As someone who loves both reading and scrolling on TikTok, I’ve read nearly every popular recommendation on #BookTok. However, I’m also a student with limited free time and money, and I hate finishing a book that I got because of TikTok and thinking about all the other options that I could have read instead. To prevent you from suffering the same reading regret, I have outlined some of the most popular books on TikTok that you should and shouldn’t devote your time towards.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled hosseini
If you’ve read and enjoyed Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, you’ll like this book as well—maybe even a bit more. The writing is beautiful and imaginative, and the novel contains Hosseini’s signature themes of familial relationships and love through time and trauma. The story’s particular focus on women’s lived experiences and resiliency made the book an especially enjoyable read for me. It does contain sensitive topics, so I’d recommend looking up the content warnings beforehand.
Is this book worth your time? Absolutely.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
There’s a reason everyone and their mother on TikTok is recommending this book. With gorgeous writing, a captivating plot, and a heart-wrenching relationship that plays out between the main protagonists, this book has all the elements of a must-read. I recently picked this book up again and it was just as good—if not better—the second time around. If you are a person who loves to gasp, scream, sad-cry, and happy-cry during a book, you will love The Song of Achilles.
Is this book worth your time? 100%.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Opinions on this book can be quite polarizing—I’ve seen this in both people’s ‘Worst Books I’ve Ever Read’ and ‘Favourite Books of All Time’ lists. I fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. Unless you enjoy unlikeable and aggravating protagonists, plots where nothing happens, and rushed out-of-place endings, you’ll probably finish this book and think, “Why did I let TikTok convince me to read this?” The beautiful cover and occasional funny lines are some of its only redeeming qualities.
Is this book worth your time? Nope.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Normal People is definitely not for everyone. The lack of quotation marks used for dialogue is itself a feature that some can adapt to, and others are immediately turned off by. This wasn’t as life-changing of a book as some users on TikTok claim it to be, but I thought it was a generally enjoyable read. If you like character-driven novels and can stand the miscommunication trope, then you will probably enjoy Normal People.
Is this book worth your time? Maybe, depending on your usual tastes.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This is definitely one of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s stronger novels. I went into this book completely blind and devoured it within three hours. If you’ve seen this everywhere on #BookTok, it’s for a good reason—the story reveals itself little by little, keeping you on the edge of your seat, and shattering your heart by the end. Netflix is currently working on a film adaptation, so if you’re one of those people that likes to read the book before they watch the movie, then you should totally add this to your TBR.
Is this book worth your time? Yes.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
As a fan of Emily Henry, and someone who has read all her books, I believe this to be the weakest in her repertoire. The love interests lack any enjoyable chemistry—I want to be squealing, freaking out, and constantly re-reading passages when I read a romance novel, not straight-faced, bored, and skimming through the pages. The story also constantly switches between the past and the present, which makes the plot a drag instead of dynamic. You’re better off reading Beach Read or Book Lovers for a better romance experience by Emily Henry.
Is this book worth your time? Nuh-uh.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
This book contains wonderful themes such as loss, love, and time, and its overall message is heart-warming and bittersweet. However, the rather simplistic and blunt writing style prevented me from becoming fully immersed while reading. I’m a fan of more descriptive story-telling, and the high expectations I had beforehand as a result of #BookTok caused my read of Before the Coffee Gets Cold to be a little disappointing. I can definitely see the right person enjoying this book, but it wasn’t for me.
Is this book worth your time? I’d say it’s 50/50.
Hopefully this list will prevent you from wasting valuable free time (and money) on a disappointing book. If you’ve read any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts—even if you disagree with my verdicts! For more recommendations, check out our other articles about current hyped books or books to add to your TBR.