The Trending BookTok Books To Read Now
Better Than The Movies
Lynn Painter
BookTok can’t get enough of a good romantic comedy, and Better Than The Movies – released in 2021 – is a tribute to the genre. The story follows Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic eager to create her own fairy-tale moment with her dream crush, who has just returned to town. To secure him as her prom date, she reluctantly teams up with her infuriating neighbour, Wes, who has a connection to the guy she’s swooning over. In classic enemies-to-lovers style, Liz realises that love doesn’t have to look like the movies to mean happily ever after. This light, fluffy and heartwarming tale has all the charm of a noughties rom-com, complete with nostalgic quotes from beloved films at the beginning of each chapter.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Blue Sisters
Coco Mellors
Coco Mellors’ Cleopatra and Frankenstein was one of the top-selling paperbacks of 2023. She now brings her keen appreciation for people’s insular lives and relationships to her highly anticipated second novel, Blue Sisters. This time, it’s a story of three brilliant yet different siblings who return to their New York family home from their respective lives in Paris, London and LA when their beloved fourth sister dies. Reunited in tragedy, the three messily battle with grief, addiction and ruthless ambition, exploring what sisterhood – and life – really means.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
The Women
Kristin Hannah
When it comes to historical fiction, Kristin Hannah’s credentials speak for themselves. Her bestselling novels, including The Great Alone, The Four Winds and The Nightingale, have sold millions worldwide. Her latest work, The Women, released earlier this year, is a favourite among the TikTok literati. It follows a young nursing student, Frankie McGrath, as she joins the Army Nurse Corps and heads off to serve on the frontline of the Vietnam War. Well researched and deeply emotional, it’s a coming-of-age tale set against a backdrop of national turmoil. While many war stories focus on male soldiers, Kristin Hannah acknowledges a sisterhood of veterans so often overlooked in literature, on screen and in society.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros
The BookTok crowd has fully embraced the ‘romantasy’ genre, of which Fourth Wing is a textbook example. It follows 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail as she enters a war college to become a legendary dragon rider. With her survival on the line – she must either graduate or die – she must also avoid the charming yet dangerous wingleader, Xaden Riorson. The story has high stakes, treachery, suspense and a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance that will keep you hooked.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Funny Story
Emily Henry
From Beach Read and Happy Place to People We Meet On Vacation, Emily Henry is known for her breeze-through books. Her latest is Funny Story, which hit the shelves earlier this year and became an instant hit on BookTok. It combines all the elements of your favourite rom-com: awkward and unfortunate circumstances, a small hometown setting and an unlikely pair with love prevailing. When Daphne’s fiancé realises he’s in love with his childhood best friend and dumps her, she has no option but to move in with a roommate to save some money. Of course, the new roommate is the chaotic chalk to her organised cheese, and he’s also her ex-fiancé’s new partner’s ex. The two wronged exes hatch a plan to put their former partners through hell – and hilarity and romance ensue.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Housemates
Emma Copley Eisenberg
Dubbed the ‘queer book of the summer’, Emma Copley Eisenberg’s Housemates is a departure from the usual romance and ‘spicy fairy’ reads. Instead, this novel focuses on the rich and rewarding platonic relationships in our lives. The story follows Bernie, who moves into a large, shared home in Philadelphia. When her former mentor and photography professor passes away, he unexpectedly leaves her his dilapidated house. Determined to honour his memory, Bernie and her housemate Leah turn the experience into a road trip. The two have a grand ambition: to document America through words and photographs as they make their way to the house. Artsy, tender and queer, it’s a fresh take on the great American road trip novel.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Love & Other Words
Christina Lauren
BookTok knows what it likes, and this romance has all of its favourite tropes. Macy Sorensen seems to have it all figured out; she’s a paediatrics resident with a steady job and is busy planning her wedding to a financially secure older man. However, everything changes when her first and only love, Elliot, unexpectedly re-enters her life. The story unfolds through alternating timelines, weaving between past and present to explore love, betrayal and the ties that bind us.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Maybe In Another Life
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid has scored several hits lately, with Daisy Jones & The Six being picked up by Amazon Prime and plans for the adaptation of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo already underway. So, it’s no surprise that her 2015 novel Maybe in Another Life is gaining traction on TikTok. This Sliding Doors-style narrative follows 29-year-old Hannah Martin who has bounced around various cities and jobs for years. One night in her hometown, she faces a pivotal decision: should she go home with her friend or accept a ride from her high-school sweetheart? The story then splits into two parallel narratives, exploring the consequences of each choice. As the two alternate realities unfold, the novel raises a thought-provoking question: how much of our lives is determined by chance?
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
Shatter Me
Tahereh Mafi
If you're a fan of The Hunger Games and Divergent, prepare for your next obsession. Initially published in 2011, this YA dystopian series has gained serious traction on TikTok, amassing over two billion views. The journey begins with Shatter Me, which follows Juliette, a teenager imprisoned by the sinister Reestablishment because of her lethal touch. As her world crumbles around her, she is caught in a love triangle with two very different boys – Warner and Adam. Along with choosing between them, Juliette must confront a critical question: will she embrace her identity as a weapon or become a warrior?
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake
Olivie Blake began her journey in the Harry Potter fanfiction community. With the support of her passionate followers and viral momentum on BookTok, her Atlas Six series skyrocketed from self-published to a New York Times bestseller. This dark, magical and murder-filled anthology is set at The Alexandrian Society. This secret organisation admits a select group of magicians each year, granting them access to the universe’s greatest secrets. However, they have just one year before they face a mysterious initiation ritual, where one among them must die for the others to succeed. If you appreciate the ‘dark academia’ genre and enjoy morally dubious rivals fighting tooth and nail for wealth, power and prestige, this is the book for you.
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK
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