Reading novels used to be an escape from reality to dream of a perfect life. But, has TikTok ruined literature and romanticized abusive relationships on its app with their book recommendations?
BookTok and its rise to popularity
BookTok is a community on the app, TikTok, that’s main focus are popular books to read. Its uprising started in 2020 during the pandemic. Users on the app make videos reviewing and talking about the latest and most popular books. Many of the popular genres reviewed are young adult, romance, and fantasy. Many authors have been able to get themselves discovered due to BookTok.
While there are many positives to BookTok, for example: authors getting themselves into the public eye and the media engaging users into becoming avid readers, BookTok has somehow become a victim to over consumption and romanticizing abusive relationships.
“Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace, “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, are all considered BookTok books, blowing up almost overnight with the media surrounding the books. While some have high feelings about these books, others do not.
Toxic relationships portrayed as normal in popular BookTok books
Possibly one of the most popular and well known books on BookTok, “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover is a very popular young adult novel that focuses on domestic violence. Readers follow the story of Lily Bloom and her present relationship with Ryle Kincaid and past relationship with Atlas Corrigan. Knowing about her mother’s past history with domestic abuse because of her father, Lily promises herself she would never be with a man like her father. Lily’s involvement with Ryle Kincaid turns into an abusive relationship, something Lily doesn’t clearly see at first.
One thing that goes unnoticed on BookTok is that readers seem to still side with Ryle during the book, showing their support for an abuser. Reader’s claim he’s the “hotter” and “better” choice for Lily compared to Atlas. But, why should Lily stay with someone who hurts her just because he’s attractive?
It Ends With Us recently came out with a movie adaptation of the book, released August 9, 2024.
Over consumption with BookTok and self publishing
Sophia Vitale, a junior at Colonia High School is an avid book reader. “It’s kind of just a hobby for me now, I like reading fantasy books because it’s an escape from whatever’s going on in my life,” Vitale stated. When it comes to BookTok books, she has a different opinion on them, stating, “A lot of the books are overrated. BookTok has become a platform where all of the books are copy and paste with its tropes. The books have become too sexual and lack story and variety.”
Due to the popularity of BookTok, most authors don’t go through companies to publish their books, they now self publish and put book after book out on TikTok. These books that come out one after another become tiring, boring, and repetitive.
