In the last couple of years, #BookTok has exploded into one of TikTok’s most surprising and influential communities. What began as a niche corner of the app for passionate readers soon became a powerful force that could launch books, new and old, straight to the bestseller list. With that influence comes controversy, with many critics arguing that BookTok overhypes certain books and values romance tropes over substance. There has also been concern that BookTok romanticizes abusive or unhealthy relationships in books like It Ends With Us. Still, for many young readers, BookTok has created a community and reignited a love for reading in a generation that is mostly on screens.
One of BookTok’s most talked-about obsessions is a fantasy-romance series, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Often shortened to ACOTAR, the series begins as a dark fairytale retelling and evolves into a sweeping saga of love, betrayal, magic, and power. It follows 19-year-old huntress Feyre Archeron who is the soul provider for her sisters and crippled father. When she kills a faerie wolf in the woods, she is taken to the faerie realm of Prythian as punishment for killing a faerie. She soon discovers her captor is not a beast but Tamlin, the High Lord of Spring. There, Feyre adapts to her new life, discovers feelings for her handsome captor, and begins confronting a growing darkness threatening the fae and human realms. The series continues with unexpected plot twists and a controversial yet beloved shift in love interests. The series has sparked endless debate: some fans love its emotional depth and addictive plot, while others criticize its writing, portrayal of relationships, or lack of diversity.
80% of Boulder High students who were polled said they knew of BookTok and 78% knew or read the ACATOR series. Many students said they liked BookTok because they enjoy the recommendations. However, many others felt that it overhypes books and puts the same types of books in the spotlight. Although many argue that ACATOR is overrated, only 25% of BHS students thought it was. Many readers worry that BookTok can hog the spotlight and cast a shadow over equally worthy yet not as popular books. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that ACOTAR is a defining BookTok phenomenon—and it’s changing how young people engage with reading.
