BookTok is a corner of TikTok where book lovers and the literary community come together to share recommendations, reviews and favorite reads. Over the past few years, it has turned numerous books into bestsellers and helped readers discover stories they wouldn’t normally pick up. While not every viral book lives up to the hype, some titles really deserve the attention. Here are six books that went viral on BookTok that are actually worth the read.
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue”
By V.E.Schwab
A book comprised of fantasy, romance and historical fiction, “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” follows a young woman who makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Addie begins to adventure across centuries and continents, but everything changes when, after 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name. A fabulous read that you won’t be able to put down, this is the perfect title for readers who are new to the fantasy genre.
“Beach Read”
By Emily Henry
Full of witty banter and romantic moments that will make you swoon, “Beach Read” is the perfect book for the warmer months and those wanting to dive into the world of romance. Written by the queen of romance books, Emily Henry, “Beach Read” shows what happens when a romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever-afters.
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
While many of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s titles are popular amongst BookTok readers, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is one of her best works yet. This historical fiction novel follows legendary Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo as she recounts her scandalous life and seven marriages to an unknown magazine reporter, Monique Grant. As Evelyn recounts her life stories to Monique, truths, scandals and unknown connections unveil themselves. An incredible read recommended by readers and critics alike, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” will leave you speechless.
“I’m Glad My Mom Died”
By Jenette McCurdy
“I’m Glad My Mom Died” is one of the most popular memoirs discussed on BookTok and for good reason. Written by child star Jenette McCurdy, this fast-paced memoir details Jenette’s toxic upbringing as a child actor, driven by an abusive, controlling mother who pushed her into the entertainment industry and instilled a severe eating disorder. A shocking but incredible story, McCurdy’s memoir is easy to read and hard to put down!
“Before the Coffee Gets Cold”
By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Originally written in Japanese and later translated by Geoffrey Trousselot, “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” asks the question: What would you do if you could go back in time? A beautiful and quick read, Kawaguchi’s story follows four visitors who visit a coffee shop in Tokyo that offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold.
“YellowFace”
By R.F. Kuang
An intense and complicated story that follows Juniper, a white author who achieves her dream of becoming a bestselling author after stealing and plagiarizing her dead Asian friend’s work, is a smashing good read. As the story unravels, Juniper must defend her right to tell her story, sparking a suspenseful and dark downward spiral as she fights to conceal her plagiarism. A crazy and messy read, “YellowFace” will have readers on the edge of their seats.