5 BookTok Books that are Actually Worth the Hype
Like many other readers, I’ve fallen into the trap of BookTok consistently for the last few years. Since 2021 I’ve steadily started reading more and more, and what better place to find book recommendations than TikTok, right?
In those years, though, I’ve realized that the masses of BookTok and I don’t agree on much. Most of the time I don’t love the books that are hot on the app and I tell myself that I’m just not built for the community.
But the kicker here is that these unfitting recommendations happen most of the time – not all. And in those few moments where BookTok is right, they are RIGHT.
So here are the five books that I think are 100% worth the hype and praise that BookTok has given them over the years, and why I think they are just that great. My holy grails, my six-star reads – in no particular order.
1. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Pip’s high school Senior project is like no other: discover the truth behind Andie Bells’ murder, and prove a former student’s innocence.
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Romance sub-plot
Series: A Good Girls Guide to Murder
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I know I said no particular order, but I lied. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will always be my first recommendation because it means so much to me. I owe so much to this book.
This book single handedly got me back into reading, and I love that it happened so organically. I wasn’t recommended this book by anyone and hadn’t seen it at all on social media. I just saw it, picked it up, and went, “Hm. I suddenly feel like reading this.”
I’m so, so glad that I did. The story of AGGGTM was so captivating that before I knew it, I had finished the entire novel in one sitting. The next day I was heading to Target to buy up as many books as possible because I was chasing the rush this one gave me.
AGGGTM pulls together the greatest elements of a YA mystery perfectly. There is a protagonist that is brave, smart, but still childish in their decisions. The plot twists are gasp-worthy, but not completely ridiculous, and make total sense when viewed from the lens of a young adult. And the pacing in this novel is GO GO GO – keeping you engaged from the first page to the last.
(Ravi being one of the cutest love interests ever helps, too.)
This was a great book to get me back into reading and I recommend it to literally EVERYONE. It’s simple but interesting enough to keep anyone entertained.
2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Hollywood starlight Evelyn Hugo reveals the truth behind her life and the seven husbands she had along the way.
Genre: Historical Fiction (Old Hollywood), LGBTQ
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This novel goes beyond BookTok praise – I think it’s one of the top five books I’ve ever read in my entire life and will probably be my #1 read of 2024.
Despite falling into the guise of a romance novel under many BookTok recommendations, I think this book is the perfect literary fiction that shines a light on feminism and the cost of fame, while also incorporating how Old Hollywood treated the LGBTQ+ community.
Evelyn Hugo is one of the most confusing, yet engaging and outstanding main characters I have ever read about. Somehow she is both relatable and larger than life. Her story is just as engaging as she is, and learning about what she did and who she became left an impression like no other.
If you want to read my full review – that also catapulted the creation of this blog – you can do so here. But the TL;DR of it is: I love this book, I love Evelyn Hugo, and I think everyone deserves the pleasure of reading all about her.
3. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Piper is ripped out of her Hollywood lifestyle and placed in a small fishing town where she finds friendship, love, and herself.
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Small town, Grumpy x Sunshine, Frenemies to lovers)
Series: Bellinger Sisters
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Did I mention in a review once that this is a Tessa Bailey fanpage? Because it is. And this book is the whole reason why.
Honestly, prior to picking up this IHOS (which was actually due to the BookTok craze) I wasn’t super big on contemporary romance. At the time I just didn’t think it was for me, but after reading this novel I realized it was because I hadn’t found the book.
This is the book. It perfectly captures everything I love and am looking for in a contemporary romance. Screw an insightful look into someone’s backstory – I want to giggle! I want a cute couple who act overly dramatic sometimes because they are just that in love. I want a love interest who acts as if all the oxygen in the world has been removed as soon as the main character isn’t around.
It Happened One Summer delivers all of that, plus a charming small town backdrop and humor that works perfectly for me. My friends and I have an ongoing joke that Tessa Bailey writes for me, because everything she puts out seems to catered to my tastes and what I find entertaining.
Additionally, this is the book that made me realize that the main character(s) can – and should! – be rooted for no matter what. Piper begins the book obnoxious and prissy, but gradually becomes the lovable protagonist that you can’t help but cheer for. The same can be said for perpetually angry Brendon – who’s attitude completely changes when he falls for Piper, of course.
I’m rambling, but it’s because I love this book so, so much. As of July 2024 it is my favorite contemporary romance of all time, and I don’t see it losing that spot anytime soon. I love everything Tessa writes, but I personally think this is the best of them all.
4. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Lara has one purpose in life: save her people. In order to do that, she must go through with her promised marriage to King Aren and destroy his country from the inside.
Genre: Adult Romance, Semi-Fantasy
Series: The Bridge Kingdom
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Fantasy is one of my least favorite genres, so it’s not often I enjoy a book from that genre. But this book and its series I would go to war for.
I think one of the hardest things for an author to achieve is making both main characters equally likable. There is usually one that a reader seems to prefer for whatever reason. In this series, though, I found myself adoring both Lara and Aren equally.
I think they are such amazing, well thought-out, and dynamic characters on their own, but even more extraordinary together. They compliment each other perfectly without compromising their own individualities.
What’s more, the storytelling and world-building of The Bridge Kingdom series is unmatched. I tend to stick to contemporary novels because world-building makes me feel like I’m reading a text book most of the time – but not here. In this series I’m easily walked through the depths and history without sacrificing any enjoyment.
Again, rambling here, but it’s uncommon to see me swear by and love a series like this. I want to give The Bridge Kingdom and Danielle L. Jensen their flowers because they deserve it.
I want to clarify my tag of “semi-fantasy” before we move on. I say “semi” because there aren’t really any elements in this series that are “otherworldly.” The fantasy element comes from the royal hierarchy and kingdoms, but that’s the limit to it. Hypothetically, this could be seen as a dystopian novel and it would still work. There are no special creatures, magic, paranormal beings, etc.
Personally, I see it as more of a dystopian sci-fi (which is why I enjoy it so much), but I know I’m in the minority for that. So to follow the way it is classified by the author but not confuse anyone, I categorized it as fantasy.
5. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Down-on-her-luck author January never expected to become neighbors with her polar opposite college rival Augustus, nor did she expect to be swapping genres with him in hopes of finally finishing her novel.
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Academic rivals to lovers, Opposites attract)
Amazon ❀ B&N ❀ ThriftBooks ❀ Goodreads
Emily Henry seems to be iffy for some readers, but I think that’s because she takes a slightly unique approach to the contemporary romance genre. She takes a more serious route, incorporating literary fiction elements, while still putting most contemporary romance themes at the forefront.
For this reason, I love her. Admittedly I’ve only read Beach Read, but I admire the way she weaves in deeper topics and touches upon more than just love and relationships in her romance novels.
Beach Read is a book that perfectly encapsulates that. While, of course, the main story is about January and Gus, Henry adds dynamics to their characters by sprinkling in grief, abuse, and getting out of one’s comfort-zone.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a contemporary romance being lighthearted and full-on about the couple’s relationship. But I love that Beach Read is more than just that, without making it feel rushed or sacrificing the severity of the issues.
I think every one of these reads is great and praise-worthy in their own ways. While only one of them I actually picked up because of BookTok (that would be It Happened One Summer) they are all highly recommended by the community, and this is me adding myself into the mix.
I hope to find more heavily beloved books like these in the future, so I can continue to yap on and on about why I think they’re so amazing. It’s the books like these – no matter how few or far between – that keep me going back to the sometimes questionable, but always enjoyable, world of BookTok.
