I’ve always been that girl. The one who dives headfirst into a hobby, becomes obsessed for three weeks, then ghosts it like a bad Hinge date. Crochet? Did it. Watercolor painting? Got the paint set. Woodworking? Bought the tools, built an outdoor dining table, and called it a day. I’m a master of dabbling. But reading? That was never on my 2025 hobby bingo card.
Over the past 10–15 years, I can count on one hand the number of books I’ve finished. And if you’ve ever handed me a novel, chances are it ended up as a coaster before I hit Chapter 3. I always wanted to be a reader, but I never felt like one.
Then one day, my TikTok algorithm decided it was time.
The Rise of BookTok (and My Fall Into It)
If you’re unfamiliar, BookTok is a corner of TikTok where creators post content all about books—and they’re not just reviewing them. They’re building worlds around them. We’re talking aesthetic reading spaces, trope breakdowns, dramatic reenactments, and yes, brutally honest reviews. It's immersive, addictive, and oddly contagious.
One day, I was deep in TikTok videos about productivity hacks, under-the-sink organization, and oddly satisfying pasta recipes. Next, I was swimming in emotional book reviews from people who had clearly been wrecked in the best way.
I’m talking video after video of creators saying they couldn’t stop thinking about a plot twist. Sharing that a character had crawled into their soul and refused to leave. That they were full-on grieving a fictional death like it was an in-real-life tragedy. And honestly? That level of obsession stopped me mid-scroll. I was intrigued. I didn’t want to miss out.
So I picked up a book. Then another. Then another. Before I knew it, I had a Kindle in my hand and a growing stack of stories that were suddenly more addictive than anything on Netflix.
BookTok isn’t just a niche—it’s a cultural force. These creators are reshaping the publishing industry one viral video at a time. A single 60-second clip can turn an underrated novel into a chart-topping bestseller overnight. And after a few weeks of watching from the sidelines, I had one thought: I want in.
Books I've Actually Finished
Since September, I’ve read more books than I had in the entire last decade:
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
A quieter, more introspective read that surprised me. It didn’t have dragons or murder (rare for my TBR), but it definitely stuck with me.
The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene ⭐⭐⭐
This one pulled me in with its eerie atmosphere and kept me there with plot twists I didn’t see coming.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was not prepared. This book broke me in all the best ways. A gut-wrenching, beautiful reminder of the resilience of women in wartime. I don’t cry often over books—but this one got me.
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier ⭐⭐⭐💫
Fast-paced, slightly disturbing, and totally addictive. It’s dark in the way a true crime documentary is dark (you know you shouldn’t keep watching, but you need to know what happens).
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
This was one of the most haunting, thought-provoking books I’ve ever read. It’s dystopian, but not in a typical way. It made me think about loneliness, survival, and what it means to be human. Quietly powerful.
The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden ⭐⭐⭐💫
This was a wild ride. If you love psychological thrillers that mess with your head and make you question everything, add it to your list.
Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I went full dragon girl with these. They’re fantasy with just the right mix of romance, rebellion, and betrayal. The world-building is the chef's kiss. And the cliffhangers? Straight-up emotional damage.
Quicksilver by Callie Hart ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spicy. Intense. Unapologetically dark. This was my first Callie Hart book, and it won’t be the last. If you like morally gray characters and plotlines that don’t play it safe, buckle up.
BookTok Made Me Do It (And That's the Point)
Here’s the thing…I wasn’t influenced by a paid ad. I wasn’t convinced by a New York Times bestsellers list. I was drawn in by real people, sharing real opinions, in a way that made reading feel exciting, relevant, and personal.
That, my friends, is influencer marketing at its finest.
Despite what the marketing world might say, influencer marketing is not dead. It’s just evolved. It’s no longer about a perfectly polished post with #ad in the corner. It’s about trust. Community. A creator you relate to broadcasting, “This book wrecked me,” and you saying, “BRB, adding to cart.”
BookTokers have changed the publishing industry. They’ve given indie authors a fighting chance and made backlist titles resurface years after publication. Their impact is measurable, and I’m literally walking proof of that.
Turns out, I can finish books. I just needed the right ones…and a few overly dramatic BookTokers yelling “THIS DESTROYED ME” into the void. That kind of energy is contagious.
Another thing I’ve learned is that niche online communities are no joke. They don’t just recommend products—they shape habits. I wasn’t looking to be converted into a reader, but here I am with a Kindle and a list longer than my attention span.
I don’t know how long this “reading era” will last, but for now, I’m leaning all the way in. And if the girl who once gave up her short-lived watercolor painting hobby after watching one YouTube tutorial that diverted her attention to coloring with alcohol markers can become obsessed with finishing her TBR shortly after... then maybe your next scroll will land you in a new obsession too.
And if you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally read that book that’s been staring at you from your nightstand? This is it. Go. Read. Feel something.
