With a new generation of readers comes a new, diverse genre of entertainment. From the profound tales of smut novels to classic literature, communities of readers have long been around, enjoying the solace that books bring. But what is the growing trend of BookTok, and how has it sparked an entirely new generation of book lovers?
Emerging from the ashes of the 2020 lockdown, this cultural phenomenon has redefined storytelling through social media. However, what if I told you that this tale was too good to be true?
Readers of All Ages
TikTok’s rising popularity has engaged a whole new audience of young adult readers, most notably for romance and romantasy authors like Colleen Hoover and Sarah J. Mass. Many self-published authors have also taken to this platform, where they’ve found that the viral reach is better for marketing and cost-effective promotion. Publishers like Bloom, an imprint of Sourcebooks, have been able to distribute and market a lot of big names in romantic publishing.
TikTok has allowed a deeper emotional connection between authors and their readers, rather than being a barrier. It provides an outlook whereby the audience can follow the journeys of their beloved stories (and authors) without a “formal” trademark print in place limiting interaction.
The BookTok Community at Large
A lot of indie authors, or even fan bases that formed from this rise in “social publishing,” have gained a lot of popularity from the BookTok trend. Thanks to the TikTok algorithm, many users have been able to bring their content to life through their niche and effective tailored creations. Some fellow bookworms on TikTok have been able to find their voice because of this, one such being Rachael Beck — creator of FanCornerCreations — who found a supportive community that valued her creations as much as she did. This success allowed her to leave her corporate job and dedicate herself full-time to her business, thus showing the extent and transformative potential of BookTok.
Regardless of whether TikTok is banned for the bookish community, it doesn’t necessarily determine the end is nigh. As Pamela Jaffee states, “There’s always going to be an iteration of this. It’s about community. Twelve years ago, it was the in-person book club that made 50 Shades of Grey.” So, wherever the bookish community heads, there will always be a collection of avid readers and literary heads that are exploring more opportunities to access their passion for reading. Books have become status symbols. Their outreach and this new wave of social media have invented a whole market on creatively captivating new and bigger audiences of readers. The future is brighter than ever for us bookworms; just you wait!
Click here to discover just how much BookTok has influenced the media.
Indulge in this bookish culture and find even more reads at Bookshop.org!
