The Rise of #BookTok: How TikTok is Inspiring a Love for Literature

The rise of #BookTok on TikTok has brought together the pleasure of reading with engaging content. Users share their love for unique or popular topics, inspiring others to explore new hobbies or delve deeper into existing ones. Through these connections, users promote and highlight products they love, fostering community growth both on and off TikTok. The success of #BookTok, a TikTok community of creative individuals who share a passion for literature, is evident in its steady growth.

#BookTok is the go-to hashtag for all things related to books, reading, writing, and everything in between. This corner of TikTok encourages and inspires others to enjoy literature in various forms, with book reviews, writing tips, reenactments of popular novels, and more. The #BookTok community has been on TikTok since early 2020, but gained momentum in March 2020 when stay-at-home orders were implemented. Users turned to TikTok for entertainment and discovered #BookTok recommendations, reigniting a passion for reading. To date, #BookTok has inspired over 5 million videos and garnered over 21.9 billion views globally.

Analyzing the most frequently used hashtags in #BookTok videos, we can identify popular content and trends within the BookTok community. Young Adult fiction and fantasy, represented by the hashtag #YABooks, is a top category in the BookTok community. Other popular hashtags include A Court of Thorns and Roses (#ACOTAR), Percy Jackson (#percyjackson), and more. Fandoms like Harry Potter and Twilight have always been popular topics on TikTok, with readers creating content around these worlds both on and off #BookTok.

Writers play a significant role in the #BookTok community, with both book authors and online writers engaging in conversations and sharing their works with like-minded users. The hashtag #AuthorsOfTikTok frequently appears in BookTok videos, accompanied by tips, exercises, and announcements for upcoming works. When an author becomes popular on #BookTok, it can lead to a significant increase in book sales or the start of a writing career.

The impact of #BookTok extends beyond individual books and authors. It has also impacted bookstores, with Barnes & Noble dedicating a #BookTok table near the entrance of each store. Other bookstores have joined the #BookTok community to share their experiences, recommend books, and create entertaining content. Libraries and librarians have also found a home on TikTok, showcasing their day-to-day activities, sharing book facts, and promoting their programs and services. #LibrariansOfTikTok and #LibraryTikTok offer librarians a platform to showcase their creativity and highlight their favorite library characteristics.

Penguin Random House, a major book publisher, is actively involved in #BookTok trends and collaborates with creators, covering all aspects of the book industry found on #BookTok. From writing and publishing to selling, reading, and recommending, #BookTok encompasses the entire book ecosystem.

Books have been a source of entertainment for centuries, and #BookTok, in line with TikTok's mission to inspire creativity and bring joy, has delighted book fans and encouraged others to take a break from watching and enjoy reading. The vibrant literature community on TikTok, including #BookTok, is just one example of the likeminded communities fostered by the app, leading to a significant cultural impact beyond the platform.