BookTok Books That Are Worth The Read
We are calling it now: Summer 2021 is the summer to get back into the habit of reading. Now that TikTok is a thing, it is almost impossible to escape trends that are popping up all over the place. Allow us to introduce you to BookTok; a place where you can discover all sorts of books that you actually will want to read. Today we will rundown for you which BookTok Books are actually worth the read!
1. The Hating Game By Sally Thorne (Our Rating: 5/5)
If you enjoy stories about foes who become lovers, The Hating Game is one of the Booktok Books for you. Sally Thorne has crafted a humorous and flirty tale on the delicate line between hate and love; you will not be able to put this book down as you yearn to know what happens next in Joshua and Lucy’s relationship. The two of them work together as executive assistants to co-CEOs and they hate each other; not only do they downright despise each other, they also have no problem showing it. When they are both up for the same promotion, the tables are turned and they are forced to not only plot against each other but also to confront how they truly feel about each other. They may have to come to the realization that they might not hate each other at all, or maybe it is all part of their game. This novel is also set out to be a major motion picture starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell!
2. People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry (Our Rating: 4/5)
Poppy and Alex are friends who have little in common; she has an unquenchable wanderlust, while he would prefer to stay at home with a book. Nonetheless, they have been best friends since a fateful car ride home from college many years ago. For the past ten years, they have spent one blissful week of vacation together in different locations each summer. That is until two summers ago when everything changed. Since then, the two haven’t spoken. Once Poppy realizes she is stuck in a rut, she knows that the last time she was truly happy was on that final trip with Alex. That is when she decides to convince her best friend to take one final vacation together to fix everything. Poppy now has one week to restore everything back to normal, even if it means addressing the unavoidable reality that lies between them. This BookTok Books chapters hop about in time to portray the evolution of Poppy and Alex’s friendship. This slow-burn love story has a particular complexity to it, touching on classic romantic cliches while still being utterly modern and fresh. This ode to romantic comedies will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
3. Turtles All The Way Down by John Green (Our Rating: 4.5/5)
Anything by John Green is bound to be a page-turner, but Turtles All The Way Down is unquestionably one of his greatest. This is not another one of those BookTok Books, this novel puts attention on mental illness while still making an easy-to-follow plot; by incorporating a feeling of mystery alongside standard adolescent concerns such as friend troubles or boy problems, Green is able to produce a beautiful story. Aza, the main character, and her closest friend Daisy become inadvertently engaged in the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett. Aza struggles to be a good daughter, a good friend, and even a good detective all while trapped in an ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. If there is a way to express anxiousness and ODC, Green does an excellent job of depicting the adolescent mind at war with itself. The way Green illustrates Aza’s recurrent and intrusive ideas about reproducing germs therein or the danger of developing an infection, even the idea of sweating, that may throw Aza into a spiral of anxieties, is arguably the most fascinating aspect of the novel. We may spend time inside Aza’s head as she battles with her reasonable side, attempting to talk herself down from her erratic and shaky thoughts. Overall, Turtles All The Way Down has a depth concealed beneath a standard adolescent drama that is both thought-provoking and emotionally wrenching.
4. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (Our Rating: 3.5/5)
Up next on BookTok Books that are worth reading: We Were Liars. What starts off seeming like a dream life, going to an island all summer with your family and closest friends, ends up being a reality check for the consequences of one’s mistakes and of greed. This young adult novel is a more sophisticated piece as well as one that you will need to pay very close attention to. We Were Liars is one of those books that is crafted on a platform of hidden meanings and a narrative that builds over the entire story, and it is an absolute nail-biter. The plot revolves around a mystery accident that occurred two years ago to the main character, Cadence. Cadence was 15 at the time of the accident, which resulted in trauma and amnesia, causing her to forget what had happened. Cadence returns to the island at the age of 17, desperate to discover what happened to her; however, her return to the island is met with a rollercoaster of newly discovered secrets, sufferings, and falsehoods. The style of the language has been a recurring critique of the book; the syntax of the words is sloppy and fractured, yet that is how the author portrays Cadence’s mental condition throughout the novel. By the end of the novel, the horrifying truth about what happened to Cadence when she was 15 is exposed, and the devious reality will linger with you long after you put the book back on your shelf. We Were Liars should be at the top of your list if you’re seeking one of the BookTok Books that will leave you astonished and in disbelief.
