The Ultimate Guide to #BookTok: What’s Worth the Read?
And no, this isn’t just a Colleen Hoover fan guide.
by REESE COHEN ★ NOVEMBER 21, 2022
The #BookTok community on TikTok is strong. About a year ago, after watching dozens of rave reviews for Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends With Us,” I decided to get back into reading, and I haven’t looked back. All summer, I sat by the pool with a book I had found on TikTok and eventually learned how to incorporate reading into my daily routine on campus. I’ve read love stories, thrillers, and memoirs; good books, bad books, and boring books. With Thanksgiving break upon us, now could be the perfect time for you to get back into reading too! Here are my #BookTok favorites that are worth the read:
*All novels are rated on a “spice” scale out of five, with five being the spiciest!
#1: Verity – Colleen Hoover
🌶️: 4.5/5
I know I said that this isn’t going to be a list of Colleen Hoover's books, but as someone who has read a handful of them, this one is my favorite. It’s not a sappy love story but a thrilling mystery as Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling author, is asked to ghostwrite the final books of bestselling author Verity Crawford’s famous series after a life-altering accident. Living in Verity’s house, Lowen is confronted with a more intimate look at her life and condition than she intended.
#2: The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
🌶️: 1/5
Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way with character development. All of her books offer the reader a close look at individuals’ change over time. Loosely based on Elizabeth Taylor, Evelyn Hugo, one of old Hollywood’s biggest stars, is finally ready to sit down and reveal the shocking truths of her life in the spotlight and the complications that come with it.
#3: The Love Hypothesis – Ali Hazelwood
🌶️: 5/5
Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith does not believe in long-term romantic relationships. In an effort to convince her friend that she is over her ex-boyfriend, she kisses the first man she sees, Dr. Adam Carlson, one of the leading biology researchers in the world. He agrees to keep up the charade and help Olive convince her friend of her dating life. It’s a fake love turned real love romance, with a few complications along the way, of course
#4: Reminders of Him – Colleen Hoover
🌶️: 1/5
“Reminders of Him,” tells the story of Kenna Rowan, a young mother recently released from prison for the death of her boyfriend. Seeking to reunite with their shared daughter, now in the custody of the father’s parents, she needs to work to repair the burned bridges. Forming a connection with Ledger Ward, her deceased boyfriend’s best friend, things get complicated. It’s the only book on this list that sparked genuine tears.
#5: Malibu Rising – Taylor Jenkins Reid
🌶️: 0/5
One thing I love about Taylor Jenkins Reid is her ability to intertwine characters from different novels (you don’t need to read them in a particular order). Malibu Rising follows the children of Mick Riva, the third husband in the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as they grapple with his absence, navigate their mother’s alcoholism, and build a life for themselves outside of stardom.
#6: The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
🌶️: 0/5
Warning: this novel contains issues related to suicide, murder, mental/physical abuse, mental illness, and trauma.
Narrated by forensic psychoanalyst Theo Faber, the book details the story of Alicia, who hasn’t spoken a single word since killing her husband six years prior. The story contains details from Alicia’s diary and a narrative that describes events leading up to her husband’s death. There’s also a major plot twist at the end, but no spoilers!
#7: It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover
🌶️: 3/5
This was the first of Hoover’s novels that I read, and I still think it’s one of her best—there’s a reason why this book reigns in popularity. Based on her parents’ relationship, Hoover juxtaposes the hardships of Lily Bloom’s new love, Ryle Kincaid, and that with her first love, Atlas Corrigan. The sequel, “It Starts with Us,” was published this October.
#8: Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
🌶️: 0/5
A short 200 pages, “Tuesdays with Morrie” is a must-read for people of all ages. Based on a true story, Mitch Albom visits his old professor as he battles ALS. The novel is Morrie and Mitch’s final thesis: his own death and a reflection on life. The book serves as a reminder to love meaningfully, value the intangible over the tangible, and maintain important relationships. This book is one I plan to read at every stage of my life.
Reading a book for just 10 minutes a day before going to bed has helped me regulate my sleep schedule and stress levels, and remain productive. However, if you’re reading something off of this book list, good luck if you think you’ll ever be able to put it down. Happy reading!
Cover Photo Credit: Pinterest