BookTok is a hashtag on the social media TikTok meant for readers to come together and share their thoughts, memes, art, and even cosplays around their favorite books. Though BookTok showcases non-fiction, the most prominent genres are Fantasy Romance, Contemporary Romance, YA Fantasy, Mystery/Thrillers, and Sci-Fi. We’ve essentially built a community of book-loving friends (and even authors) on sharing in our collective experiences in regards to literature. Books were not created equally on BookTok, though! There are definitely favorites that get brought up time and time again. For this list, we will only be including books that came out in 2020, 2021 and are fiction.
The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen.
A favorite of mine, I thought this book was even better than the first installment. Book Three, The Inadequate Heir, comes out November 18th. The Bridge Kingdom series is about a girl, Lara, married off to the King of the enemy kingdom in a trade agreement. It’s a spicy and political enemies-to-lovers romance with lots of fun side characters and overall a smashing good time!
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Helen Hoang has quickly become one of my favorite authors. The Heart Principle is an #ownstories novel that deals with topics such as autism, life as an Asian-American, familial expectations, love, and loss. The first book of this series, The Kiss Quotient, has left a permanent and beautiful mark on my soul. The Heart Principle is the third book in the Kiss Quotient series. It is an anthology series with connecting characters but could be read as stand-alone. The Heart Principle handles grief and burnout in a way I’ve never seen done before. It was heart-wrenching to read but ends with a happily ever after!
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
From the author of Red, White, & Royal Blue, One Last Stop is an adorable and beautiful sapphic romance about two girls who fall in love after meeting on the subway. This book is on my TBR, and I cannot wait to read it!
These Violent Delights, and Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
You can’t go on TikTok without hearing about these two books. A Romeo & Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, they are quite intriguing novels! The first installment was released when Chloe was just 21 years old, making her one of the youngest authors of all time to make it onto the New York Times Best Sellers list.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas is famous for her series Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City is her most recent Fantasy Series. The story circles around a half-fae and half-human named Bryce whose loved ones are killed by a demon. This series includes Fae, Angels, Demons, and lots of magic! Although another wonderfully spicy romance, this one is a slow burn. Book Two, House of Sky and Breath, comes out in February of 2022.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Set in the 1980s, four famous siblings put on a party, and their lives change forever. Another New York Times Best Seller, this book was all over my “For You” page for months!
Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The first three books of the Blood and Ash series (From Blood and Ash, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, and The Crown of Gilded Bones) and the first book in the prequel series, A Shadow in the Ember, came out during the Pandemic Era. You couldn’t go on BookTok without seeing something about the Fantasy Romance series. It features a virgin maiden promised to the Gods. There are vampry (bad vampires), Atlantians (good vampires), Wolven (werewolves), and many other amazing fantasy creatures. The series is sexy and entertaining, and I am hooked alongside the rest of TikTok.
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
The most recent installment in the ACOTAR series was the first book in the series to not be from Feyre Archeron’s point of view and was instead more about her sister Nesta. This amazing sequel features lots of smut, magic, bad-ass women, love, and dealing with trauma. It’s the same characters we all know and love but from a different point of view, and TikTok couldn’t get enough. This is my all-time favorite Fantasy Romance series!
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
A novel I loved but was also deeply angered by, it features a girl named Adeline who, to escape marriage, makes a Faustian bargain in exchange for freedom and eternal life. The catch? Once she’s out of someone’s sight, they can no longer remember who she is. The novel explores hundreds of years of her life up until she meets Henry… and suddenly, her life changes, once again, forever.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library is about a woman named Nora whose life is uneventful, leaving her hopeless. She ends her life, opening up a world of possibilities that showcase what could have been. This book has been on the New York Times Best Seller list for quite some time and was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award.
Mack's Musings 