following Personal The complexity of intersecting, gender, and sexual identities themselves.

Sunbearer’s Trial The story depicts 17-year-old Theo, the son of God, who takes on a high-stakes challenge in order to win the honor of transmitting the light of the sun to the world. Despite being a “Jade” who is essentially a lesser demigod, Theo is chosen to participate. The problem is that the loser of this trial will be sacrificed as fuel to the Sun God for the next ten years. Readers can expect action-packed fight scenes, dangerous chases, and battles.

eventually, Sunbearer’s Trial “” is a fascinating concept and notable for its comprehensiveness, but it lacks world-building and rhetoric as some of the jokes and dialogue are underdeveloped. This book uses a lot of modern slang. vine, swearing, and borrowing from pop culture to make itself seem more mature and relatable without completely embodying the modern teenager personification. Readers will either love it or hate it, depending on their personal preferences. I don’t think this work is worth the hype, as it’s mostly appreciated (understandably) for its diverse cast, rather than the story or plot itself, but it does appeal to a niche audience of young adult readers. definitely suitable for.

we were liars – E. Lockhart

Age: 13+

Rating: 3.5/5

we were liars is a sophisticated suspense novel about a prestigious family, a private island, a group of friends, and most importantly, destructive love and dangerous lies.

we were liars The film follows Cadence, a 17-year-old girl who suffers from memory loss after a tragic accident on her family’s private island. Two years later, Cadence regains her memories and she returns to the island hoping to find out the truth about what happened to her, her cousins ​​Johnny and Mirren, and her lover Gat.

It includes profound prose and quotes such as:

“A part of me died, and that was the best moment,” he says.

“Don’t accept evil that can be changed.”

Although the book is intelligent with an intellectual tone, the writing style is syntactically unique, with broken sentences creating a dramatic and emphatic narration, so it may not be suitable for some readers. there is. we were liars The concept of an “unreliable narrator” is used to add suspense to the story, but it can make the story feel complicated and make it difficult for the reader to find a flow. The implications of this book traverse sharp topics through the author’s unique voice, giving the story an almost “dark academic” feel. Depending on the reader’s tastes and abilities, this book may be a definite favorite or a complete rejection. Controversial, but worth the hype, I say.

Honorable mention:

six crows Written by Lee Bardugo is set in a richly constructed world with complex characters and storytelling, as well as a masterful presentation of romance and a troupe of “found family.” 5/5 stars – Worth the hype.

to destroy the kingdom Written by Alexandra Crist A short and sweet read with a unique twist little mermaid. Perfect for fans of “enemies-to-lovers” tropes and strong female protagonists. 4/5 stars – Worth the hype.

Courtyard of thorns and roses Written by Sarah J. Maas is very popular on TikTok, but despite being considered YA, it is meant for a more mature audience due to the prominent sex and violence. The book has an interesting concept and world-building, but it starts off slow and many find the characters unlikable. This book is a kind of high-fantasy “guilty pleasure” read, and the writing style is easy to understand, which means it’s fun and a bit shallow at the same time. 3.5/5 stars – Not worth the hype.

god’s rival Written by Rebecca Ross A unique tale of rivals turned lovers that combines magic and history.I vaguely remember The Chronicles of Narnia, god’s rival Focus on the unparalleled power of love. This book has a great concept, but some people say it’s “so-so” and “something’s missing,” perhaps because it’s a two-part series and the second book hasn’t been released yet. 3.75/5 stars – Worth reading, but not worth the hype.