Just when it seemed like nobody was interested in reading books anymore, the fastest-growing book club was born.
Unlike traditional book clubs that would meet once or twice a month, this virtual one is accessible to billions of people globally, and even better you don’t have to get out of bed to access it.
@moongirlreads_Reply to @justmemyshelfandi ##books ##booktok ##fyp ##foryou ##ya ##reading ##sad ##bookrecs ♬ youre somebody else by flora cash. slowed – weeping audios
With over 7 billion people using the tag #BookTok for story recommendations and reviews on the video-sharing app TikTok, literature lovers have definitely found their sanctuary in this book club.
BookTok is made up of a large community of people (mostly young adults) and is open to everyone that has the TikTok app. Even though the video-sharing platform does not seem like the place people would go to for literature, the BookTok community is growing substantially, introducing a new wave of virtual book clubs.
On the app, users spend a minute or less listing their current reads or reacting to the final pages of a novel they have been sinking their teeth into. In some cases, people get really emotional, with users crying as they read the last moments of a novel.
The enticing part about this side of TikTok is that people are allowed to be and act however they like without receiving too much negative feedback.
Luz(20), a book influencer from Louisiana told Refinery29 that she created a BookTok account because she wanted to be a part of a community. “I created my book account because I was longing to find a connection with people about something I am super passionate about,” she said.
She added, “None of my close friends read in their spare time so I took it upon myself to ignore my social anxiety and create an account where I could finally talk about the books that have changed my life.”
Fantasy is a major part of the community with users dressing up in elf suits, medieval corsets and even wizard outfits while they read or review books without receiving any judgement.
To join this large community you can follow the BookTok tag on TikTok and find influencers that appeal to you. You can also create your own account and build your own community within BookTok.
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The growing interest in books by young adults is a sign that reading will never go out of style. To commemorate World Book Day on April 23 here are 3 books that have been trending on BookTok lately, according to booksellers Barnes & Noble: The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash Series #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout; The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera.
Please email me your thoughts at nosipho.nyide@inl.co.za.
